7.3.4: Deforestation
Not started yet — this one needs some love.
Deforestation: large-scale removal of forests in tropical areas.
Large-scale deforestation in tropical areas has occurred to:
provide land for cattle and rice fields
grow crops for biofuels
Environmental implications:
deforestation removes habitats, so biodiversity may decrease
fewer trees means less carbon dioxide is removed by photosynthesis
decay or burning of felled trees releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Common exam mistakes
Do not list deforestation reasons without linking them to environmental effects when the question asks for implications.
Link biodiversity loss to habitat removal, not just to climate change.
For carbon dioxide, include both less photosynthesis and release from decay or burning where relevant.
Methane from cattle and rice fields is relevant, but it does not replace the carbon dioxide points about trees.