Year 13 A Level Geography

1. Unit 2: Environmental
Management
Paper 3 – Human Option
Mrs. Ralph

2. Learning Objectives 2.1
Some -To Understand the differences
between renewable and non-renewable
energy resources
Most - What is Sustainable
Energy
All - To be able to distinguish the different
types of Energy

3. Key Terms
• Sustainability
• Renewable Energy
• Non-renewable Energy
• Energy Budget
• Fossil Fuels
• HEP
• Solar Energy
• Biofuels
• Tidal Power
• Wind Power
• Nuclear Power
• Technology

4. The Different Types of Energy
• There are many forms of energy (heat, electrical, light,
chemical etc.)
• Energy can be classified into two forms (Primary or
Secondary)
• Primary energy is released from a direct source (heat
from burning turf)
• When primary energy is converted into a different form it
becomes secondary energy (the burning turf is used to
generate electricity)

5. Primary Energy resources can be both
Renewable and Non-Renewable
Renewable Resources
• A resource is renewable if it can
be replenished at a similar rate
to which its used
• Also referred to as flow
resources there's a constant
energy transfer occurring,
which if balanced correctly will
be sustainable
• Tidal, wind and solar energy are
examples
Non - Renewable
• A resource that can run out
and cant be replaced in the
foreseeable future.
• Also referred to as stock
resources as the planet has
a limited stock, which when
used cant be replaced.
• Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural
gas and nuclear energy)

6. Some Resources are only Renewable
if carefully managed…..
We know that oil is constantly forming in the ground, but it is
considered non-renewable as it is being used up at a faster
rate than it is being replenished. The list below can be
considered non-renewable if they are mismanaged.
• Wood
• Geothermal
• Water
Can you explain why?

7. The Primary Energy Mix
• Each country need energy for industry, transport and
domestic use
• Many countries aren’t able to supply all of their energy
needs from one source, so they may use a variety of
sources.
• The amount of each resource used is called the energy min
and is usually shown in percentages.
• Every country in the world will have a different energy mix
depending on the resources available to them.

9. Task!• What is the difference between primary and secondary
energy?
• What is a fossil fuel?
• What is meant by ‘primary energy mix’?
Recap and Discuss!

10. Alternative Energy for the Future

11. Discuss!
•USA – energy alternatives for the future
•Wind Farms in Europe
Above are two relevant case studies for your
research over the break!

12. Exam Paper Questions
• Nov 2011 Question 3

13. Learning Objectives 2.11
Some - To be able to list different factors that affect a
countries energy policy.
Most - Understand why levels of supply and demand
for energy resources vary at the national level.
All - To know reasons why some countries don’t utilise
their energy resources

14. Key Terms:
•Demand
•Supply
•Resource Endowment
•Technology Energy Gap
•Energy Policy

15. Energy Production is Unevenly Distributed
• Some countries produce lots of energy as they have large
energy reserves and the money to exploit them
• Saudi Arabia – Large Oil Reserves
• UK, Russia, Canada – Large Oil and Gas Reserves
• USA – Large Coal, Oil and Gas Reserves
• Some countries produce little energy because they have
few resources or are unable to exploit their resources due
to lack of money or political instability
• Sudan – Political Instability and lack of money
• Ireland – few recoverable resources (resources that cant be
extracted using current technologies) http://www.petrelresources.com/operations/ireland

16. Energy Consumption is also Unevenly Distributed!
• There is a strong relationship between energy consumption
and GDP
• Wealthy countries tend to consume lots of energy per
person because they’re wealthy and can afford to. Most
people in these countries have access to electricity and
heating, and use energy intensive devices like cars.
(Australia, Sweden, USA)
• Poorer countries consume less energy per person as they
are less able to afford it. Less energy is available and
lifestyles are less dependent on high energy consumption
than in wealthier countries (Burkina Faso, Pakistan)

17. #FunFact - some countries don’t
consume much energy per person,
but consume a lot overall because
they have large populations. E.g.
Brazil consumes less energy per
person than Ireland, but has a
higher total energy consumption.

18. Energy is Traded Between Countries
• Some countries don’t produce much energy but still consume a lot,
this is possible because energy is traded between countries.
• Countries that are able to produce a lot of energy export it to
those that can’t.
• Canada, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Denmark and Venezuela all export
large amounts of energy
• Ireland, Italy, Spain and Japan all import large amounts of energy.
• Electricity is traded between neighbouring countries, while coal,
oil and natural gas can be transported around the world.

