7.3.3: Land use
Not started yet — this one needs some love.
Humans reduce the amount of land available for other animals and plants by building, quarrying, farming and dumping waste.
The destruction of peat bogs, and other areas of peat to produce garden compost, reduces the area of this habitat.
Destroying peat habitats reduces the variety of different plant, animal and microorganism species that live there.
The decay or burning of the peat releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Peat conflict: garden compost can support food production, but conserving peat bogs protects biodiversity and reduces carbon dioxide emissions.
Common exam mistakes
Do not put peat extraction under deforestation; it is a land use issue about peat habitats.
When discussing peat, include both biodiversity loss and carbon dioxide release if the question asks for environmental effects.
Do not only repeat that peat contains carbon; explain that decay or burning releases carbon dioxide or methane.
For peat evaluation, weigh compost or food-production benefits against habitat loss and greenhouse-gas release.