Case Study : The Amazon Rainforrest - Paper 1 Flashcards
7 causes of deforestation in the Amazon
Subsistence farming
Commercial farming
Logging
Mineral extraction
Road building
Energy development
Population growth
What is subsistence farming
They clear Forrest’s to grow food for themselves and family
(As soil becomes quickly exhausted they’re having to clear more and more)
How much of deforestation is subsistence farming accountable for
Responsible for 20-25% of deforestation
What is commercial farming
Farming to make a profit
How much deforestation does commercial farming account for
65-70% for cattle ranching
Further 5-10% for growing soy,rice,sugar cane, corn
What is logging
Cutting down trees to sell and make a profit
Selective logging - cutting down valuable trees to sell for more money eg. Mahogany
How much deforestation does logging account for
2-3% including illegals logging
What is mineral extraction
There are huge mines, rocks beneath the Forrest which contain valuable minerals eg. Iron, tin, copper, lead and gold
What is mineral extraction
There are huge mines, rocks beneath the Forrest which contain valuable minerals eg. Iron, tin, copper, lead and gold
Why are roads being built in the amazon
Roads are needed for the development of the rainforests
Gives access to other land uses eg. Farmers
Why is energy development in the amazon causing deforestation
There are reserves of oil, coal and natural gas
Most development focuses on hydroelectric power.
(Rivers are dammed to create reservoirs flooding the Forrest behind)
Why is there population growth in and around the amazon
Natural population growth
Migration from overcrowded cities
( between 2000s ans 2010s the population of the amazon grew by 23%)
Benefits of economic development in the amazon
Brazil has huge foreign debts and lots of poor people see deforestation as a way to develop their country and improve standard of living
Farming makes a lot of money (second biggest soybean exporter)
Mining creates a large number of jobs (biggest minds employ 3000 people)
Logging is a big employer
Helps provide a lot of renewable energy for people and industry
Companies and workers pay tax to the government used to improve public services (education, health, water supply)
Issues of economic development in the Amazon
Most activities are not sustainable
If the rates remains as a high-level it is estimated it could be lost in 100 years
Mineral resources are finite (causing job losses)
Areas of forest could turn to desert if the climate continues to dry
Farming could be Devastated due to water shortages
Plants that could bring huge medical benefits and high profits may become extinct
Impacts of soil erosion on deforestation
When the forest cover is removed, the soil is exposed to heavy rainfall and can be quickly eroded
The topsoil is washed away into rivers (increasing the risk of flooding)
Nutrients are washed out (leached) leaving the soil infertile
This makes it hard for the forest to regrow
Impacts of climate change on deforestation
Amazon stores around 100 billion tons of carbon - deforestation will release on this as carbon dioxide contributing to global warming
With fewer trees less carbon dioxide will be absorbed through photosynthesis
Less water restored in the forest and return to the atmosphere through transpiration results in dry climate in region
