Deforestation of the Tropical Rainforests

Location of the world’s tropical rainforests

Rates of deforestation

Deforesting Countries - % Lost

Causes of Deforestation Economic: Timber is a resource for industry and export To encourage economic development. To clear space for industry agriculture transport HEP mining

Causes of Deforestation

Economic:

Timber is a resource for industry and export

To encourage economic development.

To clear space for industry

agriculture

transport

HEP

mining

Causes of Deforestation Social: To give land to landless peasants. To reduce unemployment. Where slash and burn agriculture is practised, a growing population may lead to more deforestation.

Causes of Deforestation

Social:

To give land to landless peasants.

To reduce unemployment.

Where slash and burn agriculture is practised, a growing population may lead to more deforestation.

Causes of Deforestation Political: To use timber or whatever is replacing the forest to generate money to try to reduce the national debt. To use the space created by deforestation to encourage TNCs to invest in the country. Lack of logging controls, or they are not enforced. There may be no re-planting policies.

Causes of Deforestation

Political:

To use timber or whatever is replacing the forest to generate money to try to reduce the national debt.

To use the space created by deforestation to encourage TNCs to invest in the country.

Lack of logging controls, or they are not enforced.

There may be no re-planting policies.

Impacts of Deforestation Physical: On water cycle – more surface runoff, less rainfall, increased sediment load, greater flood risk. On soils – more erosion, gulleying, landslides, leaching, reduced fertility. On climate – carbon dioxide increases, increased daily range of temperature, rainfall decrease, reduced oxygen.

Impacts of Deforestation

Physical:

On water cycle – more surface runoff, less rainfall, increased sediment load, greater flood risk.

On soils – more erosion, gulleying, landslides, leaching, reduced fertility.

On climate – carbon dioxide increases, increased daily range of temperature, rainfall decrease, reduced oxygen.

Impacts of Deforestation Physical (cont): On plants and animals – primary forest destroyed, reduced biodiversity, extinctions, reduced NPP.

Impacts of Deforestation

Physical (cont):

On plants and animals – primary forest destroyed, reduced biodiversity, extinctions, reduced NPP.

Impacts of Deforestation Socio-economic and cultural: Loss of traditional way of life. Loss of land. Indigenous people have no immunity to “new” diseases. Conflict between indigenous people and settlers (has led to murder). Migrants have low standard of living.

Impacts of Deforestation

Socio-economic and cultural:

Loss of traditional way of life.

Loss of land.

Indigenous people have no immunity to “new” diseases.

Conflict between indigenous people and settlers (has led to murder).

Migrants have low standard of living.

Impacts of Deforestation Air Pollution: Forests are often burned before they are cleared. The smoke causes huge problems: Health – respiratory problems, diarrhoea. Evacuation of affected areas. Schools and other public facilities closed. Factories closed. Transport – flights cancelled, road traffic restricted.

Impacts of Deforestation

Air Pollution:

Forests are often burned before they are cleared. The smoke causes huge problems:

Health – respiratory problems, diarrhoea.

Evacuation of affected areas.

Schools and other public facilities closed.

Factories closed.

Transport – flights cancelled, road traffic restricted.

Towards Sustainability? Several countries are making moves towards managing rainforests more sustainably. Strategies include: National Parks with no disturbance. Replanting. Involving local people in decision making. Green and eco-tourism. Debt for nature swaps.

Towards Sustainability?

Several countries are making moves towards managing rainforests more sustainably. Strategies include:

National Parks with no disturbance.

Replanting.

Involving local people in decision making.

Green and eco-tourism.

Debt for nature swaps.

Towards Sustainability? (cont) Raising timber prices. Increased recycling of tropical hardwoods. Sustainable management of fuelwood supplies. Providing alternative energy supplies (not fuelwood).

Towards Sustainability?

(cont)

Raising timber prices.

Increased recycling of tropical hardwoods.

Sustainable management of fuelwood supplies.

Providing alternative energy supplies (not fuelwood).