19. TNCs Important Role in the Energy Industry
ExxonMobil is an oil and gas TNC based in the USA. It’s the largest
company in the world based on revenue and operates in over 200
countries worldwide, producing 3% of the worlds oil and 2% of the
its energy.
Production: it explores for oil and gas on every continent except
Antarctica. When found the oil is extracted and sent to ExxonMobil
refineries for processing
Distribution: After processing ExxonMobil uses its own
transportation system to transport products to distribution centers,
either its own or independent ones (Acculube, TrAchem Ltd.) These
then sell to customers such as CATERPILLAR & Singapore Airlines to
name a few!

20. A BIG Issue – Geopolitics of Energy
Energy security is an important issue for all governments, for
several reasons.
• Depend on energy supplies for – transport heating, electricity and
manufacturing
• Global energy use is increasing and fossil fuel reserves are
decreasing.
• Largest reserves of oil and gas are often in areas that are either
politically or economically unstable (Russia)
• To secure energy supply, agreements are often reached between
exporting and importing regions. (EU and the North Sea…)

21. A BIG Issue – Geopolitics of Energy continued…
• Government's at times cant reach agreements and concerns over
energy security can lead to conflict or the threat of conflict e.g. the
1980 Carter Doctrine stated that the USA would use military force
if necessary to protect its interests in the Middle East and secure
the free movement of oil
• As consumption increases so does the impact of energy use on the
environment – International agreements (Kyoto Protocol) are
drawn up to try to address these problems (these agreements can
also lead to political conflict if environmental protection clashes
with economic growth.

22. Past Exam Paper Question: June 2010 Q3A

25. Learning Objectives 2.12
Some - To be able to understand why changes in
technology can influence energy consumptions trends
around the world
Most – will be able to examine trends in the patterns
of energy consumption in LEDCs and MEDCs
All – To link prior knowledge of factors that influence
energy policy.

26. Changes in Energy Production
• Energy production has increased in countries where new
reserves have been discovered, e.g. in Nigeria and Algeria.
• There have also been increases in places that have become more
politically stable (Angola – after the end of the civil war)
• The production of energy has decreased in other countries as
resources are used up (north sea oil production has declined
since 1999, reducing production in the UK, Norway, Denmark,
Germany & the Netherlands)
• Production often decreases in areas that become more unstable
(Sudan oil production decreased due to civil war between 1983
and 2005)

27. Changes in Energy Consumption
• China has the largest population and one of the fastest
growing economies in the world, as standards of living and
industrial output increase China consumes more and more
energy.
• Other new industrialised countries (Mexico, India,
Malaysia) are using more energy as they develop.

28. Changes in Energy Trade
• Exports from ex-soviet central Asian countries like
Kazakhstan are increasing. These countries are attractive as
suppliers to the EU, USA and China because the region is
more stable than the Middle East and isn’t controlled by
Russia, reducing dependence on these two areas.
• Brazil and Denmark were once heavily dependent on
imports but are now both energy self-sufficient, due to the
development of renewable energy and discoveries of
domestic oil reserves.

30. Exam Paper Question: Nov 2010 Question 3

32. Learning Objectives 2.13
•Some – will understand the environmental
impact of energy at a global scale
•Most – will understand the environmental
impact of energy production, transport and
usage at a local scale
•All – will recognise the different types of energy
production

33. Fuel Wood Crisis!
• Fossil fuels supply 87% of the world’s energy however a
large proportion of the world’s population use wood as
their main energy source to heat their homes. (Fuel Wood)
Below are the main ways in which gathering fuel wood can
damage the environment
1. Deforestation
2. Habitat Loss
3. Soil Erosion
Can you explain the 3 points above?

