Pure Geography SA2 Overall Revision Notes

Chapter 3: The Earth’s Natural Vegetation

Comparison of Forests
 Pure Geography SA2 Overall Revision Notes
Chapter 3: The Earth’s Natural Vegetation
Uses of Forests
Function/Use Explanation
Maintaining the 1. Quality: The forest will support the natural processes that filter water by reducing the amount of
water supply surface runoff, making it remain clear and free from substances that is harmful to organisms, making it
(quantity and suitable for drinking and supporting life.
quality) 2. Quantity: The forest will ensure that there is a continuous flow of water through the water cycle.
Replenishing 1. Forests are also known as the “Green lungs of the Earth”.
oxygen and 2. This is because during photosynthesis, trees take in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen.
removing carbon 3. As Carbon Dioxide is a greenhouse gas, reducing the amounts of carbon dioxide will help prevent global
dioxide temperatures from rising, regulating the temperature of the Earth
Maintaining 1. Decomposing vegetation on the forest floor release nutrients back into the soil and hold the particles
nutrients in the together to prevent the soil to run off.
soil 2. Therefore, forests maintain quality of the soil by preventing nutrients from being removed by soil
erosion.
Preventing 1. Absence of roots may lead to soil erosion.
floods 2. Soil erosion will cause the river bed to be shallower and reduce its ability to contain water.
3. Therefore, the likelihood of flooding increases when forests are cleared.
Protecting 1. Mangrove protects coastal areas from storms and strong waves
coasts 2. Example: During the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, mangrove forests prevented some of the coastal
villages in South-eastern India from being destroyed.
Natural 1. Mangrove forest can process waste materials carried by water from streams and rivers. Soil in
treatment of mangrove forests contains bacteria that can break down biodegradable materials into nutrients.
waste water 2. Their roots help trap waste materials and filter the water before entering the sea.
3. However, there is a limit to the amount of sewage that can be absorbed; therefore people should not
just dump all their rubbish there.
Habitat for Flora 1. Forests are home to more than 50% of all species in the world, including tigers and rare species of
and Fauna orchids found in tropical rainforests in Malaysia and Grizzly bears in coniferous forests of North
America.
2. Forests are also home to approximately 60 million people living in the tropical rainforests of South
America, SEA and Africa. Examples include Hunter Gatherers (Korubu tribe in Amazon) and Shifting
Cultivators in Indonesia.
A source of 1. Forests provide timber worth more than $200 billion per year.
useful materials 2. Hardwood can be used for furniture making, ship building and manufacturing musical instruments.
Examples include mahogany and teak found in tropical rainforests.
3. Softwood can be used for housing, construction, furniture and flooring. Examples include pine, fir and
spruce.
4. Forests also provide Medicines. Example: Quinine, a drug for treating Malaria is extracted from the
Cinchona tree from the Brazilian rainforest.
5. Forests provide fuelwood and charcoal as well. Over 2 billion people worldwide still rely on fuelwood as
their main source of energy.
6. Example of usage of charcoal: Mangrove trees like Rhizophora are cut down in Malaysia’s Matang
Forest to produce charcoal.
Recreation 1. Forests can be used for camping, fishing, sight-seeing and hiking. They are popular among urban people
as they can provide solace from stressful daily routines.
2. The introduction of ecotourism allows urban dwellers to appreciate the beauty of forests and engage in
activities which do not harm the environment. Examples include Taman Negara in Malaysia.
Research and 1. Scientists study forest plants to develop new medicines and varieties of crops.
Education 2. They also study the interactions between forest animals and their environment with the plants to
understand how changes in the weather affect the animals and plants in the forest ecosystem which
helps people to adapt in the process as well.
 Pure Geography SA2 Overall Revision Notes
Chapter 3: The Earth’s Natural Vegetation
Causes of Large – Scale Deforestation
Cause Explanation Example
Population Increase 1. Due to high birth rate in countries Brazil is one of the most
2. This puts pressure on forested land which is deforested for housing, populous country in the
agriculture, transport and industrial infrastructure. world with a population of
194 million people in 2005.
Settlements 1. Settlements are houses and farms people live and own. It can be a rural
or urban settlement.
2. Government is trying to resettle people from densely populated cities
into less densely populated parts of the country.
3. Each relocated family is given a piece of land and offered subsidies to
convert the cleared land into farmland.
Rapid Urbanisation 1. Urbanisation is the physical growth of rural land into urban areas
(villages converted to cities)
2. Forested land is cleared for new housing estates, hospitals, schools, etc.
Land Transport 1. Fragmentation: Habitat is separated into many different parts. The 5100km long
Systems Transamazonian Highway
cutting the Amazon Forest
Agriculture 1. Contributes about 10% of country’s income Commercial Farming: Sugar
2. Employs about 25% of population cane, coffee and soy beans
3. 3 main types: Shifting cultivation, subsistence/commercial farming occupy much forest land.
4. Shifting cultivation: tribal farmers cut down small sections of the forest Between 1994-2003,
and burn the trees. A small scale – not a heavy threat cultivating area for soy
