Geography IGCSE - Tropical Rainforest

Borneo population

23 million

Borneo location

Southeast Asia and the island is shared by Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei

Borneo lowland rainforest

stretches around 425 thousand km², covering over 50% of the island’s land

BP1 (value/benefits)

Biodiversity Hotspot → Home to endangered species → Sabah → like orangutans, pygmy elephants, and clouded leopards → forests protect river systems → forest cover reduces soil erosion, flooding + helps regulate local rainfall patterns → areas that lose forest cover have soil erosion increase by 70%

BP2 (values/benefits)

Tourists visit Bako National Park → brings money to local communities while promoting conservation → scientists are studying rainforest plants for cancer, malaria, and antibiotic treatments → about 25% of Western medicines come from rainforest plants → many found in Borneo → rich in rare medicinal plant species

BP3 (value/benefits)

Dayak tribes → rely on forests for food, wild fruits, building materials + traditional medicine → way of life is threatened by deforestation → community forest initiatives are helping protect people + forest → forest home to sacred sites + traditional rituals → tribes in Sarawak pass down knowledge about sustainable harvesting → e.g. rubber tapping + honey collection

BP1 (causes + effects)

• Palm oil plantations are the biggest driver of deforestation in Borneo → nearly 50% of Borneo’s palm oil expansion (2000–2010) came at the expense of forests → Central Kalimantan → vast areas were cleared for commercial plantations → legal + illegal land-clearing for palm oil

BP2 (causes + effects)

Displacement of Indigenous People → Dayak communities lose traditional land to palm oil plantations + logging → force them into cities where the job competition is already high → leading them to increased poverty → health Issues → increased respiratory diseases due to haze from forest fires → e.g.2015 haze crisis affected around 70 million people in southeast asia→ schools + businesses forced to close down → pressure on healthcare services → worsen public health conditions

BP3 (causes + effects)

Short term job creation → palm oil + logging industries provide employment → generate 19 billion in exports (2019) → Long term job losses → once forests depleted → logging companies relocate → causing former logging towns to economic decline → e.g. Kalimantan → leading to unemployment in those areas → poverty cycle

BP1 (vegetation)

Buttress roots:

• Large, wide roots → spread out from base of tall trees → support height → rainforest trees grow rapidly in competition for sunlight

• Help anchor the tree → in shallow, thin topsoil → which is nutrient-poor + quickly leached by rainfall

• Surface-spreading roots → absorb nutrients quickly before they are washed away by heavy rain

• Common in emergent and canopy trees → e.g. kapok

BP2 (vegetation)

Drip tip leaves:

• Leaves have pointed tips → allows excess rainwater to run off quickly

• Prevents water from collecting on leaf surface → could cause fungal or bacterial growth in hot, humid environment

• Helps keep leaf dry + healthy → continue photosynthesis effectively

• Found on canopy + understory plants

BP3 (vegetation)

Waxy leaves:

• Leaves have thick, waxy surface → reduce water loss through transpiration

• Shed excess rainwater → keeps leaf surfaces dry

• Reflects some sunlight → protects leaf cells from damage in exposed canopy areas

• Useful in canopy + emergent layers → sunlight + rain are most intense

BP1 (wildlife)

Spider monkey:

• Prehensile tail → acts like a fifth limb → allows it to grip branches firmly while climbing + hanging

• Long, strong limbs + flexible joints → help it swing easily between trees → moves quickly without coming to forest floor

• Lives in upper canopy → feeds on fruit + nuts → avoids predators → e.g. jaguars that stay on ground

BP2 (wildlife)

Sloth:

• Moves extremely slowly → hard for predators → e.g. eagles to spot

• Fur grows algae → greenish tint → helps blend in with leaves of canopy

• Uses long, curved claws to grip tree branches securely → allows it to hang upside down for long periods → minimal effort

• Diet consists of low-energy leaves → conserving energy is key to survival

BP3 (wildlife)

Toucan:

• Large, lightweight beak → reach + pluck fruit from thin, distant branches → other animals can’t access

• Beak helps with thermoregulation → releases excess body heat in hot, humid climate.

• Strong, zygodactyl feet (two toes forward, two back) → firm grip on branches → supports movement in upper canopy → lives + feeds