AQA · GCSE · Combined Science
Course version: 8464 · Version from Sept 2018
Deforestation: Large-scale deforestation in tropical areas has occurred to:
Deforestation means removing large areas of forest, usually in tropical regions such as the Amazon basin.
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Deforestation means removing large areas of forest, usually in tropical regions such as the Amazon basin. Forests are cleared to provide land for cattle and rice fields, and to grow crops for biofuels. For example, land cleared for cattle grazing provides beef, while flooded fields are used to grow rice to feed growing populations. Additionally, crops like palm oil or sugar cane are grown to produce biofuels as an alternative energy source. These activities are driven by demand for food and fuel. However, removing trees reduces the carbon stored in living biomass, releases carbon dioxide when wood is burned or decays, and severely reduces biodiversity.
What earns the marks
- Deforestation is the large-scale removal of trees from forested areas, especially in tropical regions.
- Land is cleared to provide grazing for cattle.
- Land is cleared to provide space for rice fields to feed growing populations.
- Land is cleared to grow crops from which biofuels can be produced.
- The consequences of deforestation include loss of carbon stores, increased carbon dioxide release and reduced biodiversity.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Giving non-specification reasons such as timber or roads.
Put it right: Stick to the specified reasons which are cattle, rice fields, and crops for biofuels.
Confusing deforestation with climate change itself.
Put it right: Deforestation is the removal of forest, while climate change is a consequence that can follow from it.
Stating that deforestation adds carbon dioxide only because trees stop photosynthesising.
Put it right: Carbon dioxide is also released when cleared vegetation is burned or decomposed by microorganisms.
Exam tips
- Memorise the specific reasons for deforestation required by the specification: cattle, rice fields, and crops for biofuels.
- Balance each reason with its environmental effect, for example clearing land for cattle provides food but removes a vital carbon store.
Try the lesson
The start of the Deforestation: Large-scale deforestation in tropical areas has occurred to: lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Large-scale deforestation in tropical areas has occurred mainly so that land can be used for which purpose?
Listen
Deforestation means removing large areas of forest, usually in tropical regions such as the Amazon basin. Forests are cleared to provide land for cattle and rice fields, and to grow crops for biofuels. For example, land cleared for cattle grazing provides beef, while flooded fields are used to grow rice to feed growing populations. Additionally, crops like palm oil or sugar cane are grown to produce biofuels as an alternative energy source. These activities are driven by demand for food and fuel. However, removing trees reduces the carbon stored in living biomass, releases carbon dioxide when wood is burned or decays, and severely reduces biodiversity.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Deforestation
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Carbon stores
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Biofuels
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See every definition
- Deforestation
- The large-scale removal of trees from forested areas, especially in tropical regions.
- Carbon stores
- Living biomass that holds carbon, which is reduced when trees are removed.
- Biofuels
- An alternative energy source produced from crops such as palm oil or sugar cane.
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