Tropical rainforests

Question 1

What are the rainforests like?

Answer 1

1. Has a wide variety of wildlife.
2. Is the source of vital medicine producing plants.
3. Poor soil nutrients since nutrients are found on top of the soil.

Question 2

What are the destructive uses of the rainforest?

Answer 2

1. Mining for iron, gold, copper and manganese.
2. Ranching and cattle grazing.
3. Timber- Expensive and rare trees like teak, rosewood and mahogany.
4. Cheap common trees for making paper, furniture and sports equipment.
5. Roads and railways.
6. Resettlement schemes.

Question 3

What are the non- destructive uses of the rainforest?

Answer 3

1. Medical uses.
2. Gathering fruits and nuts by natives.
3. Rubber tapping.
4. Eco tourism.

Question 4

What pressure has the Brazilian government been in for them to allow the heavy use of the rainforests?

Answer 4

1. Oil prices rose- They paid more for imported oil.
2. Borrowed money- Cannot pay back borrowed money, in debt.
3. Export profits used to pay debt rather than fund development.
4. Prices of exports fell- Brazil was making less money.

Question 5

How does deforestation affect the hydrological cycle?

Answer 5

Less trees means less evapotranspiration and more infiltration. More water lost to groundwater system. Less clouds form over land and thus climate inland is drier.

Question 6

How does deforestation affect the nutrient cycle?

Answer 6

Nutrients are held within the rainforest ecosystem by trees rotting, falling to the ground and being immediately taken up again. No trees means the nutrients will be leeched away, thus leaving the area of land infertile and unsuitable for vegetation.

Question 7

How does deforestation affect people?

Answer 7

Tribal groups have lost land and have been driven away due to deforestation. Some members of these groups have formed campaigns against deforestation.

Question 8

How does deforestation affect the planet?

Answer 8

Deforestation means that there are less trees. Because of this, less CO2 is absorbed back into the atmosphere and there is an increase in the rate of global warming.

Question 9

How are people protesting against deforestation?

Answer 9

1. Pressure groups- People are campaigning to make other countries aware of the problems caused by deforestation.
2. Boycotting- Some people avoid buying furniture made from unsustainable sources.
3. Buying tracts of forest- Some action groups are buying chunks of the forest and protecting them from being destroyed.
4. Encourage non- destructive uses- Encourage use of forest for eco tourism as well as medical research.
5. Controlling wealth projects- Encourage mining industries to restrict their activities to minimal land so they do not damage the forest.
6. Encourage use of softwood- Quick and easy to grow. Does not damage environment.
7. Introduce timbre tax- Discourages deforestation due to timbre.