2.2.11

Case Study: Malaysian Rainforest

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Case Study of a Tropical Rainforest – Malaysian Rainforest

Malaysia is located in south-east Asia and has experienced rapid deforestation.

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Deforestation

  • Trees used to be clear-felled to harvest tropical wood, leading to rapid deforestation in the 1980s.
    • An area is clear-felled if all the trees are removed from an area one at a time.
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Exports

  • Malaysia is the world’s largest exporter of palm oil.
  • The rainforest has been cleared to make room for commercial farming.
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Migration

  • The government has encouraged people to move into rainforest areas to reduce the pressure on cities (transmigration).
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Damming the river

  • The government has tried to improve energy supplies for Malaysian industry and people.
  • The Bakun HEP Dam was built to improve energy supplies using hydroelectric power.
    • The Bakun HEP Dam has flooded large areas of rainforest.

Impacts of Deforestation on the Malaysian Rainforest

There are a number of different impacts of deforestation on the Malaysian Rainforest.

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Economic development

  • The Bakun HEP dam has provided jobs for construction workers and energy to support developing industries in Malaysia.
  • As businesses benefit, the amount of tax they pay the government increases.
    • The increased tax received by the government can be reinvested into public services like health and education.
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Soil erosion

  • Trees intercept rain and bind soils.
  • When trees are removed, the soils are easily washed away.
  • Changes to the microclimate make soils drier so soil erosion is more severe.
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Contribution to climate change

  • Rainforests store carbon in the trees.
  • Carbon is released if the trees are burnt.
    • Releasing carbon adds to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
  • Fewer trees also mean less absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Jump to other topics

1The Challenge of Natural Hazards

1.1Natural Hazards

1.2Tectonic Hazards

1.3Weather Hazards

1.4Climate Change

2The Living World

3Physical Landscapes in the UK

3.1The UK Physical Landscape

3.2Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.3River Landscapes in the UK

3.4Glacial Landscapes in the UK

4Urban Issues & Challenges

5The Changing Economic World

6The Challenge of Resource Management

6.1Resource Management

6.2Food

6.3Water

6.4Energy

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