Land Cover Change - Overview Flashcards
abiotic
the non-living components which consists of climatic features, inorganic substances and other substances
producers
known as autotrophic organisms, convert solar energy into chemical energy
consumers
known as heterotrophic organisms, are reliant on other organisms for nutrients
decomposers
are heterotrophic organisms which break down dead organic matter and waste matter
biome
a large naturally occurring type of environment
anthropogenic biomes
a global ecosystem unit defined by global patterns of sustained direct human interaction with ecosystems
Land use
type of human activity created in biomes
agricultural environment
plant and animal farming in order to sustain and enhance human life
urban environment
an area of concentrated settlement forms
land cover change
the changes that have taken place to natural environments due to a variety of natural and/or human induced causes
biodiversity
refers to the number, type and variety of living organisms found within an environment
climate change
the long term permanent shift in some or all parts of weather conditions experienced in an area
sustainability
meeting the needs of current and future generations through simultaneous environmental, social and economic adaption and improvement
what percentage of people live in urban areas
54%, expected to be 70% by 2050
how much of the earths surface do forests cover
30%, estimated 7.3 million hectares of forest lost each year
rate of rainforest land cover change
20 football fields lost every minute
how much of the amazon rainforest is expected to be lost by 2030
50%
role of forest land cover
provides oxygen, absorbs carbon dioxide, regulates earths temperatures and weather patterns, provides habitat for up to 80% of the worlds terrestrial biodiversity
how much of the worlds land is used for agriculture
38%
palm oil plantation changes
(Indonesia) increased from 2 million hectares in 1995 to 9 million hectares in 2011
affluence
having a great deal of money and wealth
world population growth is currently
140 people per minute
estimated world population by 2050
9 billion
how much of the worlds population holds how much of the worlds wealth
1% of the population holds 50% of the worlds wealth
higher affluence in a country means
there is a higher demand for resources, food, consumer products and technology.
how much of the worlds population consumes how much of the worlds resources
20% of the worlds population consumes 80% of the worlds resources
processes of land cover change
growth of urban settlement and urbanisation, deforestation, land reclamation, expansion and intensification of agriculture, land and soil degradation, rangeland modification, industry and mining, irrigation
how much land is cleared due to deforestation each year
74,000 - 93,000 square km’s
how much of the worlds arable land has been lost from degradation since 1960
one third
factors affecting the processes of land cover change across countries
population size and density, economy, government, land ownership, cultural views
one of Australia’s policies to protect environment
The environment protection and biodiversity conservation act 1999
