MAGASCAR - water and carbon

• location

  • worlds 4th largest island
  • population is over 25 million
  • 50 species of lemurs / 15 of which have become extinct
  • in 2010, forest covered 22% of the island
• the rainforest

  • occupies narrow belt in the north and then runs down entire eastern region
  • lower forest-lower Monoene slopes of eastern ridge of highlands
• deforestation in the area

  • heavily forested until 1970
  • population growth = demand for food production and economic progress
  • over 70% of the population lives in rural areas
  • they rely on woodland for fuel, jobs and food
  • forest cleared to extend culturable land
  • loss of 3/4 forest due to deforestation
  • involves slashing and burning, logging, wildfires, land conversion-agriculture and fuelwood collection
• water cycle impacts : soil erosion

  • gullies formed in the highlands
  • soil loss rates is 7x global average
• water cycle impacts : increased run off

  • sediment flowed into river
  • slow channel discharge
  • damages land for cultivation
• water cycle impacts : soil infiltration

  • reduced groundwater availability and drier soils
  • increased heat leads to soil sealing impermeable therefore even less infiltration.
• water cycle impacts: less transpiration

  • local - drier atmosphere
  • longer than normal dry season (clouds less liable to form)
• carbon cycle impacts

  • burning forest
  • slashed leaves and steams rapidly decompose on the surface
  • carbon removed from long term stores
  • grazing aimals= more methane /20 more methane produced than co2
• life in madagascar

  • removal of habitats
  • endangers isolated and unique species
  • out of 50 species of lemur, 15 have become extinct in the recent decades
  • 3000 of madagascars plants and animals are threatened with extinction
  • drier local atmosphere, higher temperature and changes in ocean and wind patterns
• REDD PROJECT

  • reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degeneration and conservation and sustaining development
  • 400,000 hectoares set aside from deforestation and allocateed as carbon credit schemes - absorbs 705,558 tonnnes of CO2
  • guartees long term forest protection