34. Fuel Wood Case Study – Copperbelt, Zambia
• Densely populated industrial area
• Between 1972-2000 approximately 3,125
Hectares of woodland were cleared each
year for fuel wood.
• Tropical Rains resulted in severe erosion
of topsoil (less trees to hold the soil
together)
• Land became barren and unsuitable for
agriculture which in turn stopped the re-
growth of woodlands

35. Fossil Fuels … Damaging the Environment!
• Extraction (mining) of fossil fuels can damage the
environment
• Transportation can cause environmental damage (oil spills)
• Using fossil fuels has a negative impact on the environment
(acid rain, global warming)
• Acid Rain
• Problems Associated with mining
• Oil Spills
• Global Warming

36. Acid Rain
• Burning fossil fuels releases gases, some of these gases
dissolve in water vapour in the atmosphere. This then falls as
Acid Rain which can cause various types of damage.
1. Kill fish and other aquatic life (affects biodiversity)
2. Kills trees and plant life (affects biodiversity)
3. Reduces the amount of nutrients in the soil, meaning not all types
of plants can grow
4. Corrode rocks (limestone & sandstone)

37. Mining
• Coal mining involves moving or removing large areas of
land, this can have huge impacts on
1. Wildlife
2. Habitat loss
3. Poor Air Quality
4. Contamination of water

38. Oil Spills
• Oil spills occur when pipes, oil wells or tankers transporting oil
leak. This then dumps oil onto land or into the ocean. There
are huge impacts which can lead to the death of wildlife in the
following ways…
1. Reduces the ability of animals to move freely
2. Hypothermia (feathers and fur are saturated in oil (loss of control
of body temperature)
3. Consumption

39. Global Warming
• Burning fossil fuels releases the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide
into the air. This enhances the planet’s natural greenhouse
effect, increasing world temperatures and causing climate
change which can lead to
1. Rising sea levels (flooding)
2. More frequent extreme weather events (hurricanes, droughts)
3. Habitat loss (loss of biodiversity)

40. #NatureIsSpeaking – Video Clip
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8d_JvMpoY4&list=PL5WqtuU6J
rnXjsGO4WUpJuSVmlDcEgEYb

41. The Impacts of Energy Production Part 2
Learning Objectives
• Some – will be aware of the advantages and
disadvantages of
• Most – will recognise that Nuclear Power can be a
good alternative to fossil fuels
• All – will understand that fossil fuel resources won’t
last forever

42. Fossil Fuels Won’t Last Forever!
• Its hard to know how long fossil fuel reserves will last. This is due to
the fact that new reserves may be discovered. We may find an
alternative way to use them which would prolong the amount of time
we can depend on them.
2006 estimates were made as follows
- 1000 billion barrels of oil left (40 years)
- 150 trillion cubic meters of natural gas left (60 years)
- 1000 billion tonnes of coal left (250 years)
We MUST look to alternatives for sustainability (explain sustainability)

43. Could Nuclear Energy be an Alternative?

44. What is Nuclear Energy?
• Nuclear power stations heat energy is released from
uranium or plutonium which is used to generate electricity
• The 1st commercial nuclear reactor opened in 1956 and
there are now 439 reactors in 31 countries around the
world.
• They supply 15% of the worlds energy (6.3% of total energy
consumption)

45. Advantages of Nuclear Power
• It has low carbon dioxide emission so it has a very low
impact on global warming
• Less Toxic Waste is released into the environment than
from fossil fuels
• Large amounts of energy are generated from small amounts
of fuel
• Electricity produced is very cheap.
• 78% of France’s electricity is produced
from Nuclear Power

46. Disadvantages of Nuclear Power
• Nuclear waste is highly radioactive and must be stored
carefully for thousands of years. (very expensive)
• Accidents causing radioactive waste to leak into the
environment can have devastating consequences (human,
animal, plant death and illness, destruction and
contamination of the local areas)
• Limited amounts of uranium and plutonium so it is a Non-
Renewable resource
• Shutting down power stations at the end of their life is very
expensive e.g. Chernobyl

47. Chernobyl Disaster
• In 1986 there was an explosion at the Chernobyl
nuclear power plant in the Ukraine. (56 Direct
deaths)
• Radiation released into the atmosphere caused
thousands of deaths and illnesses
• The Radioactive material for the disaster was
detected as far away as Ireland
• A 4KM2 area of forest around Chernobyl died
and food supplies were severely affected
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCbagDL7ZK
s

48. Past Paper - June 2010 Question 3(B)

49. Sustainable Energy
• For energy production to be sustainable it musnt
deplete resources or cause any long term
environmental damage.
• Wind Energy
• Biomass
• Solar Power
• Tidal Energy
• Wave Energy
• Hydro Electric Power

50. Wind Energy
• Built in open exposed areas where there's a high chance of strong
winds
• Wind turns the blades converting the wind energy to mechanical
energy, which is then converted to electrical energy by a generator.
• Large scale wind power involves wind farms that may have
thousands of wind turbines, the electricity is then fed to a grid that
transports electricity to consumers
• Small scale wind power involves just one small turbine that would
power a building.

