1.2.2 Brazil Rainforest Case Study

Question 1

Where is the Brazilian rainforest located?

Answer 1

Brazil
Bolivia
Peru
Ecuador
Colombia
Venezuela
Guyana
Suriname
Rench Guinea

Question 2

Causes of deforestation

Answer 2

Road building
Logging
Mineral extraction
Energy development
Commercial farming
Settlement and population growth
Road building

Question 3

Cattle ranching

Answer 3

• The biggest cause of deforestation in the Brazilian rainforest (up to 70%)
  It is when large areas of rainforest have been cleared away makeway for livestock

Question 4

Logging

Answer 4

• Logging is the process of cutting down trees and transporting them to be used for other purposes

Question 5

Energy development

Answer 5

Creation of energy

Question 6

Main sources of energy development

Answer 6

Hydropower
Oil
Coal
Renewable

Question 7

Mineral extraction

Answer 7

Process of extraction minerals from the Earth’s crust

Question 8

Settlement and population growth

Answer 8

• When people move to the he forest frontier, more land is cleared to make space for agriculture
• Population shifts occur as the land is degraded and no longer able to be used

Question 9

Road building

Answer 9

Used to bring in equipment

Question 10

What is the problem with road building?

Answer 10

In the process, large sections of the Brazilian rainforest are cut down

Question 11

How long is the Trans-amazonian highway?

Answer 11

4,000km

Question 12

Commercial farming

Answer 12

A type of farming where crops and livestock are raised to sell the products for profit

Question 13

What percentage of deforestation does commercial farming account for?

Answer 13

80%

Question 14

How much of the world’s beef is exported from Brazil?

Answer 14

Almost 1/5

Question 15

How much of the world’s beef is exported from Brazil?

Answer 15

Almost 1/5

Question 16

Climate change

Answer 16

• Trees and plants absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis
  -If there are fewer trees and plants, then less carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere

Question 17

Loss of biodiversity

Answer 17

• Many different species of animals and plants die due to deforestation aa they lose their habitat
• As plants and animals are closely connected through the food web deforestation reduces biodiversity

Question 18

Soil erosion

Answer 18

• Once the land is cleared, the soil is left bare
• When it rains, the nutrients in the soil are washed away and the nutrient cycle stops because there are no leaves to replace nutrients in the soil
• The soil is no longer fertile, and the roots of the plant no longer hold the soil together so it becomes easily eroded

Question 19

Economic development

Answer 19

• The creation of mines, farms and roads has led to economic development
• The money generated from these allow Brazil to generate income
• This can be used to pay debt or invest in further development projects