Sustainable management

• What are some products manufactured using rainforest resources?

  Rubber, coffee, chocolate, and medicines
• What vital role do tropical rainforests play in the water cycle?

  They help prevent soil erosion and provide a habitat for wildlife
• What is one consequence of protecting the rainforest?

  It prevents the greenhouse effect
• How do tropical rainforests help regulate the world’s climate?

  By absorbing CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels
• How do rainforests regulate water levels in rivers?

  They help maintain the balance, reducing the risk of drought and flooding
• What are some impacts of rainforest destruction that could affect all countries?

  Climate change
• What does sustainable management of rainforests entail?

  • Using resources today without depleting them for the future
  • Ensuring environmental resources remain available
• What is selective logging?

  Cutting down only some trees while leaving most trees standing
• Why is selective logging less damaging than clearing a whole area?

  It preserves the forest and the canopy, causing less soil damage
• What is the least damaging method of removing trees?

  Using horses or helicopters instead of large trucks
• Where is helicopter logging used as an example?

  Sarawak, Malaysia
• How does ecotourism help protect the environment?

  By employing locals, reducing the need for logging or farming
• What percentage of Costa Rica is protected from development due to ecotourism?

  21%
• What are the benefits of ecotourism?

  It generates income for the government and local people
• What is the impact of a country relying on ecotourism for its economy?

  It creates an incentive to conserve the environment
• What is replanting in the context of rainforest management?

  Planting new trees to replace those that were cut down
• Why is it important to replant trees that are similar to those cut down?

  To maintain the ecosystem and biodiversity
• What laws exist regarding logging companies in some countries?

  They may be required to replace trees when clearing a forested area
• How can educating local people about alternative income sources help rainforests?

  It reduces the need for damaging activities like logging or farming
• How can education help in rainforest conservation?

  By informing people about the impacts of deforestation and sustainable practices
• What might a global pricing system discourage?

  The use of illegally felled timber
• What is the role of national parks and reserves in rainforest conservation?

  To protect rainforests from damaging activities like logging
• What challenge do countries face in setting up and policing reserves?

  A lack of funds
• How can extra funds improve conservation efforts?

  By allowing countries to employ more staff for conservation activities
• What was an example of a conservation effort in 2001?

  A charity paid $200,000 for 200 hectares of land for preservation
• Why are many national rainforests found in heavily indebted countries?

  They borrow money from organizations like the World Bank
• What happens to the money borrowed by heavily indebted countries?

  It is sometimes misused, leaving little for conservation
• What is a debt-for-nature swap?

  Part of a country’s debt is paid off in exchange for conservation guarantees
• What was an example of a debt reduction effort in 2011?

  The USA reduced Indonesia’s debt by $129 million for rainforest conservation
• Why is there a high demand for hardwood trees?

  They are durable and hard, making them desirable for quality timber
• What is the impact of demand for hardwood timber from richer countries?

  It leads to illegal logging in some tropical rainforests
• What are international agreements trying to prevent?

  Illegal logging and encourage sustainable forestry
• What does the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) do?

  Marks sustainably sourced timber with their logo
• What are the strategies for sustainable management of rainforests?

  • Selective logging
  • Ecotourism
  • Replanting
  • Education
  • Conservation
  • Reducing debt
  • International hardwood agreements
• What are the consequences of unsustainable rainforest management?

  • Deforestation
  • Climate change
  • Loss of biodiversity
  • Soil erosion
  • Disruption of water cycles
• How do sustainable management strategies enable future resource availability?

  They allow current resource use without depleting them for future generations
• What is one example of a rainforest affected by human activity?

  The Amazon
• What are some ways humans damage rainforests?

  Deforestation, overexploitation of resources, and soil erosion
• What are the issues surrounding tropical rainforests?

  Deforestation, overexploitation of resources, and soil erosion
• What are different approaches to the sustainable management of tropical rainforests?

  Education, conservation, and debt reduction