24.5 - Sustainability

Question 1

What is a sustainable resource?

Answer 1

• Renewable resource that is being economically exploited that it will not diminish/run out

Question 2

What are the aims of sustainability?

Answer 2

• Preserve environment
• Ensure resources are available for future gens
• Allow humans to live comfortably
• Enable less economically developed country to exploit their resources

Question 3

Describe small scale Timber Production sustainability

Answer 3

• Coppicing: tree trunk cut close to ground + new shoots form, new shoots are cut and more are produced
• Rotational coppicing: trees only cut in a particular section until all have been coppiced. Occurs in a different area allowing coppiced trees to grow back maturely. Good for biodiversity, stops domination
• Pollarding: same as coppicing but shoots are cut higher so animals can’t damage them

Question 4

Describe large scale Timber Production sustainability

Answer 4

• Practise selective cutting: removing inky largest trees
• Replace trees through replanting
• Plant trees in optimal distance to reduce competition
• Manage pests + pathogens
• Ensure areas of forest remain for indigenous people

BAD BECAUSE
- soil minerals reduced + habitats destroyed, soil left is susceptible to erosion

Question 5

Describe fish sustainability

Answer 5

• Nets with different mesh sizes so only mature fish are caught and baby fish can escape to survive and reproduce
• Commercial + Recreational fishing at certain times of year and protecting breeding season
• Introduction of fish farming to maintain supply of protein food whilst preventing loss of wild species