Fragile Environments and Climate Change Flashcards

Flashcards reviewing key concepts related to fragile environments, desertification, deforestation, climate change, and sustainable solutions.

What are fragile environments?

Ecosystems that are easily damaged and slow to recover, e.g. deserts, rainforests, polar regions.

Where are fragile environments found?

Rainforests (Amazon), Deserts (Sahara), Polar regions (Arctic).

What are the causes of desertification?

Drought, overgrazing, overcultivation.

What are the causes of deforestation?

Logging, farming, mining.

What are natural causes of climate change?

Milankovitch cycles, solar variation, volcanic eruptions.

What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?

Caused by emissions from industry, transport, and farming.

What are the impacts of desertification?

Malnutrition, poverty, soil erosion.

What are the impacts of deforestation?

Biodiversity loss, soil erosion, climate change.

How does climate change affect fragile environments?

Rising sea levels, habitat loss, reduced food supply.

How can technology help prevent desertification?

Drip irrigation, zai pits, solar water pumps.

What are sustainable ways to manage rainforests?

Selective logging, agroforestry, ecotourism.

How does the UK respond to climate change?

Net-zero targets, public transport use, renewable energy.

How does India respond to climate change?

Solar farms, traditional farming, NGO projects.

What is a debt-for-nature swap?

An agreement to cancel debt in return for protecting forests.

What are zai pits?

Holes dug with organic matter to hold water and improve crops.