Kalimantan

Deforestation

A case study of Kalimantan, Indonesia

Chapter 11, pp. 205-210

By the end of the lesson..

You should be able to..• List and explain the causes of deforestation

in Kalimantan• Describe the problems caused by

deforestation in Kalimantan

Deforestation

• Permanent clearing and destruction of forests for resources such as timber and purposes such as agriculture, settlement and transport.

5 Causes of deforestation in Kalimantan

1. Increase in agricultural land

2. Growth of settlements

3. Improved transport networks

4. Growth of industries– Logging– Mining

5. Forest Fires


In Kalimantan, two groups of people demand for more agricultural land.

1) People resettled by the government in Kalimantan (1980s)

2) Plantation companies (esp. Oil palm)


People resettled by the Indonesian government to Kalimantan wanted permanently clear forests to have small farms growing crops such as cocoa, rice and coffee.

Since surplus crops can be sold for a profit, some of these new settlers

extended their farmland by clearing more forests.


Goverment resettled people to Kalimantan

> Population increase

> new settlers want to grow crops on small plots of land

> increased deforestation


Plantation companies burn extensive areas of Kalimantan's forests to plant oil palms as it is relatively cheap to grow but yields high profits for the companies and the country.

Between 1998 and 2003, about

10, 000km square of rainforests were cleared and converted into palm

plantations.

2. Growth of Settlements

Towns and cities become urbanised as more and more people move in from the rural outskirts. Rainforests surrounding these cities are cleared to make way for housing and human development.

E.g. Balikpapan, one of the largest cities in Kalimantan, has cleared a third of its neighbouring protected forest Sungei Wain Rainforest in its expansion.

3. Improved transport networks

Railway tracks and roads are built to connect settlements in Kalimantan.

E.g. Trans-Kalimantan Highway (230km long) cuts through rainforests to link Banjarmasin and Balikpapan.

Unfortunately, improved accessibility means it is easier for people to destroy forests.

4. Growth of industries (esp. logging and mining)

Rapid pace at wood is processed and exported

> Rainforests in Kalimantan have been heavily logged for the past 30 years.E.g. West Kalimantan: 1656km² of forests lost each year to timber industries

5. Forest fires

Forest fires deliberately set by arsonists to clear land for oil palm plantation have destroyed over 23 750 square of rainforests in Kalimantan.

The debris in the burnt forest (leaves, branches, twigs) means that it can easily catch fire.

Problems Deforestation Cause

A case study of Kalimantan, Indonesia

Chapter 11

What's to come...

5 Causes:Increase in agricultural LanduseGrowth of settlementsImproved transport networksGrowth of industriesForest fires

5 Problems

4 Solutions

Yesterday TodayMonTues

TEST

2

Thurs

By the end of the lesson,

You should be able to:1. List the problems caused by deforestation

in Kalimantan.

2. Explain the consequence of each of these problems.

5 Problems caused by deforestation in Kalimantan

1. Loss of biomass

2. Loss of biodiversity

3. Changes in the nutrient cycle

4. Changes in water: quality + quantity

5. Air pollution

1. Loss of biomass

(Biomass = total amount of stored energy in all living organisms)Biomass represents the total amount of food available on Earth, and thus Earth's ability to support life.

Consequence #1: reduced ability to support life Kalimantan is less able to support life with drastic falls in the amount of green plants available to animals higher up in the food chains.


1. Loss of biomass




5. Air pollution


(Biodiversity = range of living organisms)Kalimantan rainforests is one of 'the richest rainforests in the world' according to World Wildlife Fund> 10, 000 plant species, 380 bird species

Consequence #1: endangerment of species Some species have become endangered, e.g.: Proboscis monkey, Pygmy Squirrel (world's smallest squirrel)

Proboscis Monkey

(African) Pgymy Squirrel


1. Loss of biomass




5. Air pollution


Loss of leaf litter➝ Reduce amount of nutrients returning to the soil+ Soil is leached due to the absence of roots to consolidate it

➝ rainwater washes nutrients away from the soil Consequence #1: soil infertility the land becomes infertile, and eventually derelict (permanently hostile to vegetative growth)

Leaching of soil

Land ends up infertile, Or even derelict

Land ends up infertile, Or even derelict

Kalimantan's forests are being usedunsustainably (i.e. resources cannot

last in the long run)!


1. Loss of biomass




5. Air pollution

4. Changes in water: a) quality

Because of deforestation, the absence of roots means that soil is easily washed off into rivers and reservoirs.

Consequence #1: muddy watersThe soil washed away with the surface runoff increases the sediment level of rivers, making waters muddy.

Consequence #2: increased acidityIncreased amount of soil causes rivers to become more acidic. This has adversely affected the aquatic life of Kalimantan's rivers.

4. Changes in water: b) quantity

Trees are major contributors of water vapor in the water cycle.

Forests > transpire water vapour > clouds are formed > precipitation

Consequence #1: lower rainfallDeforestation > less trees > less transpiration >

Reduced cloud formation > lower rainfall Extensive deforestation in Kalimantan could have triggered the droughts or prolonged the dry seasons that happened in1997 to 1998.


