Forrests under threat Flashcards
Biome
A biome is a large area characterised by certain types of plants and animals
Inputs
Something that is put into the system
Outputs
Something that is produced by the system
Store
Where something is kept
Flow
How something moves from one store to another
Recycling
How material/energy is used in a system
Food web
Leaching
When nutrients are washed out of the soil by water moving through it
Tertiary consumers
A carnivore at the top most level in a food chain that feeds on other carnivores; An animal that feeds only on the secondary consumers
Secondary consumers
Primary consumers. Can be classified into one or two groups. Carnivores (eat meat), omnivores (eat meats & plants)
Primary consumers
Eat plants exclusively and are all herbivores
Producers
Organisms – either a green plant or a bacterium which is part of the first level of the food chain
Detrivores
A Detra Voors is an organism that eats dead or decaying plants or animals as food. detrivores include micro organisms such as bacteria and larger organisms such as fungi, insects, worms.
Decomposers
An organism, usually a bacterium or fungus, that breaks down the cells of dead plants and animals into simpler substances
Creating a wilderness
An area undisturbed human activity (it is banned)
National park
An area mostly in natural state that is managed to protect biodiversity
Sustainable forestry
Ways of harvesting forest without damaging it in the long-term
Geographical conflict
Disagreement and differences of opinion linked to the use of places
and resources
Sustainable forest management
This is about conserving forests by ensuring they are not used faster than
thev can be renewed.
Agroforestry
Growing trees and crops together. Some crops benefit from the shelter
of the tree canopy. Trees also prevent soil erosion and crops benefit
from the nutrients in the leaf litter.
Clearcutting
This is the logging of all trees in a wide area of forest.
Selective logging
Trees are only cut down when they reach a certain height. Young trees
are allowed to mature so the height of the canopy is maintained. It only
moves large, valuable trees and leaves some of the forest intact.
Afforestation
The replanting of trees to replace the original, primary forest that has
been lost. This method does not maintain the biodiversity of a natural
forest.
Protecting areas
Just like in Costa Rica, this is simply about giving places legal protection
and enacting tight laws that stop deforestation in certain places.
Sustainability
Sustainability ensures that future generations can access the
environment, while current generations use it effectively for social,
economic and environmental gain
CITES
The Convention on international trade in endangered species
CITES bans cross-border trade in certain species
REDD
RED - Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation
A United Nations project whose purpose it is to stop deforestation
Sustainable forest management
This is about conserving forests by ensuring they are not used faster than
they can be renewed.
Agroforestry
Growing trees and crops together. Some crops benefit from the shelter
of the tree canopy. Trees also prevent soil erosion and crops benefit
from the nutrients in the leaf litter.
Monitoring
Satellite technology and photos are used to ensure that no illegal
activities are taking place and that landowners follow guidelines for
sustainability.
Indirect threat
Caused by global warming/pollution - e.g. increased CO2 levels
Intact forests
These are primary forests that have never been deforested.
Direct threat
clear link between one thing happening and the damage being caused
to something else - deliberately cutting down trees
Taiga or boreal forest
Taiga is Russian for forest. The world’s largest biome made up on
coniferous trees that have adapted to a cold climate. It has a n extreme subarctic climate. Biodiversity is low
Biodiversity
 The variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat,
a high level of which is usually considered to be important and desirable
Net primary productivity
This is a measure of how much new plant and animal growth or biomass
is added to a biome each year. It is measured in grams per square metre per year
