2.2.2. Impacts of deforestation

What term describes the permanent, large-scale removal of forested land by human activities?

Deforestation

What technique is commonly used to clear trees in tropical rainforests like the Amazon?

Slash-and-burn 

Which commercial farming activities are primary drivers of deforestation in the Amazon?

Cattle ranching and plantations 

Name two valuable hardwood trees commonly felled for commercial logging.

Mahogany and teak 

Which minerals are commonly extracted through open-cast mines in deforested areas?

Iron ore, gold, and bauxite 

What is an example of a transport link built through the rainforest to support mineral extraction and infrastructure?

The Trans-Amazonian Highway

What percentage of the Earth's land surface is covered by tropical rainforests?

Around 6% 

Tropical rainforests support over what percentage of the world's plant and animal species?

50%

What happens to carnivores like ocelots and jaguars when vegetation removal eliminates herbivores?

Deprived of prey 

What term describes the isolation of populations caused by forest clearing, driving rare species to extinction?

Habitat fragmentation 

What do deep tree roots do to protect the thin topsoil in a rainforest?

Bind it together 

What process is triggered when the protective system of the forest is destroyed?

Rapid soil erosion 

What sweeps nutrient-rich topsoil into rivers when there are no roots to absorb moisture?

Surface runoff

What downstream problem is caused by topsoil being swept into rivers?

Sedimentation 

What process occurs when intense rainfall washes soluble nutrients deep down through the soil profile?

Nutrient leaching 

What vital role do tropical rainforests play in regulating the global climate?

Acting as a  carbon sink 

What gas do burning trees and decomposing timber release into the atmosphere?

CO₂

When deforested, a forest changes from being a carbon sink into a what?

Carbon source 

What effect does the build-up of greenhouse gases from deforestation intensify?

Enhanced  greenhouse effect 

Which activities provide short-term economic gains from deforestation?

• Commercial farming

• Commercial logging

• Mineral extraction

What type of tourism declines as a long-term economic cost of destroying pristine landscapes?

Ecotourism

What happens to crop yields after the tree canopy is removed and soil erosion occurs?

They drop rapidly

What potential value is lost when undiscovered plant species are destroyed by burning biodiversity?

Pharmaceutical value

What process causes water contamination and results in massive clean-up costs?

Mining chemicals 

Which commercial industry is harmed by river siltation and water contamination?

Commercial fisheries 

Name an indigenous tribe in the Amazon basin threatened by deforestation.

The Yanomami 

What resources do tribal communities rely entirely on the forest for?

• Food

• Clean water

• Building materials

• Natural medicines

What term describes the violent clashes and forced removal of native groups from ancestral lands?

Displacement 

Why do infectious diseases introduced by outside workers cause devastating loss of life among isolated tribes?

No natural immunity 

Which infectious diseases are frequently introduced to isolated tribes by outside workers?

• Malaria

• Flu

• Measles

What happens to traditional customs and native languages when indigenous people are forced into urban areas?

They are lost 

What local impact occurs when nutrient-rich topsoil washes away and clogs river systems?

River siltation 

What local consequence can result from heavy rainfall without tree roots to bind the soil?

Landslides

What are some considered global impacts of deforestation?

• Climate change

• Loss of biodiversity