uses of tropical rainforests
TRANSCRIPT
1. Water catchment 2. Green Lungs of the Earth 3. Habitat to flora (plants) and fauna
(animals) 4. Habitat to indigenous people 5. Source of timber 6. Medical application
The uses of the rainforest
What is “water catchment”? An area drained by a river and the smaller
rivers that flow into it.
How do rainforests act as water catchment areas?
The trees stop rainfall from reaching the ground directly.
Rainwater slowly drips down the trees and seeps into the ground.
The rainwater is finally stored as groundwater.
Water Catchment
What does the soil in the rainforest do?
The soil trap impurities before the water flows into the reservoir.
This provides a clean water supply for everyone.
Water Catchment
Where is the water catchment in Singapore?
It is the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. It is located in the middle of Singapore.
Four reservoirs can be found here : Upper Seletar Upper Peirce Lower Peirce MacRitchie
Water Catchment
Tropical rainforests absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
They release oxygen back through photosynthesis.
More than 20% of the Earth’s oxygen is generated by the Amazon Rainforest alone.
Green Lungs of The Earth
Tropical rainforests act as a natural purifier.
The trees absorb about 2.4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide in a year.
(comparison - one blue whale weighs 100 tonnes!)
The dense forests also help to keep the Earth cool.
Green Lungs of The Earth
What is flora and fauna? Flora means plants. Fauna means animals.
More than 2 million species of plants and animals live in the rainforests.
There is an abundance (many) and diversity (different types) of flora and fauna.
Habitat to Flora and Fauna
Why are there so many species in the rainforest?
Reason 1 Ample (A lot of) sunlight More plants grow because of more sunlight. Many animals survive because there is a lot
of plants available for food.
Habitat to Flora and Fauna
Why are there so many species in the rainforest?
Reason 2 The canopy provides a great amount of
food for animals. Many plants and fruit trees grow in the
canopy. Animals can obtain food easily and quickly.
Habitat to Flora and Fauna
Turn to your textbook page 82 and complete the table by categorising the examples given for flora and fauna. Write in one example of your own choice.
Habitat to Flora and Fauna
Fauna Flora
Trilobite beetle Peace lily
Macaque Heliconia
Flying lemur
Your Example Your Example
What is “indigenous”? It means “original”, “belonging to a place
before others”
Who are the indigenous people of the rainforests?
People who have been living in the rainforests.
There are about 60 million indigenous people depending on the rainforests.
Habitat to indigenous people
What are some examples of indigenous people?
Embera in the rainforests of Panama. Yanomami in the Amazon Rainforest. Penan in the rainforests of Sarawak,
Malaysia.
Habitat to indigenous people
Why is the rainforest important to the indigenous people?
It provides them with daily necessities such as food, clothing and medicine.
It provides them with wood as fuel to cook their food and heat their homes at night.
Habitat to indigenous people
Read Page 83 of your textbook. Complete the missing blanks.
Habitat to indigenous people
Food of the indigenous people is obtained by...
Hunting and Gathering AgricultureOr
Subsistence Cultivation
Grow their own plants for
food and medicine
Hunt fish and wild animals
Gather wild fruit and nuts
Read Page 83 of your textbook. Complete the missing blanks.
Indigenous people who get their food by hunting animals and gathering fruit and nuts are known as hunter-gatherers.
Indigenous people who farm plants for food and vegetation as known as shifting cultivators.
Habitat to indigenous people
Read Page 83 of your textbook. Complete the missing blanks.
What do shifting cultivators do in the forest?
First, they clear the forest by burning the vegetation. This burnt vegetation provides nutrients to fertilise the plants. When the nutrients are finished, the shifting cultivators move to a new plot of land.
Habitat to indigenous people
What is “timber”? Timber refers to the wood used to build or
make things.
What are examples of trees used for timber?
Tropical hardwoods like teak, ebony, mahogany and meranti.
Source of Timber (Pg 83)
Why are these hardwoods popular? They are strong, durable with beautiful
texture.
What is made from these hardwoods? Doors, window frames and furniture.
Source of Timber (Pg 83)
Tropical rainforests contain a huge source of medicine.
More than 3000 species of rainforest plants have cancer-fighting properties.
Many other plants provide various medical uses.
Less than 1% of the rainforest plants have been tested for their medicinal properties.
Medical Application
Read page 84 of your textbook and complete the blanks.
Medical Application
Plant Medical Use
Cinchona Tree Treat malaria
Clavillia plant Treat eczema and itchiness
Madagascar Periwinkle Treat childhood leukaemia