CASE STUDIES

An $ea of )opical rainf/est – Sinhaj$a, Sri Lanka

o The Sinharaja rainforest lies in the south-west of Sri Lanka, near the Indian
ocean.
o Sri Lanka is estimated that around 1.5% of the countries original forest
remains protected in the Sinharaja rainforest reserve.

Threats to the res*ve:

1. Habitat loss & Change: because of the expansion of human settlements,
agricultural land, gem mining and related infustructure, such as load
networks.
2. The over-exploitation of the flora and fauna species: by the killing of
animals for bush meat, the killing of elephants to supply Ivory trade, the
export of ornamental fauna and Flora. Timber filing, illegal logging and
the illegal trading of economically valued species.
3. Invasive alien species: species that have been introduced or spread
outside their natural habitats threaten biologically diversity. Many of these
are non-native species that have multiplied dramatically because they
don’t have natural predators in their new environment. Often, they cause
the death or extract of native species.
4. Pollution and climate change: resulting in the extinction of indigenous
animals and plants. There is increasing potential for forest dieback where
trees and plants are put under increasing pressure, becoming weaker
and more prone to disease and fungal attack.
Socio-economic threats which relate to the people and organizations
found close to the reserve that are perhaps amongst the most important.
5. Land being cleared by local people for farming and cultivation: this is the
biggest problem. License timber contractors who open routes and roads
to enable their logging operations on the edge of the reserve more
accessible to legal operations.
6. Illegal gem mining is also a serious problem organized by wealthy gem
dealers from outside the Sahar-Aja region.
Fut/e 0otection of the rainf5est
o A conservation plan has been organized between the Sri Lanka
government, Ngo, IUCN (International union conservation of nature). To
protect the reserve, a scheme of zonation and management has been set
up in specific areas both inside and outside the reserve. This will provide
essential forest products for suitable use and to meet the needs of the local
people and eliminate their former defense on resources within the reserve.

Oth* s7ategies include.

o Establishing a 3.2km wide buffer zone around the reserve, protecting the
core area and using the butter zone for various uses, such as suitable
subsistence farming and the harvesting of rainforest plants, and products
such as fruits, leaves, nuts and seeds.
o Relocating illegal settlements and villages to areas outside the reserve.

Causes and impacts of def5estation in the 7opical rain f5est.

1. Where the rainforest is logged for its valuable timber, such as mahogany
and teak, the habitat for thousands of species of plants and animals.
Distributed. This destroys delicate food webs and food chains, and the
animals disappear, often becoming extinct. It also takes away the habitat
for the indigenous people.
2. Plantation Agriculture where the forest is cleared to create huge farms for
the growing of plantation crops such as sugar cane and oil palm trees.
now in great demand as biofuels. Malaysia has cleared large areas of TRF
and is now the world’s biggest exploiters.
3. Cattle ranching to meet the growing demand for beef and burgers from
HICs and MICs.
4. New settlements: to provide land for small-scale farmers. The Brazilian
government has uses just over 5% of this rainforest to provide land for some
of the country as million landless people. Alongside some of the 12,000km
of the new road built through the rainforest strips of land, 10km wide have
been cleared to provide new settlers with land to farm.
5. Mining: the TRFs often have important deposits of valuable minerals under
them, such as gold, coral, iron ore and bauxite (the ore from which
aluminum is made) many of these mines are some of the biggest in the
world and are open cost. Where the soil and forest are removed, and the
miners are removed the area is totally destroyed by the mining activity.
6. HEP, Dams and reservoirs some of the worlds largest river flows through
TRFs and they are an important source of energy (HER) which requires
dams. Large areas of TRF have been deforested to make way for some of
the world’s biggest dams and reservoirs. This has had a major impact on
the ecology of the areas they have flooded.
7. Cultivated foods and spices – many of the fruits and nuts we eat and buy
such as coffee, chocolate, banana, mango avocado and sugar cane all
originally come from the TRFS. Many are grown on plantations in cleared
areas of the rainforest. However, without the forest there are no supplies of
soil nutrients so many of these crops reply on the heavy sue of artificial
chemicals.
8. Climate change and carbon sinks – TRFs play an important part in
regulating climate and the gases that make up the atmosphere.
Deforestation of trees means that there is less evaporation so there is less
water vapor in the atmosphere above rainforest. This means that there is
less rainfall in areas of TRF and this can increase the threats of droughts.
Through the process of photosynthesis, rainforests turn carbon dioxide into
oxygen, but as rainforest are lost, less carbon dioxide can be converted to
oxygen.
9. Loss of indigenous people – many of these activities have had a great
impact on the traditional societies and people of the TRFs In the
Amazonia, the indigenous population before European settlers arrived is
estimated to have been 6 million. By 2003, this had fallen to 200,000.

