Destruction of tropical rainforests and its consequences

Nooteboom Hans P., . Destruction of tropical rainforests and its consequences. pp. 69-73.

The tropical rain forest is the most complex ecosystem of this world and forms a very delicate equilibrium with other components like climate and soil. By being so complex it is contrary to temperate forests very vulnerable. Temperate forests contain at most 5 to 10 different tree species which can survive as solitary trees tropical rain forests contain hundreds of tree species which often need the forest to survive. In Asia more than 5 million hectare per year of rain forest disappears in the whole world more than 15 million hectare. Main causes of deforestation are conversion to agriculture building of roads and logging for timber. In Sabah and Sarawak exploitation for timber in Sabah predicts that in less than 10 years the forests of Sabah will be exhausted. The value of tropical rainforests is so great that we must try our very best to end its reduction. The rainforests fulfill for mankind many important functions. The relative occurrence of atmospheric gases is negatively influenced by deforestation. The forests stabilize local and probably world climates. Many food crops and fruits also coffee have their origin in the tropical rain forests. For billions worth of medicines come from rain forest plants all over the world. Loss of rainforest means loss of genetic resources necessary for improving many crops that we need for our daily living. As logging is the main cause of deforestation in Sabah and Sarawak it is worthwhile to dwell upon this issue. Is logging really profitable As prices of timber although rising through several causes are too low for sustainable exploitation of tropical hardwoods like meranti and as costs of the effects of deforestation in the long run probably will be higher than the income derived from timber it is strange thing that logging is still practised. The people who really earn money from tropical timber are not the exporting countries but the international timber trade and the timber merchants in western countries and Japan. Tropical timber is only bought in Japan and in Western countries because of its low price

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Abstract

The tropical rain forest is the most complex ecosystem of this world and forms a very delicate equilibrium with other components like climate and soil. By being so complex it is contrary to temperate forests very vulnerable. Temperate forests contain at most 5 to 10 different tree species which can survive as solitary trees tropical rain forests contain hundreds of tree species which often need the forest to survive. In Asia more than 5 million hectare per year of rain forest disappears in the whole world more than 15 million hectare. Main causes of deforestation are conversion to agriculture building of roads and logging for timber. In Sabah and Sarawak exploitation for timber in Sabah predicts that in less than 10 years the forests of Sabah will be exhausted. The value of tropical rainforests is so great that we must try our very best to end its reduction. The rainforests fulfill for mankind many important functions. The relative occurrence of atmospheric gases is negatively influenced by deforestation. The forests stabilize local and probably world climates. Many food crops and fruits also coffee have their origin in the tropical rain forests. For billions worth of medicines come from rain forest plants all over the world. Loss of rainforest means loss of genetic resources necessary for improving many crops that we need for our daily living. As logging is the main cause of deforestation in Sabah and Sarawak it is worthwhile to dwell upon this issue. Is logging really profitable As prices of timber although rising through several causes are too low for sustainable exploitation of tropical hardwoods like meranti and as costs of the effects of deforestation in the long run probably will be higher than the income derived from timber it is strange thing that logging is still practised. The people who really earn money from tropical timber are not the exporting countries but the international timber trade and the timber merchants in western countries and Japan. Tropical timber is only bought in Japan and in Western countries because of its low price

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Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	4 ref.; Summaries (En)
AGROVOC Term:	BOSQUE TROPICAL HUMEDO
AGROVOC Term:	DEFORESTACION
AGROVOC Term:	PRODUCTOS FORESTALES
Depositing User:	Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:56
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/20538

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