Question 1: What is 'biodiversity'?

Answer: Biodiversity refers to the variety of plant and animal species in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Question 2: Define 'slash-and-burn agriculture'.

Answer: A farming method involving cutting and burning forests to create farmland.

Question 3: What does 'afforestation' mean?

Answer: The process of planting trees in a previously forested or non-forested area.

Question 4: Explain 'selective logging'.

Answer: A logging method where only certain mature trees are harvested, reducing environmental impact.

Question 5: What is 'deforestation'?

Answer: The removal of forest cover, leading to the loss of trees and habitat.

Question 1: Which continent contains the world's largest tropical rainforest?

Answer: South America

Question 2: Name two primary causes of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.

Answer: Agricultural expansion (such as cattle ranching and soy farming) and logging.

Question 3: What are 'carbon emissions' and how are they linked to deforestation?

Answer: Carbon emissions refer to CO2 released into the atmosphere. Deforestation contributes to carbon emissions because trees absorb CO2; when they are cut down, this carbon is released, increasing greenhouse gases.

Question 4: Describe one economic benefit and one environmental drawback of logging in tropical rainforests.

Answer: Economic benefit: Provides jobs and income. Environmental drawback: Leads to habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity.

Question 1: Based on the case study, identify two major drivers of deforestation in the Amazon.

Answer: Agricultural expansion (especially cattle ranching) and logging for timber.

Question 2: Explain how road building in the Amazon contributes to deforestation.

Answer: Road construction opens up previously inaccessible forest areas, facilitating illegal logging, farming, and settlement, which accelerates deforestation.

Question 3: Assess the social impacts of deforestation on indigenous communities in the Amazon.

Answer: Deforestation often displaces indigenous peoples, destroys their homes and livelihoods, and threatens their cultural heritage.

Question 1: Analyse the main environmental causes that lead to deforestation in tropical rainforests.

Answer: Environmental causes include climate change causing droughts, which make forests more susceptible to fire; and natural pests or diseases that weaken trees, making them easier to clear.

Question 2: Explain why illegal logging is difficult to control in the Congo Basin.

Answer: Illegal logging is difficult to control due to weak governance, corruption, vast forest areas, and limited law enforcement capacity.

Question 3: Describe the process of slash-and-burn agriculture and its impact on deforestation.

Answer: Farmers cut and burn sections of forest to create farmland, which leads to loss of biodiversity, soil degradation, and further deforestation as new areas are cleared.

Question 1: To what extent are protected areas and sustainable logging effective strategies for reducing deforestation in the Amazon?

Answer: Protected areas aim to conserve biodiversity by restricting logging and land conversion, but enforcement challenges and illegal activities limit their effectiveness. Sustainable logging practices can reduce environmental impact by allowing selective harvesting and replanting, but they depend on proper regulation and monitoring. Overall, while these strategies contribute positively, they are insufficient alone; a combination of policies, community engagement, and economic incentives is necessary to effectively combat deforestation.