Causes & Rates of Deforestation Flashcards

All 9 cards in this deck

What is deforestation?

The cutting down and removal of trees, clearing forest so the land can be used for something else.

How does subsistence farming cause deforestation in tropical rainforests?

Farmers use shifting cultivation (slash and burn) to clear small plots, moving on when the soil is exhausted – so the impact is usually small-scale.

How does commercial farming cause deforestation in tropical rainforests?

Large areas are cleared for cattle ranching and to plant crops such as oil palms and soya.

How does logging cause deforestation in tropical rainforests?

Trees are felled for timber and paper, especially valuable tropical hardwoods such as mahogany and ebony sold abroad.

How does road building cause deforestation in tropical rainforests?

Forest is cleared for roads to reach logging and mining sites, and the new roads open the forest up to further, faster clearance.

How does mineral extraction cause deforestation in tropical rainforests?

The rainforest is clear-felled so minerals such as bauxite, gold and iron ore can be mined and sold.

How does energy development cause deforestation in tropical rainforests?

HEP dams are built, so large areas of forest are cleared and flooded.

How do settlement and population growth cause deforestation in tropical rainforests?

Forest is cleared to build homes and to provide land and resources for a growing population.

Give one reason why rates of deforestation have decreased in some countries.

New or stricter government laws restricting illegal deforestation.