Rainforest Case Study: Malaysian Rainforest (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Geography) : Revision Note

Threats to the tropical rainforest in Malaysia

• It is estimated that Malaysia has the fastest rate of deforestation in the world

• Since 2000, an average of over 140,000 hectares of forest has been felled and cleared each year

• The main threats to the rainforest in Malaysia include:

Logging

• Malaysia is the largest exporter of tropical hardwoods

• Although Malaysia has environmental protection policies, there is still evidence of illegal logging in areas of Borneo

• Selective logging is the dominant type of logging but this requires road construction and settlements, which result in deforestation

Energy

• The construction of dams to provide hydroelectric power results in the flooding of large areas of forest

• The Bakun Dam will result in 700 km ²  of land being underwater in Sarawak, Malaysia

Mining 

• Tin mines are widespread and require deforestation not only for the mine itself but also for road construction 

• An iron ore mine planned for the Som Forest Reserve will result in the deforestation of over 60 hectares

• There is also drilling for oil and gas

Commercial plantations

• Malaysia exports over 30% of the world's palm oil and is the second-largest producer

• Many palm oil processors are now adopting a zero-deforestation policy so that they do not buy palm oil from deforested areas. However, clear felling permits are sometimes used in Malaysia to clear land and then sometime later another company will plant palm oil

Settlements 

• Up to 1980, people were encouraged to move to rural areas from the cities to try and reduce the pressure on urban areas

  • This led to the deforestation of approximately 15,000 hectares of rainforest

Subsistence farming

• This can sometimes involve slash and burn, where areas are cleared using fires; these can sometimes get out of control and destroy large areas of rainforest

Impacts of destruction of the tropical rainforest in Malaysia

Soil erosion 

• Without the tree roots to bind the soil, the soil is more easily eroded by wind and rain

• Exposed soil is more vulnerable to the leaching of nutrients and the soil becomes less fertile

Loss of biodiversity

• Habitats are destroyed and the ecosystem is affected by deforestation so the variety of plants and animals decreases

• Oil Palm plantations lead to a 35% reduction in species

• Orangutans, pygmy elephants, Sumatran rhinos, and Malayan tigers are all endangered

Local climate change

• Reduced transpiration and evaporation leads to a decrease in precipitation and an increase in temperatures

• Rainfall patterns become less reliable and more extreme

Global climate change

• The felling of the trees leads to a decrease in the absorption of carbon dioxide 

• Increases carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere and as this is a greenhouse gas, this increases human-induced climate change

• The use of fire for clearance also increases carbon dioxide emissions

 Indigenous communities

• Indigenous communities such as the Orang Asli and Temiar have been forced off land 

• Pollination of fruits has reduced due to a decrease in pollinating insects and animals such as bats

  • This has reduced the available food sources

• In Kuala Koh village in 2019, at least 15 Indigenous Batek died after an outbreak of disease possibly transmitted by loggers working near the village

Strategies to protect the tropical rainforest in Malaysia

• The implementation of a range of strategies to protect the tropical rainforest is increasing sustainability in Malaysia

• Since 2001 the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) has certified 349 timber companies 

  • This means they are using sustainable management methods to fell timber

Education

• Education provides people with information about the importance of conserving the rainforest

• It also informs people of the damage deforestation can do

• Several education strategies have been implemented: 

  • Increased education programmes

  • The Ministry of Education has developed resources for integrating environmental education into the school curriculum.

  • They also have partnerships with NGOs such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and IGOs such as UNESCO

Community involvement 

• Increased involvement of local communities in forest conservation

• Recognition of Indigenous community land rights

• Support of small-scale economic activities among Indigenous communities such as the Rungus:

  • Gombizau village – bees and honey 

  • Bavanggazo village – ecotourism

Selective logging and management system

• Selective logging has replaced clear felling in many areas

• The process involves:

  • Identification of the trees to be felled and the direction of felling. This avoids damaging other trees

  • Only trees of a certain size are selected for felling

  • Felling is carried out

  • A survey following felling leads to a treatment plan to restore any damage

Ecotourism

• The introduction of ecotourism provides income for local communities and educates visitors

• The Sungai Yu Forest Reserve is one example where visitors can:

  • Camp with the Batek Indigenous community, who are semi-nomadic

  • Collect data about wildlife to help reduce poaching

• Ecotourism involves:

  • Members of the local community as guides, which provides them with an income

  • Use of local materials for building

  • Sustainable management of water, energy and waste 

  • Small groups which reduce the damage to the environment

Biosphere Reserves and National Parks

• Reserves and national parks are areas where no development or deforestation is allowed

• Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve attracts over 1.6 million visitors annually

• It consists of the: 

  • Core area: 6,304 ha

  • Buffer zone: 2,213 ha

  • Transition zone: 3,964 ha

• It includes one of the last coastal rainforests in Malaysia