Causes and Effects of Deforestation in the Amazon PDF

causes of deforestation (social and economic aspect) deforestation activity reasons for activity (a) cattle ranching cattle ranching is the leading cause of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon total area occupied by cattle ranches is 214000 square miles (open space larger than France) gener...

causes of deforestation (social and economic aspect) deforestation activity reasons for activity (a) cattle ranching cattle ranching is the leading cause of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon total area occupied by cattle ranches is 214000 square miles (open space larger than France) generate revenue fresh beef converted into burgers and sold in fast food restaurants and grocery stores worldwide processed meat turned into canned products to go to Europe and America (b) small scale agriculture farmers tend to use fire to clear out land -> span of the lands productivity declines -> clear new land for more short term agricultural land generate revenue and create employment small scale farming is responsible for 38% national revenues from the agriculture sector Y near 40 (c) large scale agriculture Brazil is on the verge of replacing US as the world’s leading exporter of soybeans generate revenue rising demand for vegetables oil for food etc (industrial uses and biodiesel production) -> land under soy cultivation is increasing (d) logging (in the AMAZON) closely linked to road building (opens up forested land for other uses: small scale agriculture, cattle pasture etc) generate revenue almost250 million us aol.la total export value of primary timber products in 2015 was about 243.2 million US dollars (e) transportation & infrastructure development Brazil’s Tras-Amazonian 2000 mile highway bisects the massive Amazon forest, opening rainforest lands to: -> settlement by poor farmers from the crowded, drought-plagued north -> development of timber and mineral resources improve accessibility roads provide access to logging and mining sites while opening frontier land to exploitation by poor landless farmers (f) hydroelectric power dam construction 1750km^2 of the Amazon forest was flooded during the constriction of the Tucuruí Dam generate electricity and improve navigation Brazil’s hydroelectric dams generate 67% of the countries power more than 651 (g) mining, oil and gas development in late 2007, Brazils Petrobras announced plans to explore remote parts of the Amazon for oil generate revenue rich in not only iron ores, but many different types of ores almost 80 iron ore is the mineral of greatest value to Brazil mining industry, representing 78% of the total mining exports effects of deforestation (cause effect relationship) positive impacts negative impacts (a) economic more revenue earned -> exploitation of resources such as timber, iron and oil and converting forested land into agricultural activities such as cattle ranching and soy cultivation reduce foreign debt -> earn revenue from the sale of resources provide employment and jobs -> such as mining, logging operations and plantations although forests are renewable resources, resources in the forest deplete faster the rate of replenishment -> mature forest takes about 100 years -> takes a long period of time before the resources can replenish non renewable resources such as oil and iron ore will eventually be depleted -> lead to the closure of industries and unemployment -> no future revenue to gain (b) social / social-cultural small scale farmers and landless farmer are given more space to grow crops -> alleviate hunger and starvation as the cultivation of carried out in these areas is intensive, the yield increases and can support higher population density threaten the lives of tribal people find difficulty adapting to the new environment due to resettling by the government -> not equipped with the skills to carry out jobs in town -> do not have the immunity against diseases (threatens their existence) undermine the land rights of the tribal people for uses such as oil extraction disappearance of tribal people (c) physical / environment effect on water cycle -> lack of interception by roots to bind soil particles -> lead to increased erosion -> frequent landslides -> damage property -> loss of lives of villagers living near forests -> increased sedimentation and flooding (eroded soil ended in rivers) -> damage settlements -> loss of lives -> more soil particles is washed into the river -> water pollution -> harmful to fishes etc -> affect livelihood of people are ourfood effect on soil fertility singthey -> no trees -> no decomposition -> decline in soil fertility -> rain carries nutrients out of topsoil into lower layers (leaching) -> loss of soil fertility -> all this will lead to desertification (loss of moisture -> soil harderning) -> loss of arable land effect of flora and fauna -> trees fall -> animals die -> extinction of many species -> plants of many medicinal value are also destroyed -> loss of valuable resources that can be used for future generations effect on climate change -> less trees -> less transpiration (exchange in carbon dioxide for oxygen) -> increased carbon dioxide -> global warming -> climate change -> forest are cleared by burning -> haze -> lung and throat infections ecosystem services (a) provisioning services describe material or energy outputs from ecosystem 1) food ecosystem provides