51. Denmark
• Denmark has been investing in wind power since the 70s,
establishing windfarms onshore and offshore
• Families are offered tax exemptions for generating their own
electricity, either by investing in community turbines or by buying
their own
• By 2004 over 150,000 households were availing of the tax
exemptions
• Denmark now produces 19.7% of its electricity from wind power
(highest in the world)

52. Disadvantages of Wind Power
• Its unpredictable as it depends on the strength of the wind
• Large numbers of turbines are needed, which takes up lots of space
• The most suitable places are often protected areas of natural beauty
• They produce a constant humming noise, which people living
nearby don’t like.
• Kill/injure birds and bats.

53. Biomass
• Biomass is material that is or was recently living. (wood, plants, animal
waste)
• These materials can be burnt to release energy
• Biomass can be processed to produce biofuels which are then burnt to
release energy
• One of the most common ways to produce biofuel is to ferment sugar
cane to produce alcohol, which can then be burnt. (Methane and Biogas)
• Using Biomass involves lots of technology if making biofuels/ or very
little technology if biomass is being burnt directly; which makes it
suitable for a large amount of countries

54. Biomass
• Biomass produces carbon dioxide, however it doesn’t contribute to
global warming as the amount of carbon released equals the
amount of carbon taken in when the material was growing – so
there is no overall increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere from the burning of biomass.
• Brazil have been running an ethanol fuel programme since the 70s
• Ethanol supplies 18% of transport fuel and cars either run on
ethanol or a petrol and ethanol mix
• This has decreased brazil’s dependence on imported oil

55. Disadvantages of Biomass
• Large areas of land are needed to produce biofuels which reduces
the amount of land available to grow food. This can lead to food
shortages.
• It is only renewable if managed carefully
• Fossil fuels are often used to process and transport biomass.

56. Solar Power
• This power comes from the sun and can be used in various ways (water
heaters, solar cookers, Photovoltaic Cells [PV] can convert light energy to
electricity, and materials that absorb the suns heat during the day can be
used to release heat at night to keep houses warm)
• In the Chinese city Rizhao, 99% of building have solar water heaters (it is
now compulsory for new builds) over 6,000 households use solar cookers
and most traffic and street lights are powerd by PV cells
• Disadvantages include the fact that Carbon Dioxide is released in
equipment production
• PV cells are expensive
• Large areas of solar panels and sunny climates are needed to produce
large amounts of electricity.

57. Tidal Energy
• Tidal energy comes from the movement of tides, its less variable
than wind or solar energy as tides are regular and unchangeable
events.
• This energy can be harnessed in 2 ways (tidal barrages and tidal
stream systems)
• Tidal Barrages are dams built across estuaries – as the tide flows in
and out water passes through the gates in the barrage turning
turbines that generate electricity
• Tidal streams are fast flowing currents caused by the tide they turn
turbines placed in their pathway to generate electricity.

58. Tidal Energy
• The Rance estuary tidal barrage in France was opened in 1967, it’s
the largest tidal power station in the world, producing enough
electricity for over 19,000 homes.
• Some disadvantages of tidal energy is that the equipment is very
expensive and the making of it releases carbon dioxide.
• Barrages can also disrupt ecosystems and the turbines can kill
aquatic animals.

59. Wave Energy
• This type of energy is harnessed by using a wave generator,
(chamber with a hole at the top that contains a turbine)
• When a wave flows into the bottom of the chamber, the increased
mass of water forces air in the chamber upwards and through the
hole, which turns the turbine.
• In 2000, LIMPET in Scotland became the worlds first device that
used wave energy on a commercial scale. It generates electricity for
the national grid.
• Disadvantages – unreliable and the equipment for generating this
energy is VERY expensive which releases carbon dioxide when being
made.

60. Hydro Electric Power
• HEP supplies 20% of the worlds electricity and is responsible for
over 60% of all electricity from renewable sources. Once plants are
built they release no greenhouse gasses
• Dams are built to trap huge volumes of water, tunnels containing
the turbines are built into the dams, the pressure of the water
flowing through turns the turbines, Generators then convert the
energy to electricity.
• The Nurek Dam in Tajikistan is the tallest dam in the world and has
nine turbines. In 1994 it supplied 98% of the country’s electricity.

