• 6:43 PM, 2.10.07
Chapter 5: Case Study - Deforestation in Kalimantan, Indonesia.What is Deforestation?
-permanent clearing and destruction of forests.
-due to human activities
-forests removed to create land
Causes of Deforestation in Kalimantan.
-increase in demand for agricultural landuse.
- population increase
- new settlers who grow crops in small holdsings
- plantation companies -> oil palm commonly cultivated -> cheap to grow and highly profitable
-growth of settlements.
- urbanisation -> growth of BALIKPAPAN HOO~
-improved transport networks.
- roads and railways built to link settlements -> trans-kalimantan highway
- allow access to previously remote forested areas which also makes it easier for people to destroy, lmfao, dumbasses.
-growth of industries.
- logging, illegal duh.
- mining which affects quality of water
- mainly industrial activities
-forest fires.
- some are delibrate, cause plantation companies cheapskate, then they just start forest fires instead of employing labourers to clear the land
Problems Caused by Deforestation in Kalimantan
-loss in biomass
- biomass = combined weight of all organisms which is measured in terms of kilocalories of stored energy. -> important because it represents the ability of Earth to support life.
- less biomass -> less nutrients in forest ecosystem -> reduces the ability of rainforests to support plants
-loss of biodiversity
- biodiversity = the diverse range of plants and animals.
- due to deforestation, biodiversity is reduced which leads to extinction of species.
-changes in the nutrient cycle
- removal of vegetation results in the loss of leaf litter.
- soils are leached, absorption of rainwater is reduced.
- soil becomes infertile and cannot support vegetation growth.
- very little of the original vegetation can be replaced, land insuitable for cultivation of crops.
-changes in quantity of water
- less transpiration takes place -> low rainfall -> droughts or prolonged dry seasons.
- floods can be triggered by deforestation.
-changes in quality of water
- soil eroded -> washed into nearby river -> increases sediment level of river.
- changes pH level of the water, becomes acidic.
-air pollution
- dust and smoke released into the air
- huge forest fire leads to haze -> health problems such as eye, nose and throat irritations, coughs, headaches and throat infections.
Managing the Rainforests in Kalimantan.
-The Ministry of Forestry (MOF)
- responsible for ensuring a balance between generating income and protecting the forests -> issue license to timber companies to allow them to log in specific areas
- not enough to control deforestation
-Community Involvement
- MoF involves local people. example; local governments, native people and villagers.
- local governments are required by law to manage the forests that are found in their area.
- empowers the local governments to enforce the laws regarding forest use.
-Sustainable Management
- refers to the careful use of resources, such as forests, to allow people to continue to use them in the future
- many policies formed: afforestation, reforestation, controlled logging, conservation measures and forest fire control measures.
Policy 1: Afforestion and reforestation
- afforestation: planting of trees on areas that were originally not covered with forests. -> carried out on agricultural lands that had been abandoned by farmers.
- reforestation: planting of trees in formerly forested areas cleared by logging.
- involves participation and cooperation of people such as local people and timber companies.
- timber companies are required to replant and retain at least 25 commericially valuable trees per hectare in areas they have logged -> have to pay reforestation fees too.
- teak trees commonly planted for afforestation + reforestation -> commercially valuable + fast growing
- some parts where there is active particpation from local people, significant restorations made possible
- rate of replantation slower than the rate of clearing -> incentives given to local people not attractive
- since only teak trees planted, original biodiversity gone.
Policy 2: Controlled logging
- involves careful management of forests that are being logged -> uses measures like law enforcement (fines and imprisonment), education and research programmes.
- selective cutting encouraged.
- common way = clear cutting (wastage and great damage)
- selective cutting enables forests to regenerate.
- minimises soil erosion.
- difficult to monitor logging and detect illegal logging -> lack of manpower and the remoteness of forested areas.
- when trees are selectively removed, still might affect neighbouring trees. (fall on them)
Policy 3: Conservation
- conservation = careful use of resources to protect them from destruction.
- forests set aside as nature reserves.
- betung kenhun nature reserve -> working closely with the WWF to increase protected areas and manage the reserve sustainably.
- illegal logging still detected in nature reserves -> hard to detec due to the vastness of the nature reserve.
Policy 4: Controlling forest fires
- forest fires major cause of deforestation and air pollution.
- Integrated Forest Fire Protection System. (1994)
- National Fire Management Plan. (1999)
- government conducted annual forest fire awareness campaigns -<>
- plantations continue to burn forests because it's the cheapest way.
- farmers used to traditional farming methods (burning) inherited from past generations.