4. Deforestation in the Tropical Rainforest
1st November
Deforestation in the Tropical Rainforest

5. Deforestation is the clearing of large areas of forest for human uses, such as timber or agriculture.

8. Causes of Deforestation
Effects of Deforestation

9. Causes of Deforestation
Effects of Deforestation
Clear land for farming
Cattle ranching (hamburgers)
Poverty – need land to grow food on
Illegal and legal (permission from the government) logging – mahogany and teak, building and making furniture
Permission from the government
Companies exploring for oil and metal, gold and copper – minerals
Transportation links – motorways and development
Local tribes suffer (Amerindians)
Losing their land, threatened, many have died
Infected by diseases they are not used to e.g. colds, ‘flu
The animals suffer – loss of habitats, hunted/poached (often illegally)
The soil suffers - nutrients are washed away, no dead leaves to make new soil
The world as a whole suffers – species are becoming extinct, plants that could cure diseases
Burning forests produces CO2 which speeds up global warming
Less of a carbon sink as fewer trees

10. Nutrient Cycles Key: = process = inputs and outputs Biomass
(dense vegetation cover)
Litter
(leaves on the ground)
Soil
(rotted leaves, creating humus)

11. Nutrient Cycles Biomass (dense vegetation cover) Litter
(leaves on the ground)
Soil
(rotted leaves, creating humus)
Bacteria and fungi decompose and release nutrients
Nutrients are taken up to plants through roots
Leaves fall to the ground all year round

12. Nutrient Cycles Biomass (dense vegetation cover) Litter
Leaves fall to the ground all year round
Nutrients are taken up to plants through roots
Litter
(leaves on the ground)
Bacteria and fungi decompose and release nutrients
Soil
(rotted leaves, creating humus)
High rainfall and temperature affect plant type
Leaching (the loss of minerals) occurs as nutrients are washed out
Some material added from wearing away of rocks

13. Nutrient Cycles Key: = process = inputs and outputs Biomass
High rainfall and temperature affect plant type
Key:
= process
= inputs and outputs
Biomass
(dense vegetation cover)
Leaves fall to the ground all year round
Nutrients are taken up to plants through roots
Litter
(leaves on the ground)
Soil
(rotted leaves, creating humus)
Leaching (the loss of minerals) occurs as nutrients are washed out
Bacteria and fungi decompose and release nutrients
Some material added from wearing away of rocks

14. Nutrient Cycles after Deforestation
Biomass
Less leaves fall
Less nutrients for plants, so less plants grow
Litter
Leaching is worse, as nutrients are easily lost from thin soil
Less nutrients go into soil
Soil

16. Homework Due Wednesday 3rd November Try Wikipedia!
Read the article and underline key points
Research deforestation in the Amazon rainforest and fill in the facts
Try Wikipedia!

17. Homework – due Wednesday
Design a poster which aims to raise awareness about the destruction of the rainforest - deforestation.
Think about your audience (who is it aimed at?)
What are the important topics to focus on, when trying to raise awareness?
You will be marked on effort, presentation and geographical content