Malaysia

• Malaysia


  NEE (Newly Emerging Economy)
• Malaysia has the highest rate of deforestation in the world between 2000 & 2012, at 463%
• Causes of deforestation (in Malaysia)

  • Logging
  • Mineral extraction
  • Population pressure
  • Commercial farming
  • Subsistent farming
  • Energy development
• Logging


  Malaysia was largest exporter of tropical wood. Recently there has been a shift from clear felling (cheap but least sustainable) to selective logging - nutrients still there to ensure sunlight for growth
• Mineral extraction


  Tin mining and smelting is common in Malaysia. Forests cleared for mining + road construction (transport)
• Population pressure


  Government encouraging migration to rural areas (over populated)
• Commercial farming


  Malaysia is largest exporter of palm oil in the world
• Subsistent farming


  Local tribes use fire to clear the land - the ash ensures the land is kept fertile and sustainable
• Energy development


  2011, The Bakun Dam was opened - provides hydroelectricity for locals. Forests size of Singapore were lost and attracted more energy-intensive companies (exacerbating deforestation rates). The reservoir flooded over 700km of forests and farmland.
• Impacts of deforestation in Malaysia

  • Soil erosion
  • Loss of biodiversity
  • Climate change
  • Economic development
• Soil erosion


  Roots of trees bind soil meaning once trees are removed, the soil washes away along with the nutrients
• Loss of biodiversity


  Impacting ecosystems /destroying habitats (rainforests in Malaysia are home to 25% of all plant species found there)
• Climate change


  No trees to sequester CO2, no trees to give off moisture through transpiration - drier climate; evaporation from trees heats and cools the air, if trees are removed temperatures will increase; enhanced greenhouse effect
• Economic development impacts


  • Gains: Jobs created, improved transport infrastructure, cheap hydro-electric power
  • Losses: Increased water scarcity, cost of climate change, decreased tourism, reduced agricultural productivity, loss of natural medicines
• Reasons for protecting rainforest

  • Biodiversity
  • Slows down climate change
  • Protects climate (not too hot load)
  • 25% of all medicine is derived from rainforest plants
  • Resources - wood, mets, fruit
  • Fresh water
  • People-home to indigenous tribes
• Strategies used to manage the rainforests sustainably

  1. Selective Logging-only some trees are felled

  2. Replanting-ensures forest structure is kept and soil isn't exposed, horses & helicopters can remove trees rather than large trucks, new trees replace old ones (have to be the same)

  3. Ecotourism-only a small amount of tourists allowed in at a time, strict rules, provides employment for local people

  4. Education-educating international communities to encourage consumers to buy sustainably

  5. Conservation-national parks & nature reserves prevent damage, however can be difficult to manage + expensive

  6. Reducing debt-most tropical rainforests in LCs, where money has been borrowed from wealthier countries, the money must be paid back, HICs can reduce this debt in exchange for a guarantee from the LIC that they will conserve their rainforests