Describe the three main processes of land cover change.

Question 1

Deforestation

Answer 1

• Deforestation is the removal of forests for various purposes, such as agriculture, urban development, grazing, logging, and mining.
• Common methods of deforestation include illegal logging and forest fires.
• Forests = oxygen production, carbon dioxide absorption, climate regulation.
• Indonesia has lost 50% of its rainforest since 1900, and West Africa’s coastal rainforests 90% reduction.
• Deforestation methods include “clear-cutting” (complete tree removal) and “slash-and-burn” (cutting and burning to clear land and enrich soil).

Question 2

Expansion and Intensification of Agriculture

Answer 2

• Agriculture practice of farming and food production both plant and animal products, driven by the world’s population and changing consumption patterns.
• Increasing affluence leads to a shift in consumption towards more expensive foods like beef.
• Meeting growing and changing demands relies on expansion (increasing agricultural land) and intensification (using technology to boost output from existing land).
• Global estimates suggest a projected 18% increase in agricultural land conversion by 2050
• Food crop production has increased by 300% since 1970.

Question 3

Growth of Urban Settlement

Answer 3

• Earth’s population is increasing and has surpassed 8 billion, with a growing preference for urban living.
• urbanization leads to the continuous construction of infrastructure, causing land sealing or soil sealing, where impermeable surfaces like concrete cover the ground, affecting water runoff and underground reservoirs.
• In 2020, 56% of the global population lived in urban areas, projected to rise to 68% by 2050.
• By 2050, urbanization and population growth could add 2.5 billion people to urban areas, with most of this increase happening in Asia and Africa.

Question 4

Describe the concept of liveability and list factors that would impact liveability in Australia.

Answer 4

Definition: Liveability is the quality of space and the built environment.

Factors that impact liveability include:
*Quality of Life
*Health
*Sense of Safety
*Access to Services
*Cost of living
*Mobility and transport