Deforestation in Kalimantan has led to several environmental problems, including a loss of biodiversity as species like the proboscis monkey and pygmy squirrel become endangered without sufficient habitat. It also causes changes to the water cycle by reducing rainfall and increasing flooding due to the loss of trees' ability to absorb and store water. Additionally, deforestation results in air pollution from the burning of forests to clear land.

1. Deforestation
A case study of Kalimantan, Indonesia
Chapter 11, pp. 205-210

2. 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

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

7. 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

8. 1. Increase in agricultural land
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)

9. 1. Increase in agricultural land
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.

10. 1. Increase in agricultural land
Goverment resettled people to
Kalimantan
> Population increase
> new settlers want to grow crops on
small plots of land
> increased deforestation

11. 1. Increase in agricultural land
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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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

15. 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.

16. Problems
Deforestation Cause
A case study of Kalimantan, Indonesia
Chapter 11

17. What's to come...
Mon Thurs
Yesterday Today
Tues
5 Causes:
Increase in agricultural
T
Landuse E
5 4
Growth of settlements S
Problems Solutions
Improved transport T
networks
Growth of industries 2
Forest fires

18. 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.

19. 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
• Air pollution

20. 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.

21. 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
• Air pollution

22. 2. Loss of biodiversity
(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)

23. Proboscis
Monkey
(African)
Pgymy Squirrel

24. 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
• Air pollution

25. 3. Changes in the
nutrient cycle
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)

26. Leaching of soil
Land ends up infertile,
Or even derelict

27. Land ends up infertile,
Or even derelict
Kalimantan's forests are being used
unsustainably (i.e. resources cannot
last in the long run)!

28. 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
• Air pollution

29. 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 waters
The soil washed away with the surface runoff increases
the sediment level of rivers, making waters muddy.
Consequence #2: increased acidity
Increased amount of soil causes rivers to become more
acidic. This has adversely affected the aquatic life of
Kalimantan's rivers.

30. 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 rainfall
Deforestation > 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.

32. 4. Changes in water:
b) quantity
Consequence #2: severe flooding
Massive 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.

34. 4. Changes in water:
b) quantity
Consequence #2:
Absence of roots to consolidate the soil >
Soil is not porous enough to store rainwater >
Massive and severe flooding

35. 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
• Air pollution

36. 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 problems
People affected by the haze suffered asthma attacks,
headaches, and lung infections.
Consequence #2: daily life is affected
Schools 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.

37. 4. Air pollution
Consequence #2: daily life is affected
Schools 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 down
E.g. Tourism was hit by the haze. Flights had to be
canceled in 1997 to 1998 because of poor visibility.

38. 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
• Air pollution

39. Managing the Rainforests
Kalimantan
Pg. 95

40. Strategies
1. Afforestation and reforestation
2. Controlled logging
3. Conservation
• Controlling forests fires

41. 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

42. 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

43. 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

44. 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

45. 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

46. Controlled logging

47. 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

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

49. 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

50. 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

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

52. 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)

53. Nov 2009 Qn 1
1a)
• Compare overall trend using figures
• Compare general pattern of each
country
• Describe intersection and changes after
intersection

54. 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.

55. • 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.

56. 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.

57. • 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.