Geography

Soil erosion

Once the land is cleared of rainforest vegetation the soil is left bare. When it rains, the nutrients in the soil are washed away. The nutrient cycle stops because there are no plants or trees shedding leaves to replace the nutrients in the soil. The soil is no longer able to support plant life because it is not fertile. The roots of plants and trees no longer hold the soil together so it is easily eroded.

Loss of biodiversity

Many different species of plants and animals die because of deforestation. As plants and animals are closely connected through the food web, deforestation this reduces the biodiversity, or variety of species found in the tropical rainforest.

Climate change

The trees and plants of the Amazon Basin absorb carbon dioxide during the process of photosynthesis. If there are fewer trees and plants, due to deforestation, then less carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere. In this way deforestation contributes to global warmingand therefore climate change.

Economic development

The creation of mines, farms and roads - which caused deforestation - has also led to economic development. The money created from these enterprises allows a country to generate foreign income, which can then be used to pay off debts or be invested in further development projects.

This rainforest nutrient cycle stops with deforestation

• Logging and replanting - selective logging of mature trees ensures that the rainforest canopy is preserved. This method allows the forest to recover because the younger trees gain more space and sunlight to grow. Planned and controlled logging ensures that for every tree logged another is planted.

• Education - It is important that local people, businesses and politicians understand the true value of the tropical rainforest. Once they understand the value of biodiversity, particularly in terms of tourism, they will be more likely to want to protect it from deforestation.

• Ecotourism - this encourages sustainable tourism that creates jobs for local people whilst ensuring that the money generated is used to protect and conserve the tropical rainforest for future generations to enjoy.

• International agreements - agreements to protect tropical rainforests have been made between different countries through debt-for-nature swaps. This is when a country which is owed money by another country cancels part of the debt if an agreement is made by the debtor country to ensure the conservation of its tropical rainforests.

The Malaysian government have implemented the following policies to ensure that the tropical rainforest can be conserved and enjoyed by future generations:

• Public awareness of the value of tropical rainforests increased through education.

• Local communities included and involved in forest conservation projects.

• Use of alternative timber sources such as rubber trees was encouraged.

• Selective logging of mature and commercially viable trees over a 40-year cycle to ensure that trees had time to re-establish themselves. This is known as a Selective Management System.

• Ecotourism promoted and developed in tropical rainforest areas.

• Permanent Forest Estates have been created by the government where no change of land use is allowed.

• Creation of National Parks to protect biodiversity.