Deforestation

Question 1

How much of the worlds original forests have been lost due to human activities?

Answer 1

over 1/3

Question 2

What are the 2 main causes of deforestation?

Answer 2

Deliberate removal of forests to make space for another land use
Unsustainable exploitation

Question 3

What are the causes of forest loss?

Answer 3

Agriculture
Mineral extraction
Reservoirs
Urbanisation
Transport infrastructure

Question 4

How does agricultural expansion cause the loss of forest? (2 main ways)

Answer 4

Growth of the local population increases demand for food more land cleared for farming
Forest clearance for cash crops where yield taken to cities or exploited

Question 5

What are some real examples of forest clearance for agriculture?

Answer 5

Rainforest in South America to grow sugar cane and soya beans or cattle ranch
Clearance in SE Asia for palm oil

Question 6

How does mineral extraction cause deforestation?

Answer 6

mining and its associated infrastructure affects a small area but have important local impacts
Land clearance for open pit

Question 7

What is a real world example of deforestation for mining?

Answer 7

Copper and gold mines in Brazil

Question 8

Why are reservoirs created?

Answer 8

Public supply
Irrigation
HEP

Question 9

What is a real world example of reservoirs causing deforestation?

Answer 9

Expansion of HEP in South America causing large scale tropical forest loss
Yangtze in china

Question 10

How does urbanisation cause deforestation?

Answer 10

Expansion of urban areas causes direct removal of forests
Demand is increased for fuel and food (more loss)

Question 11

What is a real world example of urbanisation causing forest loss?

Answer 11

The mass expansion of Chinese cities like Beijing

Question 12

Is the forest loss from transport infrastructure large?

Answer 12

No, relatively small

Question 13

What sort of transport infrastructure may cause forest loss?

Answer 13

roads
railways
airports

Question 14

What other impacts can transport infrastructure have on forests?

Answer 14

Road and rail can create barriers to wildlife movement (population fragmentation)
Improved transport systems increase accessibility- easier to take resources (felled trees agricultural produce)

Question 15

What is a real world example of forest loss by transport infrastructure?

Answer 15

The development of HS2

Question 16

What reasons may cause unsustainable exploitation of forests?

Answer 16

Timber resources
Fuel
Livestock fodder

Question 17

Is soft wood production of timber sustainable?

Answer 17

Yes as generally replanting to replace harvested areas occurs in Scandinavia and Canada

Question 18

What are some examples of soft wood?

Answer 18

Conifers- pine, spruce and fir

Question 19

What are some examples of hard wood?

Answer 19

Teak and Mahogany

Question 20

Why is sustainable management of hardwood plantations hard?

Answer 20

Hardwood grows more slowly than conifers meaning it may take longer to produce saleable crop so most comes from clear felled mixed forests

Question 21

Where is demand for charcoal as fuel high?

Answer 21

In towns and cities as it produces less smoke

Question 22

How is the production of charcoal causing unsustainable management of forests?

Answer 22

Involves partial combustion of wood with a shortage of air
Much of wood energy value lost increasing clearance to satisfy demand

Question 23

What are the effects of deforestation?

Answer 23

Loss of forest resources
Ecological impacts
Changes to hydrology
Impact on soil
Climate impacts

Question 24

How does deforestation cause a loss of forests resources?

Answer 24

Production of forests resources sustainable as long as trees not deforested (timber, fuel, fibre, medicines)

Question 25

What are the ecological impacts of deforestation?

Answer 25

Reduced biodiversity Loss of species Fragmentation of remaining forest areas

Question 26

How does deforestation change the hydrology of an area?

Answer 26

Reduced interception and transpiration Increased run-off

Question 27

What is an example of deforestation affecting hydrology?

Answer 27

Boscastle flood 2004 upland deforestation

Question 28

What is the impact on the soil when deforestation occurs?

Answer 28

Reduced soil formation Less DOM Increased soil erosion Less protection of soil by vegetation and leaf litter Reduced soil organic matter Reduced root binding

Question 29

What is an example of the affect of deforestation on soil?

Answer 29

Forest clearance in the Amazon have led to increased surface runoff and more sediment in the Amazon river increasing turbidity and reducing biodiversity

Question 30

What are the climate impacts of deforestation?

Answer 30

Reduced albedo Reduced carbon sequestration and carbon reservoir Reduced rainfall downwind

Question 31

What countries have large scale tree planting projects?

Answer 31

China Cuba Bhutan

Question 32

What are the features of a sustainably manged forest?

Answer 32

Harvesting rates below MSY Mixed species plantations Indigenous species Mixed age structure Selective logging

Question 33

How must harvesting rate be controlled in woodland to ensure sustainability?

Answer 33

Resource removal must be no greater than maximum sustainable yield

Question 34

How can sustainability of woodlands be manged with mixed species plantations?

Answer 34

wildlife biodiversity increased by growing multiple species because there is an increase in food choices, inter-species relationships and niches

Question 35

How can sustainability be increased in forests by planting indigenous species?

Answer 35

if indigenous species are cultivated its more likely that other indigenous species will benefit e.g. birds and insects

Question 36

How does mixed age structure increase sustainability of forests?

Answer 36

produces greater diversity of abiotic factors (light levels, temperature and wind velocity) , potential to increase biodiversity

Question 37

When is selective logging used?

Answer 37

In mixed species plantations or natural forests where trees are ready at different times

Question 38

What are the issues with selective logging?

Answer 38

More expensive due to being more labour intensive

Question 39

What are the benefits of selective logging?

Answer 39

Maximum benefit from forest timber resource over time Good for wildlife as removal creates small clearings (smaller impact on survival of remaining wildlife population) Wildlife doesn't have to move far to find new habitat