Forest under threat Flashcards
Abiotic
non-living part of a biome, includes the atmosphere, water, rock and soil
Acid rain
rain with a pH lower than 5.7
Afforestation
the planting of trees
Agroforestry
growing trees and crops together to maintain biodiversity of agricultural land
Biodiversity
the number of different plant and animal species in an area
Biofuels
any kind of fuel made from living things, or from the waste they produce
Biomass
renewable organic materials such as wood, agricultural crops or wastes, when used as a source of fuel or energy
Biotic
living part of a biome, made up of plant (flora) and animal (fauna) life
Boreal forest
the taiga – the world’s largest land biome
Clear-cutting
the logging of all trees in a wide area of forest
Climate
the average weather conditions over a 30-year period
Coniferous tree
type of tree which includes pine, spruce and fir, which grow tall and narrow to form a dense canopy
Conservation
protecting threatened biomes, e.g. setting up national parks or banning trade in endangered species
Deforestation
the deliberate cutting down of forests to exploit forest resources (timber, land or minerals)
Detritivores
animal which feeds on dead or decaying plant and animal matter
Drought
a long, continuous period of dry weather
Ecotourism
small-scale tourism that attracts visitors that are interested in wildlife and culture
Epiphytes
plants that live in the canopy on trees and have evolved to get all their nutrients from water and air rather than soil
Geographical conflict
disagreement and differences of opinion linked to the use of places and resources
Geographical Information
Systems (GIS)
a form of electronic mapping that builds up maps layer by layer
Global warming
the increase of Earth’s temperatures, also known as the
greenhouse effect
Hydroelectric power (HEP)
electricity generated by turbines that are driven by moving water
Invasive species
(or alien species) – a plant, animal or disease introduced from one area to another which causes ecosystem damage
Leaching
when nutrients are washed out of the soil by water moving through it
Lianas
climbing plants which cling to trees and climb up to the sunlight in the canopy, while getting water and nutrients from the soil below
Litter
decaying leaves and twigs
Migration
movement from one place to another
National parks
natural landscapes that are protected by the government for the conservation of wildlife or enjoyment of the general public
Net primary productivity
NPP
a measure of how much new plant and animal growth is added to a biome each year
Non-governmental
organisation (NGO)
NGOs work to make life better, especially for the poor. Oxfam, the Red Cross and Greenpeace are all NGOs
Nutrient cycle
The circulation of nutrients between abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) parts of ecosystems
Primary forest
the original forest
RAMSAR wetland
international treaty dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands with global importance
Secondary forest
regenerated or replanted forest
Selective logging
the removal of large, valuable trees leaving some of the forest intact
Strip mining
the digging of large holes in the ground to extract ores and minerals that are close to the surface
Sustainable management
meeting the needs of people now and in the future, and limiting harm to the environment
Tar sands
sediment that is mixed with oil, can be mined to extract oil to be used as fuel
UNESCO World Heritage
Sites
a natural or man-made site that is protected because of their global importance
Wilderness
isolated, hard-to-reach places with little human interference or settlement
Wildfire
uncontrolled burning though forest, grassland or scrub. Such fires can ‘jump’ roads and rivers and travel at high speed
