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17. Cambodia's other forests |
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Tonle Sap: Source of Lives
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The Cambodian forest According to recent studies, forest covers 10.5 million hectares of Cambodia, or 58% of the territory. The two main sorts of forest are dry deciduous forests and dense humid forests. The forest plays a very important ecological and economic role: - ecological role: trees capture solar energy and store carbon dioxide in their wood, while emitting oxygen into the air that we breathe. The forest and its roots limit soil erosion. They redistribute rainwater which avoids flooding and improves water quality. Forests also offer protection from storms. The trees pump water from the soil and redistribute it into the atmosphere, which helps regulate rainfall. - economic role: forests are exploited for their timber, which is used as construction material or fuel. In Cambodia, more than 95% of the population use fuel wood for cooking. Other 'products' of the forest (fruit, vegetables, game) are a source of food and some plants are used in traditional medicine. The forest in Cambodia is therefore vitally important for the population, which is 85% rural. [next] |
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