Sustainable Uses of the Rainforest
Selective logging & replanting
Conservation and education
Ecotourism
International Agreements about the use of tropical hardwoods.
What it is
Positives
Negatives
The cutting out of trees that are mature or inferior to encourage the growth of remaining trees in a forest or wood.
What it is
Positives
Negatives
What it is
Positives
Negatives
Trees are selected by professionals, and the ones that are allocated are felled to avoid damage to trees
Also, you have officials monitoring to check it's being done correctly and legally
New trees are then planted as well.
What it is
Positives
Negatives
Selective
Only high-valued wood
Other trees survive the logging process
Forest can recover.
e.g. Mahogany
Other trees can be damaged
Loggers need to access the wood, so will have to clear some forest to make way for machinery
Promotes biodiversity
Not as many habitats destroyed
Minimises soil erosion
Still removes trees
Removes the carbon sink
Not as profitable as clear-cutting
Not easy to monitor if it is actually taking place
Takes time to find specific trees
Need experts' help.
Takes 30-40 years for the location to recover.
Debt Reduction
What it is
Positives
Negatives
Biosphere reserves
You can create areas where people can do specific things
Scientific research
Education
Living
Training
Conservation is all about the protection, preservation, management, or restoration of tropical forests and the ecological communities that inhabit them.
Amazon Region Protected Areas Program (ARPA)
E.g Mairaua Nature Reserve
With the riberiaho tribe
WWF work with Brazilian government
Protect parks covering 150mil acres of forest.
People don't need to move out of their homes
They can live sustainably
Pass on knowledge from both parties
Local knowledge & experience
Gives empowerment to local people and government
Partnership approach is the best approach
May be a loss of income
Locals may not listen
Especially if they're being made to keep their footprint minimal
May want better living standards
Government is involved
Changing governments may change biosphere reserves
e.g Bolsonaro (head of Brazil) criticised environmental regulations in Brazil
If charities or NGOs (Non-Government Organisation) are involved, they need funds from donations - may not always have that money
Slightly at risk
E.g. WWF
Responsible travel to natuarl areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and may involve education.
Usually carried out in small groups and has minimal impact on the local ecosystem
Environmentally-friendly Tourism
The people involved seek to protect the environment as much as possible
There is education of the visitor
Some of the profits go back into conserving the rainforest environment
The tourism is small-scale with low visitor densities
Local people are employed and involved
People are employed - provides jobs
Can make money out of the rainforest
Trickle-down effect
Puts money back into economy
Positive Multiplier Effect
Gives businesses incentive to not chop down the trees
In long-term you can keep using the area
In short-term, not as much money as logging
e.g. Mashpi Lodge, Ecuador
e.g. Ecotourism lodge close to Puerto Maldonado, in the Peruvian Amazon
Only small areas will be protected
Not as economically good as some other ideas.
Sometimes money is reinvested into conservation
The International Tropical Timber Agreement
Set up in 2006
Restrict trade in hardwood
"Promote the expansion and diversification of international trade in tropical timber from sustainably managed and legally harvested forests and to promote the sustainable management of tropical timber producing forests
Forest Stewardship Council
Often has a logo on to show it's sustainable
Promotes sustainable management
Promotes sustainable sources of wood
71 countries signed up
Countries are signing up
Global-scale
Protects workers' rights
Allows people to make money from the rainforest in a sustainable way
Managed by the UN
Hard getting people to sign up
No legally-binding law or retribution if they do something against it.
Countries are relieved of some of their debt in return for protecting their rainforests
Rainforests are often found in poorer countries that want to exploit them
Also known as Conservation Swaps
Offers an alternative to poorer countries to the reckless exploitation of their natural wealth
WWF came up with the idea in 1984
First launched in 1987 in partnership between the Government of Bolivia and Conservation International (CI) for US$650,000, protecting 3 areas
Other countries including Philippines, Sudan, Zambia, Ecuador and Uganda joined
Offers money to poorer countries
Offers an alternative to logging or international agreements
Unlike international agreements, it gives the countries an incentive to save the rainforest
They may just take the money and continue to gain more and more money
Some richer governments may not want to give their money away
2010, USA agreed to convert Brazilian debt of US$25,000
Doesn't necessarily stop it from happening