Mitigation meas/es (reducing risk of loB) (5mrks)

1. Establishing and effectively managing protected areas: This involves strict
enforcement of regulations to prevent illegal logging, agriculture,
poaching, and other destructive activities.
2. Agroforestry: Promoting agroforestry which integrate trees with agricultural
crops so it can provide economic opportunities for local communities
while preserving forest cover.
3. Community involvement: Increased engagement of local communities in
conservation efforts. Providing alternative sources of income.
4. Suitable logging practices: Implanting sustainable logging practices, such
as selective logging and reduced impact logging, can minimize the
ecological damage caused by timber extraction.
5. Enforcement of laws and regulations: strengthen law enforcement efforts
to combat illegal logging, lord grabbing, and other activities that
contribute to deforestation is essential for effective forest protection.
6. Reforestation and afforestation: Planting trees in deforested areas and
establishing new forests on degraded lands can help restore ecosystem
function and mitigate the impacts of deforestation. Efforts to restore
degraded habitats.
7. Biodiversity monitoring: Keeping an eye on plant and animal live to
prevent extinction of TRF animals.
DesFibe and explain the chIact*istics of the Sin hIaja (7mrks)
o High temperature and humidity – because its close the equator
o Average temperature ranges from 23c-30c
o Humidity levels remain high, well over 70% due to high levels of
evaporation.
o High rainfall 300-6000 millimeters
o Rainfall is distributed throughout the year, with no distinct dry season.
o Dense vegetation contributes to high rainfall.
o Frequent rainfall and High humidity contribute to persistent cloud cover.
o Clouds block direct sunlight.

DesFibe and explain the how the Sin hIaja is now being
managed m5e sustainably!
o Strict enforcement of rules and regulations to prevent illegal logging,
agriculture, poaching and others.
o Promoting agroforestry, so we can have economic opportunities while still
preserving the forest.
o Involving the community
o Biodiversity monitoring
o Forest restoration.
DesFibe and explain two consequences of def5estation.
LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY
Deforestation leads to the loss of habitat for countless plants and animal
species.
o Forests are incredibly diverse ecosystems, home to many species which are
endemic and found nowhere else.
o When forests are cleared these species often loose their homes and are
often unable to adapt to new environments.
o AS a result, deforestation is a major cause of species extinction.
o The loss of biodiversity not only diminishes the beauty of natural ecosystems,
but disrupts important ecological processes, such as pollination, seed
dispersal, and nutrient cycling which are vital for maintaining ecosystem
health and function.

CLIMATE CHANGE
o Forests play a crucial role in regulating the earth’s climate by capturing
carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere through photosynthesis.
o When forests are cleared or burned, the stored carbon is released back
into the atmosphere, as CO2 contributing to greenhouse gas emissions
which contributes to climate change. Deforestation is a significant
contribute to global warming and climate change.
o Additionally, forests help regulate local and regional limits by influencing
patters of rainfall, temperature, and atmospheric moisture. Deforestation
disrupts these climate- regulating processes leading to changes in weather
patterns, increased frequency of extreme weather event and other
adverse impacts on human societies and ecosystems.

Climate
Equat/ial/)opical climate – Hot des@t climate
Equat/ial/)opical climate
o Low range monthly average – (2-3c) difference between the hottest and
coldest months
o Consistent high temperature – average monthly temperature is (26c)
o Daily range temp – 7c)
o High rainfall – 1750 – 2500 distributed evenly throughout the year.
o Average mean monthly temperature – 29c in the summer 10C in cool
season
o Daytime temperatures (38c). Temperature in the summer during day *50c)
during night (5c)
o Annual temperature range – (15c)
o Low annual rainfall is less than (250mm)
o Isolated, irregular rainfall.
o Low humidity – (25-30c)

CHARACTERISTICS OF HOT DESERT CLIMATE

o Most hot deserts are located in latitudes from 15c to 30c north and south of
the equator.
o Atmospheric pressure is high the air is usually descending therefore
warming, Rainfall cannot occur where air sinks
o Many deserts are a long distance from oceans seas or large lakes meaning
they receive little rainfall.
o In other deserts prevailing winds blow over large areas (offshore) so there is
no source of moisture
o Some deserts are in areas of Rain shadow where moist air is blocked by tall
mountains.
o Many of the hot deserts occur on the western coast of continents with a
cold ocean current flowing past them.
o The relief of the land can have an impact on the hot desert climate. Low
areas on the inland or lee side of mountains are extremely dry.