Shrinking Rainforests

Describe the impacts of deforestation in a tropical rainforest and explain how they can be reduced (8 marks) An environmental impact of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest deforestation is habitat destruction and a loss of biodiversity. The loss of leaf litter has an impact on important nutrient cycles, and there is less rainfall as transpiration is reduced. Furthermore, the trees act as a carbon sink, storing billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas linked to global warming. Indigenous tribes such as the Xingu in the Mato Grosso come into conflict with newcomers and large landowners. The Xingu people are threatened by the encroachment of soya plantations. The soil is more easily eroded and fertilisers and pesticides wash into the river, killing fish and poisoning an important source of food for the Xingu. On the other hand, ranching and mining bring positive economic impacts. For example, the Brazilian cattle

Afterwards, students can compare the animals they have designed. Adaptations not listed cost 50 EP each.1Starter: Design a Rainforest Animal TaskIn the planning stage, you have a budget of 1,200 EP (Evolution Points) to customise your creation.... And then add labels to show its characteristics and how it is adapted to survive in the rainforest.You should then draw and name your animal...© Teachable and James Yeoman. Some rights reserved. http://teachable.net/res.asp?r=82782© Teachable and James Yeoman. Some rights reserved. http://teachable.net/res.asp?r=82783Living WorldGCSE GeographyLesson Focus: Why is the Amazon shrinking, and what are the repercussions?© Teachable and James Yeoman. Some rights reserved. http://teachable.net/res.asp?r=8278Area of Greater London 1sq / Land cleared by deforestation 1970-2007 / Land likely to be lost by 2030 (WWF 2007) / Untouched forest / Amazon area = 4.1m sq km / Each square = 2,500 sq km 4Living WorldGCSE Geography How much of the Amazon is left?Untouched rainforestLikely to be lost by 2030

1Living WorldGCSE GeographyLesson Focus: What makes tropical rainforests such unique environments?2Living WorldGCSE Geography Location: Where are tropical rainforests?Describe the distribution shownProvide this grid to students – they are parts of words which complete the missing word task on next slide e.g. TEM PER ATU RES34 Tropical rainforests are located in a band close to the 1. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , mostly in the area between the 2. _ _ _ _ _ _ of Cancer (23.5° N) and the Tropic of 3. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (23.5° S). There are rainforests in South and Central 4. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , Africa, Australia and South East Asia. The largest rainforests in are the 5. _ _ _ _ _ _ River Basin of South America, and in the Congo River Basin in West 6. _ _ _ _ _). At the equator, 7. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ are high, so 8. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ rates are high, which results in frequent rain. Although rainforests don’t have 9. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ as we know them, rainforests sometimes have wetter and drier months. Just like in the UK, these differences are caused by the 10. _ _ _ _ of the Earth as it orbits the Sun.