Amazon Rainforest Flashcards
(23 cards)
What countries does the rainforest cover?
colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru
what are the main 8 causes of deforestation in the TRF?
Logging, Energy development, mineral extraction, Commercial cattle farming, commercial crop farming, subsistence crop farming, road building, settlement and population growth
How does logging cause deforestation?
accounts for 3% of deforestation- mainly timber
How does mineral extraction cause deforestation?
causes complete destruction to the environment as trees felled and top soil removed
How does energy development cause deforestation?
-Build dams and reservoirs which floods the TRF- soil becomes acidic and rots dams and trees
How does Commercial cattle farming cause deforestation?
-Main cause
-slash and burn
-cut down trees for land- destroy nutrient cycle- cows eat land- has to move- repeat
How does commercial crop farming cause deforestation?
-cut land down
-Land gets exhausted- don’t grow
-has to be moved
-used for cash crops such as soybean
How does subsistence farming cause deforestation?
farmers try and grow crops on the same land year after year- land gets exhausted- becomes infertile- nutrient cycle ruined- have to move
How does road building cause deforestation?
Roads are required for people to access the TRF- large areas cleared- then people settle on them- further deforestation
How does settlement and population growth cause deforestation?
-economic activities- require workers
-Leads to people migrating to get jobs, settle, need services and homes so more deforestation
What are the 6 impacts of deforestation?
Local climate change, soil erosion, river pollution, decline of indigenous tribes, climate change, biodiversity loss
How is local climate changed due to deforestation?
water cycle disrupted, so less evaporation- warmer and drier climate
How is soil erosion caused by deforestation?
-fertility- cutting down trees leaves and exposed, top soil- gets washed away from heavy rainfall, nutrients lost
How is river pollution caused by deforestation?
-mining seeps into water sources- poisons them and contaminates water supplies
How is the decline of indigenous tribes caused by deforestation?
-their homes, food supply and way of life is destroyed. Declined from 330 to 220
How is climate change caused by deforestation?
-cutting down trees releases CO2 into atmosphere, more greenhouse gases, warmer- more extreme temps- CARBON SINK DECREASES
How is biodiversity loss caused by deforestation?
loss of trees- causes a loss of habitats for animals means some go extinct- 50,000 lost per year
what are the 5 management strategies for climate change?
Small scale forestry, International agreements, Debt reduction, ecotourism, education and conservation
How does small-scale forestry manage climate change?
selective logging- only felling the adult trees so that the younger ones are preserved meaning less soil erosion and more habitats
agroforestry- growing crops with trees- better use of space- allows farming
replanting- replant all the trees that are felled- replenish rate is same
How do international agreements manage deforestation?
e.g 2006 timber agreement- discourages the sale of hardwood- in an attempt to curb illegal logging- sustainable timber grown
How does debt reduction manage deforestation?
encourages countries to protect parts of the TRF in exchange their debts are removed
How does ecotourism manage deforestation?
provides economically and environmentally sustainable jobs for local people by improving the education about the TRFs- the importance of managing them- money generated and reinvested into local economy
How does Education and conservation manage deforestation?
Charities and NGOs educate tourists and people globally about TRF importance- They encourage people to make sustainable choices when buying and visiting the rainforest and its products.
