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Geography - Tropical rainforests (Interdependence (Plants able to survive…
Geography - Tropical rainforests
Distinctive characteristics
Location
Between the two tropics - 30 to 30 degrees North and South
Mostly on the equator
Equatorial low pressure belt
Characteristics
High amount of rainfall year round
High humiditiy , typically 85%
Rains every day usually in afternoon due to convectional rainfall
Consistent climate year round
Adaptations
Buttress roots
Large roots growing above the ground from stem/trunk
Supports and prevents tree from falling
Gathers nutrients from rich top layer of soil
Up to 15ft tall and 30m wide above and below ground
Lianas
Climbing woody vines
Roots in ground and start in canopy by sending roots down
Allows to reach available sunlight
Drip tips
Long narrow extension at end of leaf causing a pointed end
Cope with high rainfall by directing water away from middle of leaf
Reduces chances of mold forming
Interdependence
Plants able to survive in infertile soil
Warm humid climate causes plant and animal remains to rapidly decay
Constant decomposition of organic matter supports vegetation
Few nutrients are lost in the cycle
Most nutrients are stored in biomass
Quickly reabsorbed by other trees / vegetation after death
People reliant on trees for fruit
Animals reliant on plants for food
Plants reliant on soil for water and nutrients
Deforestation : Malaysia CASE STUDY
Causes of Deforestation
Logging
1980s : Became world's biggest tropical timber exporter
*Road building
Roads are needed
to provide access to mining area, settlements and energy projects
to bring in machinery
export timber
*Energy development (Bakun Dam in Sarawak)
Only began generating in 2011
50 years of delay
Due to controversies surrounding it
Reservoir flooded 700km2 of forest and farmland
Several more planned to provide for industrialised Peninsular Malaysia
*Population pressure
Moving into the countryside (transmigration) used to be heavily promoted to decrease population of rapidly growing cities
15,000 hectares of rain forest felled for settlers to set up plantation from 1950 - 1980
Subsistence farming
Slash and burn can get out of control
Commercial farming
Largest exporter of palm oil in the world
10 year tax incentives encouraging land use as plantations
Mineral extraction
Tin mining / smelting is common
Land required for roads and mines
Drilling for oil / gas becoming a larger issue in Borneo
Impacts
*Soil erosion
Roots of trees / plants binds soil together
Soil more easily eroded due to deforestation
Biodiversity loss
Destroys ecosystem
Destroys ground and tree based habitats
*Climate change
Transpiration - Trees give off moisture
Deforestation reduces moisture in air
DRIER CLIMATE
Evaporation uses up heat and cools air
Deforestation stops cooling from occuring
TEMPERATURES RISE
Increased CO2 as trees can't absorb
GLOBAL WARMING ACCELERATED
*Economic development
Short term economic gains - Long terms losses
Gains
More jobs
Taxes improve local public services
Transport infrastructure improved
Losses
Water shortages
Pollution of sources
Drier climate
Medically beneficial plants may go extinct
Deforestation is the deliberate and often permanent cutting down of trees, often on a very large scale
Sustainable management
Selective logging + replanting
Replanting aims to regenerate forests at the same rate they are being depleted by deforestation
Selective logging carefully manages which trees are logged
In an attempt to minimise ecological impact
*Conservation and education
Rainforest can be preserved in conservation areas
National parks, nature reserves
Education
Scientific research
Tourism
Ecotourism
*International agreements on use of tropical hardwoods
FSC promotes sustainable forestry
Labels products which are certifiably sourced sustainably
FSC educates manufacturers and consumers about significance of buying sustainable hardwood
*Debt reductions
Debt - for - nature swapping
Donor countries willing to lower debts
In return for the halting of deforestation programs
Poor countries may have to resort to large scale deforestation programs to pay off debts