of the rainforest (palm oil, mining and timber) and the living condition of residents,
not only locals but also worldwide, since climate change is a global phenomenon.
Thus, the chapter’s main aim is to find out the causes and effects of deforestation in
Malaysia.
11.3 Literature Review
11.3.1 Deforestation
Forests play a role in maintaining the sustainability of life on earth by providing
abundant benefits for humans and by being an essential habitat in the ecosystem
(WWF 2017). In addition, the biological diversity of two-thirds of terrestrial species
is incorporated in forests, and almost 30% of the surface of earth is covered by
forests (WWF 2017). From this perspective, the role of the forest is important in
regulating the temperature of the world as well as producing freshwater flows
(Ellison et al. 2017). Water availability and its cooling function is also underlined
in the paper (Ellison et al. 2012; Hesslerová et al. 2013; Syktus and McAlpine 2016).
The ability of trees to capture and redistribute the sun’s energy is how they deliver a
cooling function (Pokorný et al. 2010), and they have an infiltration capacity, which
occurs in the soil after a rainfall; under appropriate conditions this capacity can
improve groundwater recharge (Calder 2005; Neary et al. 2009). However, forested
regions have diminished over time (Pongratz et al. 2010); despite environmental
awareness and activism, the area of destruction of tropical rainforests is escalating
worldwide, one factor being deforestation (Chakravarty et al. 2012). The term
‘deforestation’ means alternative permanent conversion of forest land into
non-forested area or removal of forested area on a massive scale without replantation
(Bradford 2018). The alternative land is used for urban development, agriculture or
grazing (Van Kooten & Bulte 2000). NASA (2007) states that in deforestation :
“oftentimes there are multiple processes that work simultaneously, rarely . . .caused
by a single direct cause, for instance, after [a] logging activity [has] been conducted,
the road building for a road expansion followed this activity”. The destruction of
forests has been ongoing from human activities, with various proximate causes such
as large-scale commercial oil palm plantations, agribusiness, industrial logging
(Yong et al. 2014). It adversely affects particular geographic areas that lack a
wood supply for fuel and water resources (Barnes 1985). The result is decreasing
greenhouse gas absorption, which increases the severity of global warming, drying
out soils easily, and damaging land quality (Radachowsky 2018). A specific geographical area can be affected by deforestation (Barnes 1985); however, this chapter
is concerned mostly with deforestation in the tropics, located mostly in developing
countries (Myers 1994) where tropical forest area has shrunk (Barraclough and
Ghimire 2000). Assessment of how forests changed over time was monitored
using a balance between forest gain and loss, denoted with “tree canopy cover” in
certain geographic regions (Chazdon 2014).
11 Deforestation in Malaysia: The Current Practice and the Way Forward
179
not only locals but also worldwide, since climate change is a global phenomenon.
Thus, the chapter’s main aim is to find out the causes and effects of deforestation in
Malaysia.
11.3 Literature Review
11.3.1 Deforestation
Forests play a role in maintaining the sustainability of life on earth by providing
abundant benefits for humans and by being an essential habitat in the ecosystem
(WWF 2017). In addition, the biological diversity of two-thirds of terrestrial species
is incorporated in forests, and almost 30% of the surface of earth is covered by
forests (WWF 2017). From this perspective, the role of the forest is important in
regulating the temperature of the world as well as producing freshwater flows
(Ellison et al. 2017). Water availability and its cooling function is also underlined
in the paper (Ellison et al. 2012; Hesslerová et al. 2013; Syktus and McAlpine 2016).
The ability of trees to capture and redistribute the sun’s energy is how they deliver a
cooling function (Pokorný et al. 2010), and they have an infiltration capacity, which
occurs in the soil after a rainfall; under appropriate conditions this capacity can
improve groundwater recharge (Calder 2005; Neary et al. 2009). However, forested
regions have diminished over time (Pongratz et al. 2010); despite environmental
awareness and activism, the area of destruction of tropical rainforests is escalating
worldwide, one factor being deforestation (Chakravarty et al. 2012). The term
‘deforestation’ means alternative permanent conversion of forest land into
non-forested area or removal of forested area on a massive scale without replantation
(Bradford 2018). The alternative land is used for urban development, agriculture or
grazing (Van Kooten & Bulte 2000). NASA (2007) states that in deforestation :
“oftentimes there are multiple processes that work simultaneously, rarely . . .caused
by a single direct cause, for instance, after [a] logging activity [has] been conducted,
the road building for a road expansion followed this activity”. The destruction of
forests has been ongoing from human activities, with various proximate causes such
as large-scale commercial oil palm plantations, agribusiness, industrial logging
(Yong et al. 2014). It adversely affects particular geographic areas that lack a
wood supply for fuel and water resources (Barnes 1985). The result is decreasing
greenhouse gas absorption, which increases the severity of global warming, drying
out soils easily, and damaging land quality (Radachowsky 2018). A specific geographical area can be affected by deforestation (Barnes 1985); however, this chapter
is concerned mostly with deforestation in the tropics, located mostly in developing
countries (Myers 1994) where tropical forest area has shrunk (Barraclough and
Ghimire 2000). Assessment of how forests changed over time was monitored
using a balance between forest gain and loss, denoted with “tree canopy cover” in
certain geographic regions (Chazdon 2014).
11 Deforestation in Malaysia: The Current Practice and the Way Forward
179