4.7.3.4 Deforestation

Question 1

Deforestation:

Answer 1

the cutting down of a large number of trees in the same area, in order to use the land for something else

Question 2

Why has large-scale deforestation occurred in tropical areas?

Answer 2

• to provide land for cattle and rice fields
• to grow crops e.g. sugarcane, maize for biofuels which are used to produce energy

Question 3

Problems caused by deforestation:

Answer 3

• as trees contain carbon, burning them result in more CO2 emissions being released into the atmosphere
  
  • enhances the greenhouses gas effect + contributes to global warming
  • following deforestation microorganisms decomposes the dead vegetation producing CO2 as they respire
• trees take in CO2 through photosynthesis - so fewer trees means less CO2 is taken in so CO2 in the atmosphere increases
• results in habitat loss decreasing biodiversity