Human - Rural Revision

Question 1

Timber Logging

Answer 1

Logging companies fell the hardwoods for markets in EMDC’s creating a valuable source of income for Brazil. One mahogany tree can make $100,000 worth of furniture. However little attempt has been made to replant the deforested areas.

Question 2

Cattle Ranching

Answer 2

The ranches are run by large transnational companies selling beef to fast food chains in developed countries, eg Burger King and Pizza Hut North America. The forest is replaced with grass meaning it will never return to it’s original state

Question 3

Mineral Exploitation

Answer 3

MInerals provide Brazil with huge natural resources e.g. Iron ore, Bauxite, diamonds, gold and silver. The Carajas mine is the world’s largest Iron ore mine and is located in Northern Brazil. Vast areas of rainforest are destroyed in search for these precious minerals

Question 4

Dams and HEP

Answer 4

Hydro Electric Power is an important source of renewable (cheap) energy: building dams and creating large lakes has led to huge areas of forest being flooded . The Itaipu dam, the world’s second-largest hydroelectric power producer, is seen in the Parana River along the borders of Brazil. This has disrupted the natural flow of rivers and has also affected the fish population.

Question 5

Trans Amazonian Highway

Answer 5

The TAH was built to develop the region and to transport timber,minerals,farm produce and people. Over 12,000 km of new roads have been built and a 900 km railway has been built from Carajas to the coast where it is exported.

Question 6

New Settlers

Answer 6

Due to Brazil’s increasing population, especially in the ‘Golden Triangle’ cities, millions of landless people were not given land to farm in Amazonia. This has led to an increase in population from 2 million (1960) to over 30 million (2000) with large areas of rainforest cleared.

Question 7

Impact on Wildlife & Plant life

Answer 7

Deforestation has destroyed the habitat of millions of species of plants & animals , the rainforest contains 70% of the world’s species, many of which could become extinct. Over half of our medicines come from the TRF e.g. the rosy periwinkle is used to treat childhood leukaemia.If deforestation continues potentially useful medicinal drugs may be lost forever.

Question 8

Global Warming

Answer 8

Global Warming is accelerating due to the burning of the forest releasing huge amounts of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas. If this continues the ice caps will melt and cause severe flooding in low lying areas e.g. Bangladesh and South East England. Over one third of the world’s fresh oxygen supply comes from the TRF, this would be lost if the region is totally deforested, also adding to global warming.

Question 9

Soil Erosion

Answer 9

Removing trees means there is no canopy to protect the soil from heavy downpours, or roots to bind the soil together. The nutrients are then washed out of the soil which is called leaching and would leave it infertile. Many New cattle ranches & farms have been abandoned due to this.

Question 10

Water Supplies

Answer 10

There has been serious water pollution by gold mining which uses toxic substances such as mercury. This has caused poisoning of rivers,fish and people.

Question 11

Effects on the Amerindians in the Amazon Rainforest

Answer 11

Some Indian groups e.g. the Kayapo have been forced into reservations (Xingu Park) or retreated into more remote areas deep in the forest. Thousands of AmerIndians have also died due to lack of immunity to “western diseases” such as measles & flu.

Question 12

Reduced Impact Logging

Answer 12

RIL is selective tree felling where only trees which are fully mature are cut down, which means rather than whole areas being cleared only single trees are felled, leaving young ones to grow.

Question 13

How effective is reduced impact logging

Answer 13

it guarantees the lifespan of younger trees and leaves smaller gaps in the canopy which encourages seedlings to grow.
However, RIL is much more expensive than traditional logging and it is difficult to police in such a vast area.

Question 14

National parks and reserves

Answer 14

These parks and reserves are created by the government and protected by laws. These laws prevent or minimise the harm caused to the landscape by commercial developments. E.g. Jau national Park

Question 15

How effective is national parks and reserves

Answer 15

Have been partly successful.
more than half of Brazil’s Amazon forest is now protected and Indigenous people now control 20 per cent of this. This stops illegal encroachment

Question 16

Education

Answer 16

it can be used to teach people about the importance of the environment and how they can help save rainforests. ‘Save the Rainforests INC.’ offers educational travel tours and student trips to tropical rainforest destinations in Belize, Costa Rica, Galapagos and Panama.

Question 17

How effective is Education

Answer 17

It is effective because people must see the beauty and understand the importance of these forests so they will want to protect them.

Question 18

Afforestation

Answer 18

is used by conservation groups both national and international, and their aims are to conserve soils and protect existing soils by reforestation or replanting trees in felled areas.

Question 19

How effective is Afforestation

Answer 19

it has resulted in significant areas of forests being restored. However, the deforestation rate is still faster than the rate at which forests are restored, as incentives given to locals are unattractive. The trees planted are teak trees which are not native to the area and therefore do not support the natural flora and fauna.

Question 20

Agroforestry

Answer 20

is used to combat rural land degradation. Agroforestry is where crops can be grown amongst forested areas to prevent soil erosion: this lets farmers take advantage of shelter from the canopy of trees.

Question 21

How effective is Agroforestry

Answer 21

it is effective because the land becomes more productive, more profitable and more sustainable than forestry or agricultural monocultures. It also improves soil fertility/ prevents soil erosion.