61. Disadvantages of HEP
• Destruction of communities and habitats
• If the dam falls, large areas of land will be flooded rapidly
• Ecosystems and fish migration is disrupted
• Plants are expensive to build and the construction of them releases
Carbon dioxide.

62. Appropriate Technology
•Appropriate technologies are simple, low
cost technologies
•They’re made and maintained using local
knowledge and resources only so aren’t
dependent on any outside support,
expensive equipment of fuel

63. Appropriate Technology can contribute to
sustainable Development
• May not always be sustainable due to the fact that it may be
dependent on non renewable energy.
• Sustainable Development – growth in a way that doesn’t stop future
generations getting what they need

64. Clay stoves – appropriate technology (cooking and heating
becomes more sustainable in mountainous regions in developing
countries.)
• High altitude areas of developing countries burn biomass on open
fires as their main energy source – this is unsustainable for a
number of reasons, can you think of any?
• Using clay stoves are more efficient as it leads to a 75% reduction in
fuel consumption
• Has more health benefits as there is a reduction in smoke
inhalation.
• Can be made locally by crafts men, providing income
• The cycle of replenishment is easier to maintain as people are not
burning as much fuel.

65. Discuss….
Why is energy
conservation so
important?

66. Energy Conservation - Buildings
• Double glaze windows
• Draught proofing
• Loft/cavity wall insulation
• Energy efficient boilers.
• The concept of the ‘ihouse’ …..
• South facing windows
• Solar panels etc…

67. Past Paper - May/June 2013 Paper 3.3

68. Insert Fig 2A

69. Insert Fig 2B

70. Thursday Test full 25 mark Question!
• Test on full 2.1 section from Environmental Management
Feedback:
WELL DONE
CLASS AVERAGE IS 79%

71. 2.3 Environmental Degradation
Learning Objectives
•Some- to be able to distinguish the difference
between pollution and environmental degradation.
•Most-to be able to understand the nature and
causes of the many types of pollution
•All – to know be able to list different types of
pollution

72. Can you list the different types of
pollution?
1. Air Pollution
2. Water Pollution
3. Land/Soil Pollution
4. Noise Pollution
5. Light Pollution
6. Radio Active Pollution
7. Thermal Pollution
Discuss!

73. Definitions!
•Environmental Degradation- is any change or
disturbance to the environment apparent to be
harmful or undesirable causing a decrease of
quality. This can happen naturally e.g. erosion,
landslides, forest fires , floods or man made
pollution .
•Pollution - is the contamination of the
earth/atmosphere by people disposing of wastes.

74. How they are linked…
• Pollution is a dominant factor of environmental degradation of land,
air and water and impacts significantly on human health. There are
considerable global variations in death from urban air pollution.
According to the WHO ,diseases caused by air pollution kill 650000
Chinese every year.

75. LAND/ SOIL Pollution
• Land/Soil pollution – includes rubbish dumps, spoil heaps
and contaminated land. Derelict land – land which has been so
damaged by industrial or other development that its incapable of
beneficial use without treatment. e.g. worked out mineral
excavations, abandoned industrial installations, contaminated land-
leakages or dumping of waste on site.

76. Air Pollution
• Air pollution - the release of chemical particulates into the
atmosphere. Common gaseous pollutants include carbon dioxide,
carbon monoxide, CFCs. Emission from industries and
manufacturing activities- manufacturing company’s chimney
erected into the air.
• Burning of fossil fuels release carbon dioxide, Sulphur dioxide,
nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide which increase acid rains
and eutrophication.

77. Water Pollution
• Water pollution - by the discharge of waste water from industries,
domestic sewage, acid drainage, toxic salts from mines, pesticides,
pesticide fertilisers, farm effluents and thermal change. All life and
virtually every human activity need water.
• It’s the world’s most essential resource and a pivotal element in
poverty reduction. But for 80 countries, with 40 % of the world’s
population, lack of water is a constant threat. And the situation is
getting worse.