5. Subsistence cultivation: Self-sufficient farming where farmers grow beans nearly doubled to
enough food to find their family and themselves. Collective practice is meet high demands.
damaging.
6. Commercial Farming: Huge companies operate it in the form of
extensive cattle ranching, accounting approx. 80% of deforestation.
Forest Fires 1. Burns up thousands of square kilometres every year. Can be caused by
natural and/or human causes.
Economic 1. Money is required for economic development. Largest dam is the Itaipu
Development and 2. Brazil is one of the world’s largest debtors, owning about US $100 billion Dam on the Parana River.
Debt Repayment to foreign banks and thus the country’s natural resources have to be
exploited to pay and reduce national debt.
3. Commercial Logging: Eager to sell timber to developed countries when
there is high demand.
4. Mining: Rich in minerals such as iron ore (high value), gold and fossil
fuels like oil.
5. Hydro-electricity: Construction of dams create large reservoirs that can
flood and destroy rainforest areas. Can generate up to 126000 MW of
electricity.
 Pure Geography SA2 Overall Revision Notes
Chapter 3: The Earth’s Natural Vegetation
Consequences of Large – Scale Deforestation
Consequences Explanation
Global Warming With the reduction of trees in the rainforest, more carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere, trapping
more heat, leading to global warming.
Changes to the Importance of forests in maintaining soil quality:
nutrient cycle and 1. When trees die, they decompose quickly under hot and humid conditions, and thus nutrients are
soil deterioration returned to the soil.
2. If there are abundant trees, they can absorb nutrients from decomposed plants from the soil and thus
maintain the nutrient cycle.
3. In addition, Roots hold and protect the soil, preventing topsoil erosion. Branches help to intercept
rainfall.
Floods and Water 1. No trees to intercept rainfall, surface runoff increased.
Quality 2. Topsoil washed into rivers, increasing height of river bed, increasing frequency of flooding.
3. Deposition of organic debris used to collect on the forest floor in the river increases acidity of the
river, may kill aquatic life.
Air Pollution 1. Millions of square kilometres of rainforests affected.
2. Dust and smoke particles accumulate in the air  Haze
3. Haze closed airports and affected health.
Loss of biodiversity 1. Extinction of Flora and Fauna
2. Destruction and eventual extinction in the long run.
3. Chances of discovering useful drugs diminish.
4. The micro-leao-dourado from Brazil is having difficulty surviving due to the rapid rate of
deforestation.
Impact on 1. Population of native Brazilians have been greatly reduced from 1 million in 1550s to 700 000
Inhabitants of presently.
Rainforest 2. Deforestation disrupts culture and traditional way of life.
3. Eventually, culture, knowledge and way of life will be lost.
 Pure Geography SA2 Overall Revision Notes
Chapter 3: The Earth’s Natural Vegetation
Solutions of Large – Scale Deforestation
Towards Sustainable Management in Forests
1. Refers to the careful use of resources to allow people to use them in the future.
2. Ensure a balance between generating income through sale of forest resources and protecting forests.
3. Prevent excessive logging.
4. It must also involve local governments, native people and villages for it to be successful.
Solution Explanation
Replace clear cutting. Logging is allowed but is controlled.
Success Failure
1
1. MOF arranged for education for timber 1. Difficult to monitor and detect illegal logging
companies to inform them about the activities: Lack of manpower and remoteness
Selective/Controlled damage. of forest areas.
Logging 2. Identify commercially valuable trees, others 2. Other plants that twine around 2 or more
are retained. trees like lianas may affect other trees. Ferns
3. Allows forest to regenerate. and orchids that grow on the trees may be
4. Young trees can grow as overcrowding was affected.
reduced.
5. Minimise soil erosion.
Setting aside portions of the rainforest to be left undisturbed and protected.
Success Failure
1. Protect animal and plant species. Difficult to monitor and detect illegal logging
Conservation
2. Leave them undisturbed and protected. activities: Lack of manpower and remoteness of
3. Allow natives to protect their lifestyle and forest areas.
culture.
1. Afforestation refers to the planting of trees that were originally not forests.
2. Reforestation refers to the planting of trees in formerly forested areas cleared by logging.
3. Teak is used in the planting of trees as it grows quickly.
Success Failure
Afforestation and 1. Teak trees which are commercially valuable 1. Rates at which forests are replanted are
Reforestation are commonly planted as it grows well. much slower at which they are cleared.
2. Takes a short time (5 years) to grow. 2. Incentives given to local people are not
attractive.
3. Loss of original biodiversity, making it no
different from plantations.
1. Since forest fires are a major cause of deforestation and air pollution, forest fires should be
controlled.
Controlling Forest
2. Limitations: Not very effective, plantation companies continue to burn forests as it the cheapest
Fires
way to clear land. In addition, the locals are also reluctant as this was the traditional way inherited
from past generations.
Government can limit the number of trees cut down and withdraw financial help given to clearance
projects.
Success Failure
Establishment of Laws
1. Logging permits are cancelled. 1. Weak enforcement.
and Policies
2. Financial support and tax incentives 2. Corruption.
withdrawn.
3. Limit number of trees cut down.

1
Ministry of Forest Trees