Question on Natural Vegetation : Consequence of deforestation

“Environmental degradation is the only consequence of deforestation.”
With reference to a case study that you have done, how far do you agree with this statement? (8m)


Level 1 (0–2 marks)
• List degradation only
• No link to deforestation

Level 2 (3–5 marks)
• Explain how environmental degradation is the consequence of deforestation
• But no reference to other kind of consequences like social consequence and economic consequences

Level 3 (6–8 marks)
• Explain environmental degradation in detail with relevant example and
• Appropriate reference to social and economic consequences.



Consequence of deforestation

1. Environmental Degradation
a. Loss of biomass
i. Earth’s biomass has been decreased as the rainforest of Kalimantan form a significant portion of the Earth’s biomass.
ii. Lesser animals higher up the food chain and ecosystem can be supported.

b. Loss in biodiversity
i. Kalimantan rainforests have a very high biodiversity of plants and animals which is diverse and fragile.
ii. When biomass is reduced, it will be able to support less plants and animals leading to a drop in the biodiversity
1. 80% of habitat of Orang Utans has been destroyed by deforestation
2. about 5 000 die every year due to deforestation.

c. Air pollution due to Haze
i. Clearing of forest by burning
ii. Huge forest fire eject huge amount of dust and smoke into the air
iii. Resulting in haze to be experienced in many other areas.


2. Social Consequences
d. Natives of Borneo Island, The Dayaks :Practices slash-and-burn subsistence farming
e. Harvest a variety of plants from the rainforest for day-to-day use.
f. Have the knowledge to control the extent of fires
g. Knows how to grow complementary crops to sustain fertility of the soil and methods to speed up the regeneration of the rainforest.
h. With deforestation less forest available for the Dayaks. Affect the way of life of the Dayaks.


3. Economic Consequences
i. Lost of forest will lead to lost of attraction for eco-tourism
j. Tourist cannot use the forest for camping or observing wild life.
k. Tanjung Puting National Park is a 400,000 hectare forst that have been conserved.


Additional Questions.

1.Go to the website Beheading a Dayak Ritual.
Read the article. Explore other links from that website.

Explain some of the social consequences of deforestation.

Here are some clues to help you.

Transmigration--- to Kalimantan--- Madurese.---- Dayak--- beheading.

2.Go to the website Tanjung Puting National Park A case study
Explain the consequence of illegal logging.

Do post your response so that I can give comments.