the conditions for growing food food comes principally from managed agroecosystems but marine and freshwater systems also provide food for human consumption wild food from the forest is often underestimated 2) raw materials ecosystems provide a great diversity of material for construction and fuel (wood, biofuels and plant oils) 3) freshwater ecosystems play a vital role in the global hydrological cycle -> they regulate flow and purification of water vegetation and forests influence the quantity of water available 4) medicinal reasons ecosystems and biodiversity provide many plants used as traditional medicine as well as providing materials for the pharmaceutical industries all ecosystems are a potential source of medicinal resources (b) regulating services act as regulators eg. quality of air abandoned soil / disease and flood control 1) local climate and air quality trees provide shade while forest influence rainfall and water availability trees also play an important role in regulating air quality by removing pollutants from teh atmosphere 2) carbon sequencing and storage ecosystems regulate the global climate by storing and sequestering greenhouse gases -> as trees grow, they take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and lock it away in their tissues -> forest ecosystems are carbon stores biodiversity also play an important role by improving the capacity of ecosystems to adapt to the effects of climate change 3) waste water treatment acts as filters for both human and anima waste act as a buffer to the surrounding environment 4) erosion prevention and maintenance of soil fertility soil erosion is a key factor in the process of land degrading and desertification vegetation cover provides a vital regulating service by preventing oil erosion 5) pollination insects and wind pollinate plants and trees which is essential for fruit, vegetable and seeds development animal pollination is an ecosystem service mainly provided by insects but also by some birds and bats 6) biological control regulating pests and vector borne diseases that attack plants, animals and people regulate pests and diseases through the activities of predators and parasites (c) habitat and supporting services) -> underpin almost all services ecosystem provide living spaces for plants or animals ; they also maintain a diversity of different breeds of plants and animals 1) habitats for species habitats provide everything that a plant or animal needs to survive, food, water and shelter migratory species including birds, fish, mammals and insects all depend upon different ecosystems due to their movements 2) maintenance of genetic diversity genetic diversity is the variety of genes between and within species populations genetic diversity distinguishes different breeds or races from each other thus providing the basis for locally well adapted cultivars and a gene pool for further developing commercial crops and livestock (d) cultural services no material benefits people obtain form contact with ecosystem like aesthetic, spiritual and psychological benefits 1) recreation and mental and physical health walking and playing sports in green space is not only good form of physical exercise but also lets people relax 2) tourism play a role in tourism which in turn provides considerable economic benefits and is a vital source of income in many countries 3) aesthetic appreciation language, knowledge and the natural environment have been intimately related throughout human history source of natural inspiration for much of our art, culture and increasingly for science trends and patterns writing frame: Obvious -> general most obvious trend eg. has been increasing steadily from 2011-2020 Specific -> significant key ideas eg. there was a sharp decrease in 2018 Odd -> anomalies Describe the trends in the production of food grain in India as shown in Fig 1 Fig 1 shows that the production of food grains in India has increased in general from 2004 to 2011 despite some decline in 09-10 - Describe the overall trend. Can mention the anomaly but don’t go into detail The production of food grains increased steadily from 198.36 million tonnes in 2004-2005 to 230.78 million tonnes in 2007-2008 - Specific data and evidence from data and time frame However the rate of increase slowed down from 2007-2008 to 2008-2009, increasing slightly by about 3.69 million tonnes - Specific + Data + Timeframe From 2008-2009 to 2009-2010, the production of food grains dropped drastically from 234.47 million tonnes to 218.11 million tonnes - Significant/Anomaly + Data +Timeframe But it increased rapidly again the following years 2010-2011 by 26.67 tonnes - Significant/Anomaly + Data +Timeframe *Note: “describe” -> no need to explain evidence Describe the trend in the world production of rice and wheat since the 1960s Fig 1 shows that the world production of rice and wheat have increased from 1960s to 2010 - Overall trend World production of rice has risen steadily from 150 million tonnes in 1960 to 464 million tonnes in 2010. World production of wheat has increased three fold from about 230 million in. 1960 to about 660 million tonnes in 2010. - Evidence from data Anomalies are in 1985 and 1990 when the world production of wheat decreased sharply from 400 million tonnes in 1984 to 340 million tonnes in 1985 and from 480 million tonnes in 1987 to 400 million tonnes in 1990 respectively - Specific/Uniques characteristic