Processes of Land Cover change Flashcards
Deforestation
Removal/clearing of forests for other uses (agriculture/urban development)
Deforestation … as the world’s population …
Increases
Common reasons for deforestation
Agriculture, grazing, firewood & making space to expand urban areas
Natural causes of deforestation
Changes in climate e.g. spreading deserts (desertification) and fires.
Types of deforestation
Clear-cutting (removal of all trees in the area)
Slash-and-burn (forests cut down & vegetation burned creating field-burned biomass = nutrient rich layer of soil = fertile farming)
Slash-and-burn is seen as unsustainable, why?
As the process is repeated over time the land becomes unproductive and the farmers will abandon the field and move to a new area.
Expansion & intensification of Agriculture
Expansion - involves increasing amount of land available for agriculture.
Intensification - increase of output from existing agricultural areas.
Involves growing crops and/or raising livestock
How can more efficient methods of farming occur that increase the productivity of the resources?
Maximising the output you’d have to adjust factors:
Labour, fertilisers, pesticides, seeds, fodder, water, capital or technology
Agricultural intensification has increased pressure on what?
Environment and natural resources
Example of changes to agricultural methods
Changes to agricultural methods = environmental consequences
- Irrigation & increased use to pesticides affecting water quality and aquatic environments.
Growth of Urban Settlement
Land that is required to support urban areas undergoes a total transformation and has the greatest influence on global environmental change of any anthropogenic land cover.
Transformation of land for urban areas
Clearing of native vegetation, fragmentation of habitats & the building of infrastructure required to support urban areas
What has happened to urban areas since 1992? What is the prediction for the future?
Doubled in size. Prediction: urban land cover could TRIPLE by 2030 w/ majority of expansion occurring in China and India
How much of the world’s terrestrial land is currently used for mining?
1%
What is mining for many countries?
Important industry
What significant impacts does mining have on the environment?
Impacts on:
Biodiversity, greenshouse gas emissions, water quality & human health
What impact does mining have on biodiversity and land cover?
Through changes to abiotic and biotic conditions, with significant amounts of land being cleared, as well as the use and release of chemicals, dust and aerosols during the mining process.
What significant impacts does mining have on the environment?
Impacts on:
Biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, water quality & human health
What impact does mining have on biodiversity and land cover?
Changes to abiotic and biotic conditions, significant amounts of land being cleared and the use and release of chemicals, dusts and aerosols during the mining process
How much money did mining generate for Aus in 2020?
$270 billion in export revenue / 64% total export revenue
Through the money mining can get Australia, what can it do?
Be a means for financing ways of preventing biodiversity loss through research and rehabilitation in places where the economies benefit from exports over the long term.
