Using four or more complete sentences, explain three ways human have modified and used land in South and Southeast Asia. Identify the positive and negative effects of these modifications.

Traditional subsistence agriculture has turned into industrial mono culture farming. Among the negative effects are deforestation, soil degradation due to the use of toxic pesticides and the lack of variety in crops, decreased food security due to the use of agricultural lands for commercial crops with no alimentary value such as rubber and abusive private appropriation of land by industrial agricultural corporations. Among the positive effects in Thailand and China, because of their logistical, financial and educational support of poor farmers, the latter have been able to take advantage of the rubber boom and prosper, leaving poverty behind.

Modifying land is a common activity in all regions of the world. People modify their environments so they can use the resources for survival and profit. Land in South and Southeast Asia commonly is modified for three things: lumber, farming, and palm oil plantations. People in South and Southeast Asia use lumber to build structures, create furniture, and make ornamental objects, as well as to sell and to export to other regions. To modify land for farming, people in South and Southeast Asia use a technique known as slash-and-burn farming to clear areas and create fertile soil. This allows them to continue farming even after some land loses its nutrients. Finally, people in South and Southeast Asia create palm oil plantations, which produce an important oil used to fry, preserve, and create consistency in food. It is also used as a biodiesel fuel and exported around the world. These are all positive modifications that have enhanced the lives of people living in these regions. However, these land modifications also cause some negative effects. Deforestation has been a large problem in these regions. Forests are disappearing and taking plants and animals' habitats with them. Many of these forests are not growing back and may not come back for hundreds of years. When vegetation is replanted, it sometimes lacks diversity and makes it hard for animals to find new homes. Deforestation can also limit resources for future populations. Finally, air pollution is a common result of slash-and-burn farming.