Tropical Rainforests - Human Impacts

Question 1

Do tropical rainforests provide lots of goods and services? If so, why?

Answer 1

Yes, because there are a lot of plants and animals there.

Question 2

What does “high biodiversity” mean?

Answer 2

It means that there are a lot of plants and animals.

Question 3

List the products that are sourced from the rainforest.

Answer 3

1. Rubber
2. Coffee
3. Chocolate
4. Medicines
5. Hardwood e.g. mahogany

Question 4

What is logging?

Answer 4

Cutting down trees.

Question 5

What is the importance of logging to a country’s economy?

Answer 5

It can contribute to a country’s economy because the wood cut down can be used for furniture and building

Question 6

Do rainforests provide opportunities for farming and mining?

Answer 6

Yes.

Question 7

What are the benefits or services that rainforests provide?

Answer 7

1. They absorb 0.7 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere each year which helps to reduce climate change.
2. Rainfall is absorbed by the plants and trees which reduces flooding

Question 8

Do human activities have a big impact on the rainforest?

Answer 8

Yes.

Question 9

What are the 4 activities that humans do that can negatively affect the rainforest?

Answer 9

1. Logging
2. Agriculture
3. Mineral Extraction
4. Tourism

Question 10

What are 2 negative impacts of logging?

Answer 10

1. Soil erosion - when there are no trees to hold the soil together, heavy rain washes away the soil. This can enter rivers and kill fish.
2. The removal of trees interrupts the water cycle, areas can become very dry or very wet.

Question 11

What are 2 negative impacts of Agriculture?

Answer 11

1. The Greenhouse Effect - from land being cleared via burning which produces CO2
2. Low soil fertility - no trees means more water reaches the soil.

Question 12

What are 2 negative impacts of Mineral Extraction?

Answer 12

1. Removal of trees - heavy machinery used to mine gold cuts the trees down.
2. Water pollution - Toxic chemicals used to extract minerals can wash into drinking water and kill wildlife.

Question 13

What are 2 negative impacts of Tourism?

Answer 13

1. Tourists may scare wildlife - causing birds to abandon their young
2. Pollution - littering can damage local areas

Question 14

Outline the impacts of logging in tropical rainforests.

Answer 14

1. Soil erosion because there are no trees to hold the soil together so the soil gets washed away.
2. Interrupts the water cycle because trees are removed which can lead to some areas being very dry and at risk of wildfires.