Topic Summaries

Case study – deforestation of rainforests

IGCSE > Geography > Pearson IGCSE > IGCSE Geography Topic Summaries > Tropical rainforest ecosystems > Case study – deforestation of rainforests
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Weather hazards and atmospheric circulation

Hot desert ecosystems

Cold environment ecosystems

Glacial landscapes

Glacial landform processes

Energy supply

Deforestation in Malaysia
Causes
  • Subsistence farming: land is cleared by local people to grow food for their families. Large-scale plantations, especially for palm oil, are established to export products for profit.
  • Logging: Malaysia is one of the largest exporters of tropical wood. Trees are felled for timber to sell and export.
  • Road building: roads are constructed to provide access for miners, farmers, and logging companies to remote areas of the rainforest.
  • Population growth: forests are cleared to create settlements and farmland to support Malaysia’s growing population and economy. 
  • Mining and energy: tin mining, oil and gas drilling occur in the rainforest to generate income and improve energy security.
  • Tourism development: forests are sometimes cleared for infrastructure such as hotels, resorts, and transportation to accommodate the growth of tourism industries, particularly adventure tourism in more remote locations like rainforests
Impacts
  • Economic development: although jobs in industries like logging, mining, and farming boost Malaysia’s economy, local people are often exploited by companies, working in dangerous conditions for low income and ultimately harming the economy and population in the long term. 
  • Soil erosion: without tree roots to bind the soil, heavy tropical rain washes soil and nutrients away, leading to soil erosion and a higher risk of flooding.
  • Contribution to climate change: trees store carbon dioxide (CO2). When they are cut down or burned, CO2 is released, contributing to global warming. 
  • Loss of biodiversity: habitat destruction endangers ecosystems and threatens endangered species like orangutans and Malayan tigers. 
  • Disruption to indigenous communities: deforestation displaces people and compromises their way of life.

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