78. Water pollution
• The world’s fresh water resources are linked to human
health.
• 25000 people die everyday because of poor water.4500 are
children under 5.
• 1700 million people lack clean water (12oo lack proper
sanitation)
• 1.5 million people die of diarrhea each year.
• 200 million people suffer from schistosomiasis each year.

79. Water Pollution
• Water scarcity is a major world environmental problem,
threatening to put world food supplies in jeopardy, limit
economic and social development, and create serious
conflicts between neighboring drainage basin countries.
• The UN estimates that two-thirds of world population will
be affected by ‘severe water stress’ by 2025. the situation
will be particularly severe in Africa, The Middle East and
South Asia. The UN notes that already a number of the
world’s rivers e.g. Colorado in the US, are running dry and
that ground water is also drained faster than it can be
replenished

81. The Colorado River in the USA is starting to
run dry….

82. #WaterFacts
• Every year 111000 km3 of precipitation falls onto the earths
surface. This would be more than adequate for the global
population's needs, but cannot be captured and the rest is
very unevenly distributed.
• The total precipitation that is absorbed by soil and plants,
then released back into the air is known as green water
• The water that collects in rivers, lakes, wetlands and ground
water is known as blue water.

84. Water Use and Demand
• Total blue water withdrawals are estimated at 3390
km3 , with 74 per cent for agriculture, mostly
irrigation. About 20 % of this total comes from
ground water.
• Although agriculture is a dominant water user,
industrial and domestic uses are growing at a faster
rate. Demand for industrial use has expand
particularly rapidly.

87. Learning Objectives:
Some: will understand the causes and consequences
of misuse or overuse of rural land
Most: can analyse the factors which have led to the
degradation of rural environments
All: will be able to recite and explain key terminology

88. Degradation of rural environments
• Population growth
• Overgrazing by livestock can lead to land degradation/l
• Increasing pressures on land
• Urban activities through processes such as climate change-
by huge urban industries and untreated waste water in
major rivers, which can contaminate estuaries and coastal
fishing areas, and pollute drinking water supplies of rural
communities downstream.

89. Degradation of rural environments
• Population pressure also operates through other
mechanisms. Improper agricultural practices, for instance,
occur only under constraints such as the saturation of good
lands under population pressure which leads settlers to
cultivate too shallow or too steep soils, plough fallow land
before it has recovered its fertility, or attempt to obtain
multiple crops by irrigating unsuitable soils.

90. Degradation of rural environment and
causes of unsustainable agriculture.
• Policy failure –inappropriate policies which include
pricing, subsidy and tax policies which have
encouraged the excessive use of inputs such as
fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, and the
overexploitation of land. They may also include
policies that favor farming systems which are
inappropriate both to the circumstances of the
farming community and to available resources.

91. Degradation of rural environment and causes
of unsustainable agriculture.
•Rural inequalities – rural people often know
best to conserve their environment, but they
may need to overexploit resources in order to
survive. Meanwhile commercial exploitation by
large landowners and companies often causes
environmental degradation in pursuit of higher
profits.

92. Degradation of rural environment and causes
of unsustainable agriculture.
• Resource imbalance- almost all of the future growth
in world’s population will be in LEDCs, and the
biggest increase will be in the poorest countries of
all, those least equipped to meet their own needs or
invest in the future.

93. Degradation of rural environment and causes
of unsustainable agriculture.
• Unsustainable technologies- new technologies have boosted
agricultural production worldwide, but some have had harmful
side effects which must be reversed and contained, such as
resistance of insects to pesticides, land degradation through
wind or water erosion, nutrient depletion or poor irrigation
management and the loss of biological diversity.
• Trade relations- as the value of raw materials exported by
LEDCs has fallen, their governments have sought to boos
income by expansion of crop production and timber sales that
have damaged the environment.

94. Improving the quality of degraded rural
environments.
Key Terms
• Reclamation – process of creating new land from oceans, river beds or
lakes.
• Land reform – changing of laws, regulations and customs regarding land
ownership.
• Soil conservation – is a set of management strategies for prevention of
soil being eroded or becoming chemically altered by over use,
acidification, salinization or other chemical soil contamination.
• Environmentally sensitive areas – is a type of designation for an
agricultural area which needs special protection because of its landscape,
wildlife or historical value.
• Waste disposal- proper disposition of discarded or discharged material in
accordance with the local environmental guidelines.

