Tropical rainforests

Question 1

Why does deforestation take place

Answer 1

population pressure, mineral extraction, energy development, commercial logging, commercial farming, subsistence farming

Question 2

Why does population pressure lead to deforestation

Answer 2

more people mean more land so they can live

Question 3

Why does mineral extraction lead to deforestation

Answer 3

they are mined to make money (gold, iron)

Question 4

Why does energy development lead to deforestation

Answer 4

building dams to generate power can lead to floods

Question 5

Why does commercial logging lead to deforestation

Answer 5

trees are chopped down to sell and make money, road building to get there

Question 6

Why does commercial farming lead to deforestation

Answer 6

spac e is cleared for cattle grazing and to plant soy and palm oil

Question 7

Why does subsistence farming lead to deforestation

Answer 7

area is cleared to grow food for families

Question 8

What are the environmental impacts of deforestation

Answer 8

no trees to hold soil together - erosion is easier, more CO2, nutrients washed away - no tree canopy

Question 9

What are the economic impacts of deforestation

Answer 9

create jobs, destroy resources, local villages are destroyed, bringing wealth,

Question 10

What is the main cause of deforestation

Answer 10

cattle farming (65-70%) -> subsistence farming (20-25%) -> commercial farming (5-10%)

Question 11

How are the charactertics of a rainforest

Answer 11

climate, soil, plants, animals, people

Question 12

Climate - tropical rainforests

Answer 12

same all year round, no definite seasons, hot - temperature is usually between 20-28 degrees, near equator so the sun is overhead all year round, rainfall is very high around 2000 mm per year, rains everyday

Question 13

Soil - tropical rainforests

Answer 13

not very fertile as heavy rain washes away any nutrients, nutrients are at surface level due to decayed leaf fall but the layer is very thin as decay is fast in warm and moist conditions

Question 14

Plants - tropical rainforests

Answer 14

most trees are evergreen to take advantage of the continual growing season, many trees are very tall and vegetation cover is dense, very little light reaches the forest floor, many plants live on other living plants to take nutrients and moisture

Question 15

Animals - tropical rainforests

Answer 15

is believed to contain more animal species than any other ecosystem, broad species of insects and birds, many are brightly coloured and make a lot of noise

Question 16

People - tropical rainforests

Answer 16

home to many people who have adapted to the life over many generation, make a living my hunting and fishing, gathering nuts and growing vegetables

Question 17

What is he interdependent ecosystem of the rainforest

Answer 17

warm wet climate means that dead plant matter is decomposed quickly by bacteria and fungi, surface soil is high in nutrients so plant scan grow quickly and easily, plants pass on their nutrients when they are eaten by animals and there is dense vegetation so lots of food so high animal populations, many plants and animals have symbiotic relationships

Question 18

What happens to the interdependent ecosystem of the rainforest is deforestation occurs

Answer 18

it reduces tree cover which means less carbon dioxide is absorbed effecting climate change, trees also intercept and take up water then release it back into the atmosphere so rainfall can happen again, if trees are removed climate may change and risk of drought increases

Question 19

Why do rainforests have high biodiversity

Answer 19

they are stable and productive environments as the climate stays the same so the organisms do not have to cope with changing conditions and food supply stays the same, many organisms rely on just a few species for survival - very specific to a particular habitat and food source

Question 20

How is biodiversity affected by deforestation

Answer 20

loss of biodiversity, destruction of habitats and food sources means species go extinct

Question 21

How have plants adapted to the tropical rainforests

Answer 21

buttress roots to support their trunks, smooth thin bark to allow water to sun off easily and no need for protection from the cold, drip-tip leaves to channel water off the leaf so the weight doesn’t damage the plant and fungi does not grow in standing water, drop their leaves throughout the year so they can keep growing throughout the year, some climb up other plants to reach the sun

Question 22

Layers of the tropical rainforest

Answer 22

forest floor, undercanopy, canopy, emergents

Question 23

Why is it important to protect the tropical rainforests

Answer 23

preserve biodiversity - valuable to people and the environment, products are produced such as rubber, coffee, chocolate, medicines - if species are destroyed the chance to discover new medicines and develop products are reduced, reduces greenhouse gases, impacts of forest destruction effect everyone, rainforests regulate climate and water cycle - droughts and floods could increase

Question 24

How can tropical rainforests be sustainably managed

Answer 24

selective logging, replanting, ecotourism, reducing debt, education, conservation, international hardwood agreements

Question 25

How can selective logging help sustainably manage the tropical rainforests

Answer 25

only some trees are felled most are left standing - less damaging to the forest and the forest structure is kept, the forest will be able to regenerate, canopy remains and soil is not exposed, removing them with horses or helicopters instead of large trucks also reduces damage

Question 26

How can replanting help sustainably manage the tropical rainforests

Answer 26

new trees are planted to replace the ones cut down, there will be trees for people to use in the future, important that the same type of tree is replanted so that the variety of trees is kept the same

Question 27

How can ecotourism help sustainably manage the tropical rainforests

Answer 27

tourism that minimises the damage to the environment and benefits local people, small number of visitors are allowed in an area at a time, environmental impacts are reduced, waste/litter are properly disposed of, provides a source of income for the locals - do not have to make money from logging or farming, raises awareness and brings in money for rainforest conservation

Question 28

How can international hardwood agreement help sustainably manage the tropical rainforests

Answer 28

there is a high demand for hardwoods in richer countries so some tropical hardwoods are becoming rarer, so there are international agreements to try to reduce illegal logging and promote sustainable forests

Question 29

How can education help sustainably manage the tropical rainforests

Answer 29

education about the impacts o deforestation can encourage people to buy products that are certified from sustainably managed resources, some local people do not know the impacts of deforestation so make money by illegally logging, education can help people make money without damaging the environment

Question 30

How can reducing debt help sustainably manage the tropical rainforests

Answer 30

many tropical forests are in low income countries so they borrow money from wealthier areas to help develop or cope with emergences, this money then has to be paid back with interest, so to pay back the money logging, mining and farming in rainforests are used, reducing debt means countries do not have to rely on this