Case studies paper 1: section b

• where is the thar desert?

  north-west India and into Pakistan
• what are the opportunities for development in the thar?

  mineral extraction: valuable reserves of gypsum, feldspar, phosphorite and kaolin are used domestically and for export. Tourism: desert safaris on camels. Energy: includes coal, oil, solar and wind. Farming: subsistence grazing of animals, commercial farming for sesame, mustard, wheat and cotton. Irrigation: has made a desert productive.
• How do extreme temperatures present challenges in the thar?

  Temps exceed 40 degrees and can become freezing at night which makes physical work hard. It also causes high rates of evaporation leading to water shortages.
• How does water supply present challenges in the thar?

  As population has increased so has the demand for water but has there is low supply this demand cannot be met. This is due to annual rainfall being very low. This also provides challenges for farmers because they do not have enough water for their crops and livestock.
• How does accessibility provide challenges in the thar?

  vast, barren areas and extreme weather limit road network. Tarmac can melt during the day and strong winds can blow over the roads . many places are only accessible by camel.
• what percentage in Malaysia is tropical rainforest?

  67% is but the rate of deforestation is increasing faster than in any tropical rainforest in the world.
• how is logging a threat to Malaysia's rainforest?

  in the 1980's Malaysia became the worlds largest exporter of highly valuable tropical wood. But destructive clear felling has now largely been replaced by selective logging of mature trees only.
• How is mineral extraction a threat to Malaysia's rainforest?

  Tin mining is established and drilling for oil and gas has recently started
• How is commercial farming a threat to Malaysia's rainforest

  Malaysia is the largest exporter of palm oil in the world. Ten-year tax incentives encourage more deforestation for more plantations
• How is subsistence farming a threat to Malaysia's rainforest?

  Traditional short term clearance is small scale and sustainable, but "slash and burn" fires can grow out of control destroying large areas of forest.
• What are the impacts of deforestation in Malaysia?

  Deforestation destroys the ecosystem and many habitats that exist on the ground and in the trees.
• What are the impacts of deforestation in Malaysia?

  The stripping of vegetation reduces biodiversity which leads to incalculable losses of undiscovered plant species and their medicinal potential.
• What are the impacts of deforestation in Malaysia?

  The stripping of vegetation also exposes the ground to soil erosion by wind and rain. This is because the previously shaded soil which was bound together by roots of trees and plants has been lost
• What are the impacts of deforestation in Malaysia?

  It impacts local and global climates by reducing photosynthesis, transpiration and the cooling effect of evaporation. this means there is more CO2 and less moisture to condense into clouds meaning higher temperatures.
• What are some economic gains caused by deforestation in Malaysia?

  Job creation: directly in construction and operations and indirectly in supply and support industries. Tax revenue used to supply public services. Improved transport infrastructure benefits development and tourism. Plantation products support processing industries. HEP is plentiful and cheap. Minerals are valuable.
• What are some economic losses caused by deforestation in Malaysia?

  Water pollution in an increasingly dry climate may limit supplies. Fires pollute and destroy vast areas of valuable forest. Rising temperatures could devastate established farming. Plants that could form the basis of hugely profitable medicines may become extinct. Climate change could have economic costs. Rainforest tourism could decrease.