Causes of deforestation: Amazon Rainforest Flashcards
What is deforestation?
Deforestation is the clearing or removal of forests or trees to make way for agricultural, urban, or other land uses.
True or False: Deforestation rates in tropical rainforests have been consistently decreasing over the last decade.
False
Fill in the blank: The annual deforestation rate in tropical rainforests is estimated to be around _____ million hectares.
10
What role do tropical rainforests play in the global climate system?
Tropical rainforests act as significant carbon sinks, helping to regulate the Earth’s climate.
What is the primary cause of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest?
Agricultural expansion.
Fill in the blank: The demand for __________ is a significant driver of deforestation in the Amazon.
beef.
What role do infrastructure projects play in deforestation?
They facilitate access to remote areas, leading to increased logging and land clearing.
True or False: Small-scale farming has no impact on deforestation in the Amazon.
False.
What type of farming is often associated with deforestation in the Amazon?
Cattle ranching.
What are the main causes of deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest?
logging, commercial farming (cattle ranching), substance farming, mining, dam building for HEP, settlement and infrastructure and population growth
What is logging?
Logging is the process of cutting down trees to harvest timber for various uses.
True or False: Commercial farming is primarily focused on producing food for local consumption.
False: Commercial farming is aimed at producing food and other agricultural products for sale in the local and global markets.
Fill in the blank: Mineral extraction involves the ______ of minerals from the earth for economic use.
removal
What is the primary goal of settlement development?
The primary goal of settlement development is to establish and expand human communities in a particular area.
Which of the following is NOT a common method of logging? A) Clear-cutting B) Selective logging C) Urban logging
C) Urban logging
Short answer: Name one environmental impact of commercial farming.
Deforestation or soil degradation.
True or False: Settlement development can lead to urban sprawl.
True
What is the primary purpose of the Trans-Amazonian Highway?
To facilitate transportation and access to the Amazon region.
What percentage of deforestation in the Amazon is attributed to cattle ranching?
Approximately 80%
Which major environmental concern is associated with the construction of dams in the Amazon?
Disruption of local ecosystems and fish populations.
Multiple Choice: What is one of the most significant dams in the Amazon region?
Belo Monte Dam
What has been a consequence of the Trans-Amazonian Highway on indigenous populations?
Increased land encroachment and loss of territory.
Short Answer: Name one environmental impact of cattle ranching in the Amazon.
Loss of biodiversity.
Fill in the blank: The Trans-Amazonian Highway was initiated in the year __________.
1972
What are major minerals extracted from the Amazon rainforest?
Gold, copper, nickel, iron and bauxite.
Fill in the blank: The ______ mine is one of the largest gold mines in the Amazon region.
Belo Sun.
