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20 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Where are rainforests found |
the equator (0 ° latitude), between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N latitude) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S latitude). |
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What is the climate and rainfall like in the rainforest |
Extremely wet and very hot all year not clear seasons |
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What are plant adaptation examples |
• Drip tips enable rain drops to run off quickly so it doesn’t get too heavy. • Plants grow quickly • Nutrients are supplied by rotting plant material as soil is poor • trees grow tall to reach sunlight • Wide buttress roots stop these enormously tall trees from falling over. |
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What are some difficulties of living in the rainforest |
• Uncomfortable humid climate (hot and wet) makes manual labour difficult • Difficult to travel through thick jungle vegetation • Insects spread tropical diseases e.g. malaria • Poor, infertile soils • Building materials such as timer break down quickly in damp conditions • Hunting is difficult as animals are mainly in the canopy |
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What is shifting cultivation |
The traditional farm of farming practiced by native groups, such as the Kayapo tribe, is called shifting cultivation. The tribe clear and area of forest and burn the vegetation. The ash acts as a natural fertiliser. They then plant crops such as yams for several years before moving on as the soil loses its fertility. They will then let the forest grow back, and return to the area after 30-60 years, when the soil nutrients have recovered. |
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Uses of the rainforest |
• The native groups will also gather fruit from the forest, as well as hunt and fish. • The forests are also used for medical research. The plants that grow there can be used to create new medicines |
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What is deforestation |
The rainforests are being misused by deforestation. This is where the tree are being cut down and removed |
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What is cattle ranching |
• Cattle ranching, where the trees are cut replaced the trees with grass. The beef from cattle ranches has largely gone to fast food chains to be made into burgers. |
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What is the problem with building roads |
• New roads, such as the Trans-Amazonia highway, which improve access into the area. This makes it easier for new land uses to move in à more deforestation |
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What is mining |
• Mining clears large areas of land to reach the deposits of gold, copper and iron ore beneath. |
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What is logging |
• Logging, where trees, such as mahogany, are cut down for their valuable timber. |
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What is hydro electric power station |
• Hydro Electric Power Stations (HEP), are built to make use of the rivers and high rainfall to generate electricity. However, these dams cause large areas of rainforest to be flooded. |
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What are misuses of the rainforest |
✗ Deforestation disrupts the water cycle, reducing clouds and rainfall à drought. ✗ Trees cleared by burning à more CO2 à global warming. ✗ As there are less tress to take in CO2, global warming and climate change increases. ✗ As soil is no loner protected by trees, soil erosion increases à blocking of rivers. ✗ Loss of wildlife habitat. ✗ Loss of undiscovered plants and animals, reducing biodiversity à undiscovered medicines ✗ Loss of native people's lands à shifting cultivation becomes less effective. ✗ Settlers bring diseases that native people cannot cope with. |
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What are developments of the rainforest |
✓ Minerals exported bring money into the country ✓ More jobs and exports à tax revenue ✓ HEP provides cheap energy for industry and transport. ✓ Roads improve access to the rainforests e.g. health care
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What is a positive and a negative of sustainable forestry |
Positive - a new tree is planted in the space of old tree Negative - takes time for trees to grow |
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Advantage and disadvantage of selective logging |
Advantage- They only cut trees that are mature Disadvantage - other trees are damaged as selective trees are removed |
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Advantage and disadvantage of national parks |
Advantage- areas protected and conserved
Disadvantage- Under threat from development by logging Wildlife and native people have been affected by nearby logging operations Hard to monitor illegal logging |
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Advantage and disadvantage of eco tourism |
Advantage - brings money in and tourists Disadvantage- tourists damage the environment and need roads to get it |
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Advantage and disadvantage of Banning rainforest timber |
Advantage- less demand for wood Disadvantage- Loss of employment and increased illegal logging |
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What types of country are most rainforests in |
LEDC’S |
