Case Studys

Question 0

Madagascar hotspot: threats

Answer 0

One of the most degraded hotspots in the world.

Huge amounts of deforestation - only 5 per cent of original habitat remains.

Question 1

Madagascar hotspot: biodiversity

Answer 1

Endemic fauna and flora such as long table grain roller and the flying fox.

Question 2

Giant kelp forest ecosystem: how has human action affected the equilibrium?

Answer 2

During 19th and 20th century the sea otter was hunted to near extinction in California. This allowed a population explosion of the sea urchins which almost destroyed the Kelp Forest and the whole ecosystem collapsed.

Question 3

Udzungwa National Park: how is the area conserved?

Answer 3

Bottom up scheme has conserved the area by setting up tree nurseries, and developing fuel efficient stoves and rice husk technology to solve fuel issues.
Agricultural diversification projects such as bee keeping have provided employment.

Question 4

Masai Mara Game Reserve: a degraded area

Answer 4

Failed management has led to a degraded area. A decline in the grassland condition has occurred.
Money made from tourism has not been reaching appropriate destination so money has been put back into the area.
Can’t afford effective policing due to the small scale of the project.

Question 5

SMMA: a successful management

Answer 5

Bottom up scheme using locals to work in the protected area.
Success due to funding from a number of agencies including the Caribbean Conservation Association. Everyone is consulted and interests are protected.

Question 6

Sundurbans: threats

Answer 6

Poaching as it is home to 350 Bengal tigers.
Over fishing, large population, poorly paid forest guards, illegal cutting
Long term threats include growing population upstream in India using water which would otherwise get to the sundurbans.
Consumerism on the west is the biggest threat to tigers.

Question 7

Sundurbans: how can it be managed?

Answer 7

Conservation areas, eco tourism, changing attitudes toward tigers.

Question 8

North Devon and Kenya: why is it set up?

Answer 8

Share similar threats and so biosphere is to retest against sea damage from climate change, give people the opportunity to respond to the future. Other threats include unsustainable development.

Question 9

Invasive species in the Galapagos

Answer 9

Up to 60 per cent of the 180 species of endemic plant are considered threatened.
490 recorded introduced insect species, of these 66 are high risk.
Action has been taken to preserve biodiversity such as eradication of introduced rodents, rounding up stray dogs.