3.7 - Environmental risks of economic development

Question 1

Name some threats that economic activities pose towards the natural environment:

Answer 1

-soil erosion + desertification
-deforestation
-enhanced global warming
-pollution (water, air, noise, visual/light)

Question 2

What is soil erosion?

Answer 2

the wearing away of the top soil by the action of wind/water

Question 3

What are some causes of soil erosion? Explain them:

Answer 3

-over-extracting groundwater (leads to drier soil which is eroded more easily)

-overgrazing (removes vegetation cover)
-deforestation (leaves exposed bare soil)
-climate change (more floods)

Question 4

What is desertification?

Answer 4

the spread of desert-like conditions into semi-arid areas, where the amount of vegetation decreases due to a decrease in soil fertility

Question 5

Explain 4 causes of desertification:

Answer 5

-soil erosion (leads to loss of nutrients, so plants can’t grow)

-overgrazing (reduces amount of vegetation and no more can grow)
-climate change (droughts + unpredictable rainfall patterns)
-deforestation (removes shade for soil)

Question 6

Summarise all the causes of desertification and soil erosion with a diagram:

Answer 6

Question 7

Why is it important to conserve resources?

Answer 7

-many are non-renewable and will run out if they aren’t conserved
-it will become increasingly expensive to extract materials through mining
-to protect habitats so species don’t become extinct
-to prevent global warming (and its consequences)