What is happening here? Deforestation in Borneo

What is happening in this picture? Deforestation to plant palm oil trees

Deforestation in Brazil

A CASE STUDY to illustrate: 1) Causes of deforestation – farming, logging, road building, mineral extraction, energy development, settlement, population growth. 2) Impacts of deforestation – economic development, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, contribution to climate change

Facts It is estimated that within 100 years there will be no rainforests. One and a half acres of forest is cut down every second. Loss of forests contributes between 12 percent and 17 percent of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. The rate of deforestation equals to loss of 20 football fields every minute. There are more than 121 natural remedies in the rain forest which can be used as medicines.

Facts 20% of the world’s oxygen is produced in the Amazon forest. Up to 28,000 species are expected to become extinct by the next quarter of the century due to deforestation. 25% of cancers fighting organisms are found in the amazon. Industrialized countries consume 12 times more wood and its products per person than the non-industrialized countries. Worldwide more than 1.6 billion people rely on forests products for all or part of their livelihoods. Tropical rainforests which cover 6-7% of the earth’s surface, contain over half of all the plant and animal species in the world!

Palm Oil Plantation

Palm Oil Plantation

A record low for Brazil: but 3X size of UK already cleared here!! During first decade of 21st century deforestation increased in all three continents (Asia, Africa and South America) – but it is only the rate that has change, all countries still deforesting Double!!!! A record low for Brazil: but 3X size of UK already cleared here!!

Today the global rate at which the tropical rainforest is being cleared is: 1 hectare per second 60 hectares per minute 86,000 hectares per day (larger than New York city) 31 million hectare s per year (larger than Poland)

Amazon Deforestation rate An annual study released by the Brazilian government estimates that the rate of deforestation in the Amazon has increased by 29 percent over last year. Why has MOST of the deforestation occurred to the south of the Amazon River? Why has MOST of the deforestation occurred to the south of the Amazon River? Because it is the part of the rainfores most accessible to Brazils’ major cities (Rio and Sao Paulo)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLErPqqCC54

Indigenous tribes have used the rainforest for thousands of years Indigenous tribes have used the rainforest for thousands of years. They have: Harvested fruits, cut wood for fuel, used timber for dwellings, discovered cures for various illnesses

Tribes have also used a technique known as slash and burn Tribes have also used a technique known as slash and burn . It does little lasting damage to the forest, once an area has become exhausted the tribe move on and let the previous land recover

So…if tribes can not destroy the rainforest, what causes this?

Add the %’s and correct colour to your A3 Sheet

Brazil is located in South America and is the 5th largest country in the world, yet contains the largest area of tropical rainforest. The tropical rainforest is being exploited in 2 ways: 1. By using its resources, such as timber, water and minerals. 2. By clearing the forest to make way for other activities such as growing crops (palm oil) and rearing livestock

Use P72 and 73 to add notes to your A3 sheet about the main resource exploiting activities and other activities causing the forest to be cleared.

Logging What are the main resource-exploiting activities? A CASE STUDY to illustrate: 1) Causes of deforestation – farming, logging, road building, mineral extraction, energy development, settlement, population growth. Brazil is located in South America and is the 5th largest country in the world, yet contains the largest area of tropical rainforest. The tropical rainforest is being exploited in 2 ways: 1. By using its resources, such as timber, water and minerals. 2. By clearing the forest to make way for other activities such as growing crops (palm oil) and rearing livestock What are the main resource-exploiting activities? Logging Mineral Extraction Energy development Illegal trade in wildlife Causes of deforestation in Amazon – Add %’s Today the global rate at which the tropical rainforest is being cleared is: 1 hectare per second 60 hectares per minute 86,000 hectares per day (larger than New York city) 31 million hectare s per year (larger than Poland) What activities are causing the forest to be cleared? Commercial farming: cattle Commercial Farming: crops Road Building Settlement and Population growth