95. November 2011 LAND DEGREDATION

96. NOV
2011
INSERT

99. CASE STUDY: AMAZON FOREST
The short-term benefits of clearing rainforest areas .
• land for agriculture, houses and roads
• jobs for local workers in road building, logging, agriculture, mining
and construction
• the generation of income (often in valuable foreign currency) for the
LEDC when wood, minerals, and other resources are sold
• scientific investigation into rainforest plants may provide new food
sources and medicines
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBqMJzv4Cs8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xdchnPqOtM

100. CASE STUDY: AMAZON FOREST
• These benefits, however, come at a cost. Clearing rainforest
threatens the survival of many plant and animal species and can
lead to serious environmental degradation. Widespread
deforestation damages the whole biosphere (the balance of living
and non-living things) with serious long-term consequences.

101. CASE STUDY: AMAZON FOREST
Problems of human intervention
• Commercial logging activity
• New roads divide up parts of the rainforest and can cut off
connections between different biotic and abiotic systems. For
example, a road can stop monkeys such as the golden lion tamarin
from travelling to gather food and, in turn, distribute seeds to re-
sow plants in the forest.
• Land clearance for farming, transportation and mining can lead to
deforestation. Hardwood trees take many years to grow so can be
difficult to replace.

102. CASE STUDY: AMAZON FOREST
• Fertile soils that make farming possible are quickly washed away
when the forest is cleared. If soil ends up in rivers, this can lead to
flooding.
• Loss of animal habitat occurs when trees are cut down. Hence,
deforestation can result in endangering animals and plant life, or
even causing them to become extinct.
• Profits from large-scale farming and selling resources often go back
to MEDCs or large companies and don't benefit the rainforest
communities.

103. CASE STUDY: AMAZON FOREST
• The market forces of globalization are
invading the Amazon, hastening the demise
of the forest. In the past three decades,
hundreds of people have died in land wars;
countless others endure fear and
uncertainty, their lives threatened by those
who profit from the theft of timber and
land.
• During the past 40 years, close to 20
percent of the Amazon rain forest has been
cut down

104. CASE STUDY: AMAZON FOREST
• Uncontrolled and unchecked exploitation can cause irreversible
damage such as loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, flooding and
climate change. So, sustainable use of the forest is essential.
Sustainable development will meet the needs of Brazil's population
without compromising the needs of future generations.

105. CASE STUDY: AMAZON FOREST
Possible strategies include:
• Agro-forestry - growing trees and crops at the same time.
This lets farmers take advantage of shelter from the canopy
of trees. It prevents soil erosion and the crops benefit from
the nutrients from the dead organic matter.
• Selective logging - trees are only felled when they reach a
particular height. This allows young trees a guaranteed life
span and the forest will regain full maturity after around
30-50 years.

106. 2.4 Learning Objectives
Some – can analyse strategies or attempts to alleviate
the problem
Most – to research and evaluate the factors and
causes of this degraded environment
All – to identify different areas of degraded
environments

107. Video Clip (3min)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FJ2lDB3MJE
Try to list the various causes of environmental degradation
Discuss!

108. Top 25 Environmental Concerns
• http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/top-25-
environmental-concerns.php

109. Research Headings -
• Factors
• Causes
• Problems
• Issues
• Management
• Strategy
• Attempts
• Initiatives
• Success
• Failure

110. June 2007 Question 4

111. June 2007 Question 4 Insert
http://www.acethe
m.com/pastpapers/
a-
level/geography/969
6-3-insert-2007-
summer-paper-3-
12779.html/

112. June 2007 Question 4 Mark Scheme

113. June 2007 Question 4 Mark Scheme

114. ADDITIONAL WORK
1. How is water utilised in the country in which you live? Has this changed
to any significant extent over time?
2. Look at the World Resources Institute website (www.wri.org) to
examine in more detail the link between pollution, health and
development.
3. Look at Five Past Midnight by Dominique Lapierre and Javier Moro
(Scribner, 2002) or a detailed account of the Bhopal accident.
4. Do you think that government should place environmental taxes on
products that contain a lot of virtual water to make both producers and
consumers think more carefully about these products?
5. Suggest how you could realistically reduce your use of virtual water.

115. SUGGESTED RESEARCHWEBSITES
www.wri.org
www.fao.org/landandwater
www.thewaterproject.org
www.waterfootprint.org
www.SciAm.com
www.worldbank.org