Deforestation in Malaysia

• Malaysia


  Located in Southeast Asia
• Almost 70% of the land is covered by tropical rainforest
• Climate of Malaysia


  • Typical of tropical rainforest climates with high rainfall and high temperatures all year round
• Biodiversity of Malaysian rainforest

  • Over 15,000 plant species, including 5,500 flowering plants and 2,600 tree species
  • 750 bird species
  • 250 mammal species
  • 350 reptile species
  • 190 amphibian species
  • 350 fish species
  • 1000 butterfly species
• Malaysia has the fastest rate of deforestation in the world
• Since 2000 an average of over 140,000 hectares of forest has been felled and cleared each year
• Causes of deforestation in Malaysia

  • Logging
  • Energy
  • Mining
  • Commercial plantations
  • Settlements
  • Subsistence farming
• Logging


  • Malaysia is the largest exporter of tropical hardwoods
  • Selective logging is the dominant type of logging but this requires road construction and settlements which result in deforestation
• Energy


  • The construction of dams to provide Hydroelectric power result in flooding of large areas of forest
  • The Bakun Dam will result in 700km2 of land being underwater in Sarawak, Malaysia
• Mining


  • Tin mines are widespread and require deforestation for the mine itself but also for road construction
  • An iron ore mine planned for the Som Forest Reserve will result in the deforestation of over 60 hectares
  • There is also drilling for oil and gas
• Commercial plantations


  • Malaysia exports over 30% of the world's palm oil and is the second largest producer
  • Many palm oil processes now adopting a zero-deforestation policy so that they do not buy palm oil from deforested areas. However, Clear felling permits are sometimes used in Malaysia to clear land and then sometime later another company will plant palm oil
• Settlements


  • Up to 1980 people were encouraged to move to rural areas from the cities to try and reduce the pressure on urban areas
  • This led to the deforestation of approximately 15,000 hectares of rainforest
• Subsistence farming


  • This can sometimes involve slash and burn where areas are cleared using fires - these can sometimes get out of control and destroy large areas of rainforest
• Effects of deforestation


  • Soil erosion
  • Loss of biodiversity
  • Local climate change
  • Global climate change
  • Impact on indigenous communities
• Soil erosion


  • Without the tree roots to bind the soil, the soil is more easily eroded by wind and rain
  • Exposed soil is more vulnerable to leaching of nutrients and the soil becomes less fertile
• Loss of biodiversity


  • Habitats are destroyed and the ecosystem affected by deforestation so the variety of plants and animals decreases
  • Oil Palm plantations lead to a 35% reduction in species
  • Orangutans, pygmy elephants, Sumatran Rhino and Malayan tigers are all endangered
• Local climate change


  • Reduced transpiration and evaporation leads to a decrease in precipitation and an increase in temperatures
  • Rainfall patterns become less reliable and more extreme
• Global climate change


  • Felling of the trees leads to a decrease in the absorption of carbon dioxide
  • Increases carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere and as this is a greenhouse gas this increases human induced climate change
  • Use of fire for clearance also increases carbon dioxide emissions
• Impact on indigenous communities

  • Indigenous communities such as the Orang Asli and Temiar have been forced off land
  • Pollination of fruits has reduced due to a decrease in pollinating insects and animals such as bats
  • This has reduced the available food sources
  • In Kuala Koh village 2019 at least 15 indigenous Batek died after an outbreak of disease possibly transmitted by loggers working near to the village