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Sustainable management of tropical rainforests and mangroves - Coggle…
Sustainable management of tropical rainforests and mangroves
Functions of tropical forests
Generate oxygen
Rainforests and mangroves absorb carbon dioxide, water and sunlight to produce food for their own survival and growth. Oxygen is also produced as a result of photosynthesis.
they are able to generate oxygen throughout the year as they are evergreen.
Contribute to Carbon Storage
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is absorbed through photosynthesis. The absorbed carbon dioxide is stored in solid form in the plants - in their leaves, branches, stems and roots.
Dead leaves and branches that fall to the ground add carbon to the soil The roots of the plants also produce soil carbon.
Mangroves are most effective at storing carbon
It is estimated that on average, they store about 60 to 80 KG of carbon per sq km every year. This is significantly higher than tropical rainforests which store about 20 to 59KG of carbon per sq km every year.
As the soil in mangroves is waterlogged and poor in oxygen, there are few bacteria available to break down the carbon stored there. This is why mangroves are so effective at storing carbon.
Habitats for diverse animal life
In Amazon Rainforest, there are more than 1000 species of freshwater fish and birds, over 300 types of mammals, reptiles and amphibians have been discovered to date.
Their warm climate and abundance of water and food sources all year round make them very suitable for habitats for a wide variety of animals.
Scientists believe that over 2 million species of insects may also be found.
Only a small fraction of these has ever been collected and named.
Examples of the diverse animal life found in tropical forests:
TRF
Mangroves
Tropical Rainforests Prevent Soil Erosion
Leaves, branches and stems of rainforest plants slow down falling raindrops before they reach the ground.
More rainwater can infiltrate and percolate into the soil, reducing surface runoff.
Raindrops hit the soil with less force.
The roots of rainforest plants also bind the soil together, making it harder to erode.
The overall soil erosion by flowing water is minimised.
Mangroves Prevent Coastal Erosion
The dense root systems of mangrove plants help to trap and stabilise loose sediments on the coast.
Sediments are less likely to be washed away by waves, currents and tides.
The roots, trunks and branches of mangrove plants cause friction with waves hitting the coast.
The waves lose a significant amount of energy, thus reducing coastal erosion.