populations and sustainability

Question 1

What is a sustainable resource

Answer 1

• a renewable resource that is being economically exploited in a way that it won’t run out/ run low

Question 2

What are aims of sustainability

Answer 2

• preserve the environment
• ensure resources available for future generations
• allows humans in all societies to live comfortably
• enable less economically developed countries to develop
• create a more even balance between more and less economically developed countries

Question 3

What is conservation

Answer 3

-the maintenance of biodiversity through human action/ management

Question 4

What does conservation involve

Answer 4

• maintaining diversity between species, genetic biodiversity, habitats
• managing ecosystems so natural resources are used without running out (SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT)

Question 5

What is reclamation, what does it involve

Answer 5

• type of conservation
• process of restoring ecosystems that have been damaged/ destroyed
• involves techniques like controlled burning of forest, which can halt succession

Question 6

What is preservation

Answer 6

• the protection of an area by restricting or banning human interference
• keeps ecosystem in original state

Question 7

Importance of conservation (3 key reasons)

Answer 7

• economic
• social
• ethical

Question 8

Economic importance of conservation

Answer 8

• provides resources humans need to survive and provide income
• materials can be traded

Question 9

Social importance of conservation

Answer 9

• people enjoy beauty of ecosystems
• enjoyable activities e.g. walking, relaxing

Question 10

Ethical importance or conservation

Answer 10

• organisms have a right to exist
• responsibility for future generations to conserve a variety of ecosystems

Question 11

Why is sustainable timber production done

Answer 11

• allows maintenance of biodiversity
• allows a sustained supply of wood to meet demands

Question 12

Small scale timber production

Answer 12

• coppicing
• rotational coppicing
• pollarding

Question 13

What is coppicing

Answer 13

• tree trunk is cut close to the ground
• new shoots form from the cut surface and mature
• these shoots later cut, and in there place more are produced
• shoots used in e.g. fencing

Question 14

What is rotational coppicing

Answer 14

• woodland is divided into sections
• trees are cut in a section until all are coppiced
• coppicing then occurs in another section
• allows time for newly coppiced trees to grow
• forms a cycle of coppicing with recovery/growth time in between
• no light blocked, so no succession

Question 15

What is pollarding

Answer 15

• tree trunks are cut higher so animals can’t eat the new shoots

Question 16

Large scale timber production

Answer 16

• based on the idea of felling

Question 17

How is sustainable production of timber maintained

Answer 17

• selective cutting- remove largest trees only
• replace trees by replanting- rather than regeneration
• plant trees optimal distance apart- reduces competition for light, rain etc.
• management of pathogens and pests
• ensure forest areas remain for indigenous tribes

Question 18

Disadvantages of large scale timber production

Answer 18

• habitats are destroyed
• soil minerals reduced
• soil more susceptible to erosion
• occur as trees key for binding soil, removing water, maintaining nutrient levels

Question 19

Sustainable fishing techniques- commercial and recreational fishing at certain times of the year

Answer 19

• protects the breeding season of some species
• allows population levels to increase to a sustainable level

Question 20

Sustainable fishing techniques- introduction of fish farming

Answer 20

• maintains supply of protein food
• prevents loss of wild species

Question 21

Sustainable fishing techniques- nets

Answer 21

• nets with different mesh sizes
• allows smaller, immature fish to escape
• more mature/older fish caught
• allows breeding to continue

Question 22

Sustainable fishing techniques- international agreements, examples

Answer 22

• agreement for methods to help fish
• limit catching numbers
• e.g. COMMON FISHERIES POLICY= in the EU, limits numbers of species to be caught in a particular area. Aims to maintain a natural population that allows sufficient fish reproduction

Question 23

Why was sustainable fishing introduced

Answer 23

• increased demand for food
• fish is a valuable source of protein
• overfishing damages populations, decreases species populations
• overfishing doesn’t allows populations to regenerate, damaging future food source