Function

Type of benefit

Description Evapotranspiration gives off water vapour Condenses to form clouds and soon rain Rain falls, replenishing water bodies AND Rain is intercepted by leaves and branches Do not fall directly to the ground. Reduces surface runoff Increases infiltration Greater volume of groundwater Continuous water flow to water bodies Soil layers help filter impurities (trapping them between pore spaces) Rainwater seeps further to form groundwater

Maintaining quantity of water

Ecological

Maintaining quality of water

Ecological

AND Rain is intercepted by veg cover Reduces speed and flow of water Less soil particles picked up into rivers CO2: taken in by plants during photosynthesis O2: given out by plants during photosynthesis Regulates global temperatures Decomposing fallen trees and leaf litter releases nutrients back into soil increasing nutrient content

Replenishing O2, Removing CO2

Ecological

Maintaining nutrients in the soil

Ecological

AND Roots of trees hold soil particles Prevent nutrient loss during soil erosion by wind or water, quality of soil maintained

Preventing floods

Roots of trees hold soil particles Reduces soil erosion on river bed Ecological/Social Deposition of sediment makes river shallow Reduces ability of river to contain water MGR forests absorb energy of waves Reduces soil erosion as roots hold soil particles

Protecting coasts

Ecological/Social

Natural treatment of waste water

Ecological

Roots of MGR trap waste materials Filter the water before it flows into sea Bacteria in soil of MGR break down biodegradable wastes, convert them to nutrients. Forests are homes to more than half of all species of flora and fauna in the world. TRF: tigers and rare species of orchids of MAS CFR: grizzly bears of N America Timber: paper and furniture Rattan: furniture and baskets Fuelwood, charcoal: heating and cooking Sago, midin, forest animals: consumption Quinine in Cinchona: drug against malaria Bark of Eastern White Pine tree: cough syrup Tannin in Rhizophora: treatment of leather Sap of east African mangroves: black dyes Resin: wood varnishes and ointments Forests are a renewable resource (+) Takes 40 years before maturity (-) Forests are cleared faster than they regrow 60 mil people live in TRFs of Southeast Asia, South America & Africa. Example: Korubu tribe in Amazon TRF. Ecotourism can gain revenue for a country while it does not damage or harm the natural environment. Example: Taman Negara as a national park Activities (eg. rafting and hiking) are carried out. Development of new medicines and new varieties of crops thru studying of forest plants

Habitat for flora and fauna

Ecological

Source of useful materials

Economic

Habitat for people

Social

Recreation/Ecotourism

Economic

Research and Education

Social

New sources of food and medicines may be found. Scientists study animal-plant interactions, weather-animal-plant relationships to understand human-ecosystem relationships