Fragile environments

Question 1

What is meant by fragile environments

Answer 1

Natural environments that are sensitive and easily abused by human activities

Question 2

What are 3 processes that make environments more fragile

Answer 2

Soil erosion
Desertification
Deforestation

Question 3

What is sustainability

Answer 3

Actions that meet the needs of the present without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their needs

Question 4

What is ecological footprint

Answer 4

A measure of the mark that humans make on the natural world

Question 5

What are 3 factors affecting ecological footprint

Answer 5

Rate of population growth
Level of consumption of resources per person
Level of technology

Question 6

What is soil erosion and what does it do to remaining soil

Answer 6

Removal of topsoil by the action of wind or soil.
Due to this, fertility of remaining soil is greatly reduced

Question 7

What are 3 types of soil erosion

Answer 7

Sheet erosion- moderate rainfall topsoil from bare soil slopes
Gully erosion- intense rainfall cuts gullies in the slopes when there is little vegetation cover
Wind erosion- loose dry soil is blown away

Question 8

What activities cause soil erosion (4)?

Answer 8

Removing vegetation by cutting down trees. As a result, soil is exposed to wind and rain
Overgrazing by animals leaving soil bare
Overcultivation resulting in crops failing and soil being exposed to erosion
Compacting the soil by using heavy machinery reduces rate at which rainwater is able to infiltrate the soil

Question 9

What ways are used to manage soil erosion (6)?

Answer 9

Planting trees as they hold soil reduce wind speeds
Terracing and contour-ploughing reduces soil erosion down slopes
Increasing vegetation cover and mulching soil prevents it from heavy rain
Small dams reduce water speed and reduce erosion
Building stone lines or earth walls along contours reduces run off and helps keep more water in the soil
Organic farming involving animal manure and manure crops to keep soil fertile

Question 10

What is soil degredation

Answer 10

Decline in soil quality caused by its improper use, usually for agricultural, pastoral, industrial or urban purposes

Question 11

What is desertification

Answer 11

Spread of desert-like conditions into previously productive areas. It can result from poorly managed human intervention in the savannah. Areas of desert are created by the destruction of natural vegetation

Question 12

What are 3 natural causes of desertification

Answer 12

Changing rainfall patterns: rainfall has become less predictable
Soil erosion: removal of soil means less support for vegetation
Intensity of rainfall: Short intense periods of rainfall make it difficult for the soil to capture and store and water resources become less

Question 13

What are 4 human causes of desertification

Answer 13

Population growth: pressure on land to produce food
Overcultivation: intensive use of marginal land exhausts soil and crops won’t grow
Overgrazing: too many animals can destroy vegetation
Deforestation: trees cut down for fuel, furniture and housing

Question 14

What are 5 environmental consequences of desertification

Answer 14

Loss in soil nutrients
Changes in composition of vegetation and biodiversity as vegetation is removed
Reduced land available for cropping and pasture
Increased sedimentation of streams because soil erosion and sediment accumulations in reservoirs
Expansion of area under sand dunes

Question 15

What are 4 economic consequences of desertification

Answer 15

Reduced income from pastoralism and cultivation
Decreasing availability of fuelwood, increasing necessity of oil/ kerosene
Increased dependence on food aid
Increased rural poverty

Question 16

What are 3 social and cultural consequences of desertification

Answer 16

Loss of traditional knowledge and skills
Forced migration due to food scarcity
Social tensions in reception areas for migrants

Question 17

What are 5 ways of reducing the risk of desertification

Answer 17

Encourage farmers to grow drought-resistant crops
Improve knowledge and understanding of droughts
Use of irrigation drip systems to reduce water usage
Stone lines that slow down the run off of water and allow it time to infiltrate the ground
Planting trees prevents soil erosion and provided nutrients for other plants and crops to grow

Question 18

What is deforestation and what is it a major threat to

Answer 18

Cutting trees on a large scale from a forest
It is a massive threat to tropical rainforests on a vast scale

Question 19

What are 7 reasons why deforestation is happening?

Answer 19

Growing population: trees are cut down for more room for buildings and agriculture
Large projects such as dams and hydro-electric power need land
Commercial deforestation
Agriculture
Road building
Mining
Forest fires

Question 20

What are 2 economic effects of deforestation

Answer 20

It creates more jobs
Results in loss of tourism

Question 21

What are 4 environmental effects of deforestation

Answer 21

Vegetation is usually burnt and this adds CO2 to the atmosphere (greenhouse gases)
Soil erosion in places where trees are cut
Loss of habitat and culture: takes away the home of animal and plant species, tribal communities will get displaced
Soil infertility: as there are no roots t hold the surface layer, nutritive layer runs off with rainwater to loss of fertile soil

Question 22

What are 4 ways to deal with deforestation

Answer 22

Reforestation
Ban on deforestation
Better government policies
Create awareness
Sustainable forest management
Selective logging and replanting: loggers only chose wood that is highly valued
Ecotourism, conservation, education
Internal agreements about the use of tropical hardwoods
Debt reduction: richer countries pay the debt of poor countries to conserve environment