DEFORESTATION

• logging


  • Most widely reported cause of destructions to biodiversity.

  • Timber is harvested to create commercial items such as furniture and paper.

  • Violent confrontation between indigenous tribes and logging companies.
• agriculture


  • Large scale ‘slash and burn’ of land for ranches and palm oil.
  • Increases carbon emission.
  • River saltation and soil erosion increasing due to the large areas of exposed land.
  • Increase in palm oil is making the soil infertile.
• mineral extraction


  • Precious metals are found in the rainforest.

  • Areas mined can experience soil and water contamination.

  • Indigenous people are becoming displaced from their land due to roads being built to transport products.
• tourism


  • Mass tourism is resulting in the building of hotels in extremely vulnerable areas.

  • Lead to negative relationship between the government and indigenous tribes

  • Tourism has exposed animals to human diseases.
• energy development

  • The high rainfall creates ideal conditions for hydro-electric power (HEP)

  • In Borneo, more than a 12 dams are being planned to generate power for large-scale mining.
• road building


  • Roads are needed to bring supplies and provide access to new mining areas, settlements and energy projects.

  • In Malaysia, logging companies use an extensive network of roads for heavy machinery and to transport wood.