Sustainable Management of Tropical Environments (Case Study)

Tropical rainforests can be managed in the following ways to reduce deforestation:

• Logging and replanting - selective logging of mature trees ensures that the rainforest canopy is preserved. This method allows the forest to recover because the younger trees gain more space and sunlight to grow. Planned and controlled logging ensures that for every tree logged another is planted.

• Education - It is important that local people, businesses and politicians understand the true value of the tropical rainforest. Once they understand the value of biodiversity, particularly in terms of tourism, they will be more likely to want to protect it from deforestation.

• Ecotourism - this encourages sustainable tourism that creates jobs for local people whilst ensuring that the money generated is used to protect and conserve the tropical rainforest for future generations to enjoy.

• International agreements - agreements to protect tropical rainforests have been made between different countries through debt-for-nature swaps. This is when a country which is owed money by another country cancels part of the debt if an agreement is made by the debtor country to ensure the conservation of its tropical rainforests.