Deforestation Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

What has happened to the annual rate of deforestation in the Amazon since 2004?

It fell sharply from a peak in 2004 to a low around 2012, then rose again (about 13 000 sq km in 2021).

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

Stricter government laws and international agreements (also consumer pressure to buy certified timber).

True or false? Rates of deforestation are rising in every rainforest country.

False. Rates vary — some countries have slowed deforestation through laws, agreements and debt relief, while others have increased.

Give two ways tropical rainforests are valuable to people.

They supply medicines, timber, foods and jobs/tourism income, and are home to indigenous people.

Give two ways tropical rainforests are valuable to the environment.

They act as a carbon sink that helps regulate global climate, and they store huge biodiversity while maintaining the water cycle and local rainfall.

Give one consequence of biodiversity loss in a tropical rainforest.

Species become extinct, so possible sources of new medicines and foods are lost forever.