Topic 7 - Deforestation And Land Use

Question 1

What is deforestation?

Answer 1

Deforestation is the cutting down of forests

Question 2

Give some reasons why deforestation is done?

Answer 2

• To clear land for farming to provide food

- To grow crops from which biofuels based on ethanol can be produced

Question 3

What are some consequences of land use fro building, farming, quarrying etc?

Answer 3

• Less land is available for other organisms

- Dopeforestation or destruction of habitats like pete bogs

Question 4

What 3 problems can deforestation cause?

Answer 4

Less CO2 taken in, More CO2 in atmosphere, Less biodiverity

Question 5

Why can deforestation lead to lower biodiversity?

Answer 5

Habitats like forests contain a huge number of different plant and animal species, so when destroyed many species can become extinct

Question 6

Why does deforestation mean less carbon dioxide taken in?

Answer 6

1) Amount of co2 removed from atmosphere by photosynthesis reduced
2) Trees ‘lock up’ some carbon they absorb during photosynthesis in their wood, which can remove it from the atmosphere

Question 7

Why does deforestation lead to more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

Answer 7

1) Carbon dioxide is released when trees are burnt to clear land
2) Microorganisms feeding on dead wood release carbon from repsiration

Question 8

Why are peat bogs a big carbon store?

Answer 8

1) Bogs are acidic and waterlogged areas of land
2) Organisms that live there don’t fully decay due to a lack of oxygen
3) The partly totted plants build up peat
4) So the carbon is stored in peat instead of being released into the atmosphere

Question 9

Why are peat bogs being destroyed?

Answer 9

Peat bogs are often drained so an area can be used for farmland, or peat is cut up and dried for use as fuel. It is also being sold to gardeners as compost.

It is being used up faster than it forms

Question 10

Why does drying peat cause increased global warming?

Answer 10

When peat is drained, it comes into more contact with air and some microorganisms start to decompose it. When they respire they use oxygen and released carbon dioxide contributing to global warming. Co2 also released when peat burned

Question 11

Destroying peat bogs reduces ___ as the __ of animals and plants are destroyed

Answer 11

Biodiversity, habitats