the living world case studies

Question 1

What is your case study on deforestation? Describe its location and the rate of deforestation.

Answer 1

The Amazon is the largest rainforest on Earth. It covers 8 million km2, including parts of Brazil, Peru and Columbia. Since 1978, over 750,000km2 of deforestation.

Question 2

What are the causes of deforestation in the Amazon and what percentage of deforestation did they cause?

Answer 2

causes of deforestation in Amazon 2000-2005

• 70% commercial ranching
• 20% subsistence farming
• 5% commercial farming
• 3% logging
• 2% other

Question 3

What are two environmental impacts of deforestation on the Amazon?

Answer 3

environmental impacts on Amazon:

• the Amazon stores 100 billion tonnes of carbon, and some will be released during deforestation
• Brazil is losing 55 million tonnes of topsoil every year due to soil erosion caused by soy farming

Question 4

What are three economic impacts of deforestation on the Amazon?

Answer 4

economic impacts on Amazon:

• farming makes lots of money (eg. in 2008, Brazil made $6.9 billion from trading cattle)
• mining industry creates jobs (eg. Peru emplys 3100)
• logging contributes huge amounts to Brazil’s economy

Question 5

What is your case study on hot deserts? How big is it?

Answer 5

The Western desert in Las Vegas. 200,000km2

Question 6

What are four opportunities for economic development in the Sahara?

Answer 6

• ground is rich in minerals (copper, uranium, zinc, coal)
• hot temperature and sunlight makes it great for agriculture
• solar power and Hoover dam for energy
• tourism (lakes attract 2,000,000 visitors for water sports)

Question 7

What are three challenges for development in hot deserts?

Answer 7

• extreme temperatures (50 degrees in Death Valley)
• inaccessible as low population density
• water supply (evaporation and natural rivers are far)