Resource use and landuse change Flashcards
(16 cards)
What percentage of the earth’s land surface has been altered due to human activity?
75%
What has changed in people’s diets globally?
There has been a significant global moveaway from a mainly starched-based diet to more water-intensive meat and dairy as incomes grow in many countries
What is the largest consumer of the world’s freshwater resources?
Agriculture
1/4 of energy used globally is expended on…
food production and supply
Is energy generation water intensive?
Yes, such as it’s use in coal-fired power plants and in nuclear reactors, and in biofuel crop production
Bourneo has lost around __% of it’s forest cover since 1950
50
What has been seen in Europe in relation to forests?
Slight increase in forests but a decrease in tall tree forests
The Great Plains lost more grassland to agriculture in 2014 than…
the Brazillian Amazon lost to deforestation
What percentage of The Great Plains remain intact?
70%
Between 1990 and 2015 world energy increased by…
54%
How percentage did the world’s population increase by between 1990 and 2015?
36%
Why is energy demand larger than population growth?
Increases in industry and more appliances being used
How have farmers been able to increase yields for food supply?
fertilizers, machinery, irrigation, improved seeds and pesticides
What negative effects come with increased yields?
Soil erosion, eutrophication, salinization, and agrochemical contamination
What percentage of the world’s surface could be degraded by 2050?
90%
How many countries have recorded a net increase in aforestation?
35 countries, reducing impact on shorter term processes
