b. Why are tropical rainforests being 'exploited' and how can this be managed sustainably?

List the goods that the tropical rainforest provides.

• Food (many foods used by indigenous people are now in our diet - bananas, pineapples, avocados, cocoa, coffee etc.)

• Cash crops (e.g. the development of wild coffee that resists disease and has a higher yield than the Arabica beans traditionally used by growers in the rest of Brazil)

• Health (many medicines come from rainforest plants. An estimated 25% of modern drugs are made from rainforest ingredients  e.g. the drug Vincristine which has increased the survival rates from childhood cancers)

List the services that the tropical rainforest provides.

• Climate regulation

• Water regulation

Describe how rainforests help with climate regulation.

Rainforests help cool the environment locally and globally.

They act as carbon sinks, removing and storing about 15% of our carbon dioxide emissions every year, which would otherwise contribute to global warming.

Huge volumes of water also evaporates from them - which helps cool the earth and create clouds that reflect the sun’s heat back into outer space

How much carbon dioxide does the tropical rainforest store?

Store about 15% of our carbon dioxide emissions every year

Describe how rainforests help with water regulation.

(Hydrological cycle)

Rainforests act as huge filters to purify water before people drink it in the cities of tropical regions.

The forest also acts as a sponge, by controlling the flow of water though absorption, transpiration and photosynthesis to prevent floods, droughts and leeching in these regions.

How do tropical rainforests location contribute to their location?

Most of the world’s rainforests are found in LIDCs and EDCs

As the priority for these countries is economic development, the rainforests are seen as a resource to exploit for short-term economic benefit.

This exploitation of timber and land has led to large scale deforestation

What are the three main human activities affecting the rainforests?

• Logging (for timber)

• Mineral extraction

• Tourism

What is logging?

Logging - involves the cutting down of trees for timber

What scale is logging done on?

Logging is now down on an industrial scale due to the building of roads and other infrastructure.

The timber is also further exported to the USA or Europe for furniture and construction

Describe the impact of logging on the environment.

With no trees to hold the soil together, heavy rain waves away the soil (soil erosion)

Eroded soil can then enter rivers, silting up habitats that fish use for breeding

The removal of trees interrupts the water cycle - which can lead to some areas becoming very dry with an increased risk of wildfires (while others are more likely to flood)

Logging requires the building of new roads, which opens up the rainforest to further development

What minerals are mostly extracted in tropical rainforests?

Gold, copper and diamonds

Describe the impact of mineral extraction on the environment.

• mining of precious metals e.g. gold often requires heavy machinery and the removal of trees

• Toxic chemicals which are used to then extract and purify the metals are washed into streams and rivers - killing wildlife and polluting people’s drinking water

• There can also be conflict with local people over rights to land

Describe the impacts of tourism on the environment.

• Tourists may scare wildlife e.g. causing some birds to abandon their young

• Tourists can also damage vegetation and leave behind lots of litter

• If tourism is unregulated, a lack of infrastructure (e.g. sewers) can lead to the pollution of waterways

• In order to build this infrastructure , vegetation must be cleared

Name the case study for sustainable management.

Samasati nature retreat in Costa Rica

Define ‘sustainable’

Sustainable refers to meeting the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

What is meant by sustainable management?

Sustainable management - the allowance of people today to get the things they need - without stopping people in the future getting what they need

What happened in Costa Rica in the 1960s?

In the 1960s Costa Rica began to experience rapid deforestation - mainly due to cattle ranching and agricultural development

Between which years did deforestation in Costa Rice reach one of the highest rates in the world?

Between 1970 and 1990, deforestation reached one of the highest rates in the world (32000 hectares cut down each year)

How did the government respond to this?

After this the government:

• established protected areas of the forest

• passed laws to stop deforestation

• gave landowners a financial incentive to protect forests.

How did the governments response improve Costa Rica?

Today there are 28 national parks and nature reserves in Costa Rica

24% of the country’s land area is protected

What is ecotourism?

Ecotourism - A type of sustainable tourism that aims to create local employment while conserving the natural environment

Give an example of ecotourism.

Samasati nature retreat

Describe how the accommodation at the samasati nature retreat is designed to minimise the impact of tourism.

• no heavy machinery used in its construction

• Nature retreat employs only local people

• Colours of buildings blend with the landscape

• Drinking water comes from natural springs

• Timber came from an afforestation project in Costa Rica

• Rainwater is collected on roofs and used for toilets and showers (recycled)

• The buildings fit between trees in the forest - no old trees were destroyed

• Buildings are on stilts to reduce humidity and allow natural drainage

• Natural light and ventilation minimise energy use

• Only biodegradable soap, detergents and shampoo are allowed.