Sustainability Flashcards
1
Q
How does depletion of resources occur?
A
- cope with increased human demand with resources
- intensive meth eods created to explot enviornmental resources
- this can result in the destruction of ecosystems, a reduction in biodiversity and depletion of resources
2
Q
WHat is a sustainable resource?
A
- renewable resource that is being economically exploited in such a way that it will not diminish or run out
3
Q
WHat are the aims of sustainability?
A
- preserve the environment
- ensure resources are available for future generations
- allow humans in all societies to live comfortably
- enable LEDCs to develop through exploiting their natural resources
- create a more even balance in the consumption of these resources between more economically developed countries and LEDCs
4
Q
What is one direct way to sustainably manae resources?
A
- using existing resoruces more effieciently
- prevents finite resources being used up so quick;y
- e.g. recycling
- ttechnology
- alternatives may be developed that could ease the strain on current finiste resource
- these could take years to produce and be more constly and have negative effects on their own
5
Q
How are forests sustainably managed?
A
- allow maintenance of a forest’s biodiversity
- whilst sustaining our supply of wood to meet demands
- and economically viable of timber production
- both techniques depend on the scale of timber production
6
Q
How is timber produced on a small scale?
A
- technique known a coppicing
- tree trunk cut close to ground, new shoots form from the cut surface and mature
- eventually theese shots are cut and in their place more are produced
- shoots have many uses including fences
7
Q
What is rotational coppicing?
A
- happens in most managed woodland
- woodland divided into section and trees are only cut in a aparticular section until all have been coppiced
- coppicing then begins in another area allowing time for the newly coppiced trees to grow
- this process continues until you reach the trees that were firdst coppiced
- these will now have grown to mature-sized trees, and the cycle begins again
8
Q
What is the benefit of rotational coppicing
A
- maintains biodiversity as the trees never grow enough to block out the light
- hence succession cannot occur and so more species can survive
9
Q
what is the alternative to coppicing?
A
- pollarding
- similar to coppicing
- trunk cut higher up so deer and other animals cannot eat the shoots as they appear
10
Q
How is timber produced sustainably on a large scale?
A
- felling large areas of forest
- feled trees are destroyed and will not regrow
11
Q
How do timber companies ensure that large scale production is sustainable?
A
- practice selective cutting
- removing only argest trees
- replace trees through planting rather than waiting for natural regeneration
- ensure that the biodiversity and mineral and water cycles are maintained
- plant trees at optimal distance apart to reduce competition
- higher yield as more wood is produced per tree
- manage pest and pathogens to maximise yields
- ensure that areas of forest remain for indigenous people
12
Q
Whis is the disadavatage of felling>
A
- habitats are destroyed
- soil mineral reduced
- bare soil left is susceptible to erosion
- trees are important for binding soil, removing water, maintaining nutrient levels through their role in the carbon and nitrogen cycles
13
Q
Why are fish important?
A
- growing population - ioncreassed demand for food
- fish are a valuable protein source in human diet
14
Q
What effect does overfishing have?>
A
- some species of fish decrease in number significantly
- fish popilations are then unable to regenerate
- they will no longer be able to provide a food source in the future
15
Q
How is overfishing being managed to become more sustainbly?
A
- international agreements about the number of fish caught
- e.g. Common FIsheries Policy in the EU
