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Deserts and Rainforests - Coggle Diagram

- - - - Coal - there are extensive lignite coal deposits in the Thar desert and a thermal plant has been developed at Giral
      - Solar - with its sunny, cloudless conditions the Thar desert is ideal for solar energy generation. At Bhaleri solar power is used in water treatment.
      - Oil - a large oilfield has been discovered in the Barmer district which could transform the local economy
      - Wind - Jaisalmer wind park was constructed in 2001. Recently, there has been a focus on developing wind power.
    - - Most people in the desert use subsistence farming
        
        Graze animals on the grassy areas and cultivating vegetables and fruit trees.
      - Commercial farming has seen an incline due to increased irrigation.
        
        Crops such as wheat and cotton now thrive in an area that used to be arid desert.
        
        Construction of the Indira Ghandi canal in 1958.
    - - The desert region has valuable reserves of minerals which are used all over India and other parts of the world
        
        Kaolin - used as a paper whitener
        
        Phosperherite - used in making fertilisers
        
        Reserves of marble are quarried near Jodhpur to be used in the construction industry
        
        Feldspar - used in ceramics
        
        Gypsum - used in making plaster for construction
        
        Reserves of stone - the Sanu limestone is the main source of limestone for India's steel industry
    - - In recent years the Thar desert has become popular with tourists due to its impressive beautiful landscapes.
      - Thousands of people visit the Thar desert each year from the neighbouring country Pakistan
      - An annual desert festival
      - Desert safaris on camels
  - - - Plants and animals have to adapt in order to survive in the desert
      - High rates of evaporation lead to water shortages
      - Working outside in the heat of the day can be very hard, especially for farmers.
    - - Sources of water in the Thar desert
        
        There are a few rivers that flow through the desert such as the River Luni but they only flow during rainfall and are intermittent.
        
        Some water can be obtained from underwated aquifers
        
        Traditionally water is found in natural and man made ponds
      - Problems
        
        Population growth
        
        Increase in industry
        
        Increase in farming
    - - Vast barren areas
      - Extreme temperatures
        
        Can cause the tarmac to melt
      - Strong winds blow sand over the roads
  - - - Too much water leads to salinisation - a build up of salts
        
        Degrades the soil
    - - Tree roots bind the soil together and the leaves and branches provide shade, grazing for animals and fuel wood.
    - - Many people living on the edges of deserts are poor
      - 'Magic stones' - lines of stones to reduce soil erosion
- - - - Distinct wet season - lasts about 6 months.
  - - - Malaysia became the largest exporter of tropical wood in the 1980s.
        
        Clear felling was common
    - - Areas of rainforest had to be cut down to make room for roads for machinery to reach mines and areas of logging.
    - - Bakun Dam
        
        Finished in 2011 after decades of controversy
        
        Reservoir flooded over 700km2 of forests and farmland.
    - - Mining (mainly Tin and smelting) is common in Peninsular Malaysia
    - - Malaysia is the largest exporter of palm oil in the world
        
        Plantation owners receive 10-year tax incentives so increasing amounts of land has been converted into plantations.
        
        During the 1970s, large areas of land were cut down for palm oil plantations
    - - Tribal people living in the rainforest practice subsistence farming.
      - 'Slash and burn' - uses fire to clear the land and create nutrients for crops to be grown.
    - - In the past, poorer urban families were encouraged to move to the countryside.
        
        Between 1956 and the 1980s, approximately 15,000 hectares of forest was cut down for this reason.
  - - - Roots bind the soil together - deforestation means it can easily become loose and erode away
      - Removal of soil by wind and rain
    - - Trees absorb CO2 - carbon sink
      - Trees give off moisture - without there would be a drier climate
      - The process of evaporation cools the air by using heat energy
    - - Companies have to pay taxes to the government which can then be used to improve public services.
      - Hydro-electric power will provide cheap and plentiful energy
      - Improved transport infrastructure opens up new areas for tourism and industrial development.
      - Products such as palm oil and rubber provide raw materials for processing industries
      - Minerals such as gold are very valuable
      - Development of land for mining, farming and energy will lead to jobs directly (construction, farming) and indirectly (supply and support industries)
    - - Pollution of water sources and a drier climate may lead to water shortages
      - Fires can cause harmful pollution. They can burn vast areas of valuable forest.
      - The number of tourists attracted by rainforests would decrease
      - Rising temperatures could devastate some forms of farming such as growing tea, fruit and flowers.
      - Plants that could bring medical benefits could become extinct
      - Climate change could have economic costs as people have to adapt to living in a warmer climate
  - - - Rainforest can be conserved in national parks and nature reserves
      - Educate local people to not destroy the forest - some people illegally log the forest
    - - More sustainable than clear felling which clears out whole areas, selective logging picks certain trees to be cut down at certain times.
    - - Through income generated by Ecotourism, local people and governments can benefit by keeping their rainforests
      - Aims: introduces people into the natural world, benefits local communities and protect the environment for future generations.
    - - Hardwood forestry
        
        FSC - Forest Stewardship Council
        
        Ensures that hardwood is sustainably sourced
        
        Educates manufacturers and customers about the need to buy sustainable wood
      - Debt reduction
        
        Reduced debt in return for agreement that rainforests won't be deforested