Consequence #2: severe floodingMassive and severe flooding can occur because the soil is not porous enough for rainwater to seep into with the absence of roots to consolidate it.

E.g. Samarinda and Balikpapan were heavily flooded in 2001 because Taman Nasional Kutai (nearby forest reserve) was over-logged.


Consequence #2:

Absence of roots to consolidate the soil >Soil is not porous enough to store rainwater >

Massive and severe flooding


1. Loss of biomass




5. Air pollution

4. Air pollution

When forests are cleared by burning, the resultant large volumes of ash, dust and smoke released can suspend in the air for prolonged periods of time as haze.

Consequence #1: health problemsPeople affected by the haze suffered asthma attacks, headaches, and lung infections.Consequence #2: daily life is affectedSchools in Central Kalimantan were closed in September 2002 as the Pollution Standard Index grew 15 times more than the safe level of air pollutants possible.

4. Air pollution

Consequence #2: daily life is affectedSchools in Central Kalimantan were closed in September 2002 as the Pollution Standard Index grew 15 times more than the safe level of air pollutants possible.

Consequence #3: Economy slowed downE.g. Tourism was hit by the haze. Flights had to be canceled in 1997 to 1998 because of poor visibility.

Problems caused by deforestation in Kalimantan

1. Loss of biomass




5. Air pollution

Managing the Rainforests

Kalimantan

Pg. 95

Strategies

1. Afforestation and reforestation

2. Controlled logging

3. Conservation

4. Controlling forests fires

Afforestation

• Refers to the replanting of trees on agricultural lands that had been abandoned by farmers

• Common to plant teak as teak is commercially valuable

Afforestation

Success• Teak is fast growing and takes only about 5

years to mature, hence able to restore forest areas quickly

• Teak logging industry brings about ready source of employment and income

Limitations• Rates of which forests are replanted are

slower than rates which they are cleared

Reforestation

• Refers to the planting of trees on areas that were originally covered with forests

• Also common to plant teak for its value and early maturity

Reforestation

Success• Teak is fast growing and takes only about 5

years to mature, hence able to restore forest areas quickly

• Teak logging industry brings about ready source of employment and income

Limitations• Since only teak trees are planted, original

biodiversity is lost and cannot support original floral and fauna

Controlled logging

• Refers to the careful management of forests that are being logged, thorough law enforcement and education and research

• Timber companies caught for illegal logging have to face severe penalties

• Timber companies informed of damage caused by deforestation and encouraged to do selective cutting

Controlled logging

Controlled logging

Success• Selective cutting enables forest to regenerate

and minimizes soil erosion

Limitations• Difficult to monitor logging and detect illegal

logging activities• A significant variety of plant species could be

damaged through selective cutting during removal of selected trees

Conservation

• Refers to the creation of nature reserves where activities that damage the forest environment are not allowed

Conservation

Success• Setting up of Betung Kerihun Reserve, spanning

8000 square kilometres

Limitations• Difficult to monitor logging and detect illegal

logging activities due to lack of manpower

Controlling Forest Fires

• Refers to the prevention of forest fires through law and education

Limitations• Plantation companies continue to burn forests

as it is the cheapest • Local people reluctant to stop burning forests

due to tradition

LORMS Question

• With reference to a named example(s), evaluate the effectiveness of strategies used in managing deforestation.

Sample Paragraph

P: Afforestation has been successful as a method that can be used to manage deforestation.

D: Afforestation refers to the planting of trees on areas previously not covered with forests and is commonly carried out on agricultural lands that had been abandoned by farmers.

E+: This method is effective as…

E-: However, it has its limitations as…

A: Overall, I feel that afforestation is effective/ineffective because… (Give your point of view)

Nov 2009 Qn 1

1a)

• Compare overall trend using figures

• Compare general pattern of each country

• Describe intersection and changes after intersection

E. GE Paper 2 Nov. (2009)1 (c)

How forests act as the ‘Green Lungs’ of the Earth’.

• Generally, forests act as the “Green Lungs” of the Earth by taking in CO2 and giving out oxygen through the process of photosynthesis.

• CO2 can be produced by natural processes such as respiration of animals and decomposition of waste products.

• In addition, human processes such as industrial processes can also contribute CO2 to the atmosphere.

• The process of photosynthesis then takes place when plants are exposed to sunlight, giving out oxygen in exchange for carbon dioxide.

E. GE Paper 2 Nov. (2009)2 (a) • Deforestation will reduce the amount of leaf litter and

dead plants as plants are cleared wholesale from the land.

• This will result in lesser decomposition as fungi and bacteria loses the inputs to convert plant material to humus, which is the source of nutrients for the plants.

• The loss of tree roots will further lead to soil erosion as minerals and nutrients are washed away by weathering.

• As less nutrients are available for the plants, the increased competition will lead to lesser plants in the rainforest.

• This will lead to a reduction in the amount of nutrients or biomass stored in plants available in the rainforest.

• The reduced biomass will then contribute to even lesser leaf litter hence resulting in a downward spiral of the nutrient cycle.

Kalimantan

Education

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