Malaysian Rainforest (case study)

• Malaysia


  Country found in Southeast Asia, split into Peninsula Malaysia in the West and East Malaysia in the east on the island of Borneo
• 67% of Malaysia's land is covered by tropical rainforest
• Malaysia became the world's largest exporter of tropical wood in the 1970s


  Deforestation became a massive problem
• Clear felling


  All the trees in a certain area are cut down
• Selective logging


  Only fully grown trees are cut down
• Subsistence farming


  People farm for themselves
• Commercial farming


  People farm for profit
• Slash and burn


  Fires are used to clear the land leaving behind nutrients to help plants grow
• Large areas of rainforest were cleared in 1970s and were replaced with palm oil plantations


  Malaysia became one of the largest exporters of palm oil in the world
• Main range in Peninsula Malaysia

  • Largest area of continuous forests left on the peninsula
  • Home to over 600 species, including 25% of all plant species in the country
• Deforestation


  Destroys ecosystems and habitats, reducing biodiversity
• Deforestation


  Increases soil erosion
• Deforestation


  Exacerbates climate change
• Deforestation


  Reduces moisture and cooling from trees, causing temperatures to rise
• Economic impact of deforestation

  • Positive: creates job opportunities and improves standards of living
  • Negative: water shortages, pollution, loss of biodiversity