Rainforest in the region of Southeast Asia. Johanna Wolter Climate and Society: Climate Security, Natural Resources and Conflict Geography

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1 Rainforest in the region of Southeast Asia Johanna Wolter Climate and Society: Climate Security, Natural Resources and Conflict Geography

2 Rainforests of Asia 1 Content About tropical rainforest Why are rainforests important for the climate? Rainforest in Southeast Asia Use of rainforest Conclusion

3 Rainforests of Asia 2 About tropical rainforest Distribution: West Africa, Central America and Southeast Asia Characteristics: 80 % of the world s biodiversity High rainfall Often poor soil

4 Rainforests of Asia 3 Why are rainforests important for Big storage for carbon the climate? Vegetation store 610 gigatonns carbon 86 % of the planet s above-ground carbon is stored in forests [1] 73 % of the planet s soil carbon is stored in forest soil Can act as a source or a sink for carbon Forest degradation and deforestation is the reason for % of the anthropogenic emitted carbon dioxide [2]

5 Rainforests of Asia 4 Deforestation Deforestation: removal of a forest Often slash and burn Forest degradation: decrease of the quality of the forest [3]

6 Rainforests of Asia 5 Rainforest of Southeast Asia Oldest rainforest on earth Highest biological richness and diversity Highest relative rate of deforestation [6]

7 Rainforests of Asia 6 Rainforest of Southeast Asia peat swamp forests In Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra, Vietnam Peat swamp forest: tropical moist forests where waterlogged soils prevent dead leaves and wood from fully decomposing Important carbon sink, store ten times more carbon than other rainforests Southeast Asia's peat soils store 42 gigatonnes of carbon [9]

8 Rainforests of Asia 7 [8] Use of rainforest in Southeast Asia Used for timber production Indonesia & Malaysia produce 80 % of the palm oil of the world [4] Cosmetics Food Biofuel

9 Rainforests of Asia 8 Biofuel Idea: Plants produce energy in the photosynthesis taking up CO 2, release O 2, build up of sugar Burning plants release the same amount of CO 2 as they have taken up -> emission neutral European guideline: until 2020 the adding of biofuel to fossil fuels has to be 10 % World demand for palm oil is forecast to increase from its present 20.2 to 40 million tonnes per year in 2020 [9]

10 Rainforests of Asia 9 Indirect land use change Lack of available land Conflict with food needs Social and cultural problems Water use Biofuel: problems

Rainforests of Asia 10 Indirect Land Use Change Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC): when grassland and forest are converted to cropland for biofuel production Remember:

11 Rainforests of Asia 10 Indirect Land Use Change Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC): when grassland and forest are converted to cropland for biofuel production Remember: increase of the demand for palm oil from 20.2 to 40 million tonnes per year in > ha of new cropland will needed to be planted in each of the next 20 years [9] [5]

cropland -> deforestation -> carbon release Reduction

12 Rainforests of Asia 11 Lack of available land When not using the cropland from food production -> making new cropland -> deforestation -> carbon release Reduction of the biodiversity: many endemic species lose their habitat

13 Rainforests of Asia 12 Lack of available land [8]

14 Rainforests of Asia 13 Conflict with food needs

15 Rainforests of Asia 14 Social and cultural problems Especially problems for indigenous subpopulations Traditionally diverse use of the forest is made impossible People are driven from their traditional settlement areas and pushed to the fringes of society Local people often do not get an employment in palm oil cultivation, because immigrant workers have more experience

16 Rainforests of Asia 15 Biofuel impacts on water Contamination of water with pesticides and fertilizer Palm oil production can require orders of magnitude more water [7] [10]

17 Rainforests of Asia 16 Conclusion Positive effects of biofuel: Higher income for developing countries Less carbon emissions Independent from fossil fuels Only when: Sustainable biofuel production No destroy of rainforests, otherwise: more carbon emissions

18 Thank you!

19 Rainforests of Asia 1 Sources [1] Sedjo, R.A., The carbon cycle and global forest ecosystem. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 70(1), [2] Worldbank, 2007 [3] [4] Graser, S.; Jack, N.; Pantoulier, S. (Hrsg.): Agrarmärkte Schriftenreihe der Bayerischen Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft 4/2008 [5] Phalan, B: The social and environmental impacts of biofuels in Asia: An overview [6] Sodhi, N.S., Brook, B.W., Southeast Asian Biodiversity in Crisis. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. [7] McDonald, R.I., J. Fargione, J. Klesecker, et al Energy sprawl or energy efficiency: climate policy impacts on natural habitat for the United States of American. PLoSONE [8] WWF Germany, 2007: Rain Forest for Biodiesel? Ecological effects of using palm oil as a source of energy [9] Greenpeace: Forest destruction, climate change and palm oil expansion in Indonesia [10]

Peatland degradation fuels climate change

Peatland degradation fuels climate change Peatland degradation fuels climate change An unrecognised and alarming source of greenhouse gases November 2006. Government representatives from almost all countries