rainforest

Rural Areas

Countryside areas that often have wide variations of success and poverty.

Sustainable

Meeting the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Sketch Maps

Simple diagrams that reflect key information about a landscape, including a north arrow, title, key features, annotations, and labels.

Climate Graph Features

Must include scale, title, axis labels, accurate plotting, and should be easy to read.

Kayapo Tribe

A rural tribe in the rainforest known for their sustainable ways of living and unique traditions.

Shifting Cultivation

A farming method involving cutting down trees and burning vegetation to plant crops, then abandoning the area when the soil degrades.

Slash and Burn

The initial clearing process in shifting cultivation where trees are cut and vegetation is burned.

Subsistence Farmers

Farmers who grow enough crops only to feed themselves, without surplus for trade.

Push Factors

Negative conditions that cause people to move away from a place.

Pull Factors

Positive conditions that attract people to move to a particular place.

Intervening Obstacles

Factors that make migration more difficult.

Rural to Urban Migration

The movement of people from the countryside to cities.

Favelas

Shanty towns where many new migrants live, often on the edge of urban areas.

Biodiversity

The variety of plant and animal species in a given area; rainforests are very biodiverse.

Medicines from Rainforest Plants

25% of modern medicines are derived from plants found in rainforests.

Erosion

The process by which natural forces remove soil and rock, intensified by deforestation.

Evaporation and Transpiration

Processes where plants release water vapor into the atmosphere, impacting local climate and water cycles.

Indigenous Tribes

Native groups that have lived sustainably in rainforests for thousands of years.

Environmental Activists

Individuals or groups that advocate for the preservation of the environment, opposing activities like deforestation.

Conflict in the Rainforest

Disputes arising from differing uses of rainforest resources among various stakeholders.

Chico Mendes

An environmental activist who protested cattle ranching and died as a result of his activism.

Hydroelectric Dams

Structures built to generate electricity which may flood land and impact ecosystems.

Open Cast Mine

A large hole in the ground created by mining activities, often leading to environmental changes.

Palm Oil

An oil derived from palm fruit, associated with deforestation and habitat loss.

Remote Sensing

Technology used to monitor and gather information about rainforests from a distance, such as satellite imagery.

Logging

The process of cutting down trees for timber, which contributes to deforestation.

Urban Areas

Cities that often experience fast growth and population density.

Economic Growth

An increase in a country's production capacity and wealth, often leading to urbanization.

Natural Resources

Materials provided by nature that can be used for economic gain.

Deforestation

The large-scale removal of forests for other land uses.

Cattle Ranching

The raising of cattle for meat, which often contributes to rainforest destruction.

Climate Graph

A visual representation of climate data, showing temperature and rainfall patterns over time.

Annotations

Notes added to maps or graphs to explain key information or features.

Labels

Words or phrases that identify features on maps or graphs.

Cultural Practices

Traditions and customs that characterize the way of life of a particular group.

Conservation Rangers

Individuals employed to protect and preserve natural areas, such as rainforests.

Peat Lands

Wetlands that store carbon and are crucial for climate regulation.

Rainforest Depletion

The reduction of rainforest areas due to human activities like logging, agriculture, and urbanization.

Tribes and Outsiders

The tension between indigenous groups and external entities seeking to exploit rainforest land.

Government Protection

Efforts by authorities to safeguard environmental areas and indigenous peoples.

Resource Exploitation

The unsustainable use of natural resources, often leading to environmental degradation.

Trade-offs in Migration Decisions

The consideration of various factors influencing whether individuals should move or stay.

Carbon Cycle

The process of carbon circulating among the atmosphere, land, and water, significantly impacted by deforestation.

Medicinal Plant Diversity

The range of plant species used to produce medicines, crucial for healthcare.

Sustainable Practices

Methods aimed at meeting current needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet theirs.

Conflict Resolution

Methods used to resolve disputes and find solutions among different interest groups.

Rainforest Ecosystems

Complex ecological networks found within rainforests, characterized by high species diversity.

Food Production in Rainforests

The cultivation of food crops that often originates from rainforest species.

Climate Patterns

Trends and behaviors in weather conditions that can be influenced by forest presence.

Tribal Livelihoods

The means by which indigenous groups support themselves, often relying on forest resources.

Land Conflicts

Disputes over land use, often arising from competing interests between conservation and development.

High-Quality Healthcare Access

The availability of medical services that can be enhanced through cooperation with indigenous tribes.

Economic Impact of Deforestation

The financial consequences of cutting down forests, including loss of resources and tourism.

Restoration Initiatives

Programs aimed at returning deforested areas to their natural state.

Community Engagement

Involvement of local populations in the decision-making process about their land and resources.

Nature Conservation,

Efforts to protect natural environments and biodiversity from human impact.

Forest Fires

Fires that occur in forested areas, often exacerbated by land-clearing practices.

Biodiversity Hotspots

Regions with a high level of species diversity that are under threat from human activities.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Global goals aimed at making sure future generations have access to essential resources.

Ecotourism

Responsible travel to natural areas intended to conserve the environment and improve the well-being of local people.

Cultural Heritage

The traditions, customs, and artifacts of a specific group, often tied to their environment.

Logging Regulations

Laws put in place to control and limit the logging industry to protect forests.

Bioprospecting

The exploration of biodiversity for new resources, particularly in medicine.

Deforestation Rates

The speed and extent at which forests are being cleared, often measured in hectares per year.

Overexploitation

The unsustainable use of natural resources, which can lead to depletion.

Climate Change Effects

The impact of climate change, often worsened by deforestation and habitat loss.

Environmental Education

Teaching about ecological concerns and promoting conservation efforts in local communities.

Forest Management Plans

Strategies developed to sustainably manage and utilize forest resources.

Renewable Energy Sources

Energy sources that are replenished naturally, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power.

Ecological Footprint

The impact of a person or community on the environment, measured in terms of land and resources consumed.

Wildlife Protection Laws

Legislation aimed at safeguarding animal species and their habitats from harm.

Community-based Conservation

Conservation efforts that involve local communities in protecting their natural resources.

Agroforestry

A land-use management system that combines agriculture and forestry to create more sustainable land-use.

Species Endangerment

The risk of extinction faced by a species due to factors like habitat loss and climate change.

Sustainable Agriculture

Farming practices that maintain soil health, ecological balance, and reduce chemical inputs.

Forest Certification Programs

Programs that verify sustainable forestry practices, ensuring responsible resource use.

Water Cycle

The natural cycle of water movement, including evaporation, precipitation, and absorption, crucially affected by forests.

Nutrient cycling

The process through which nutrients are transferred between different stores in an ecosystem.

Litter

Decaying/dead plant material on the forest floor that contributes nutrients to the soil.

Biomass

Living plant material, such as trees and shrubs, that stores nutrients before they are returned to the soil as litter.

Decay

The process by which litter breaks down and releases its nutrients to the soil.

Leaching

The process where rainwater washes nutrients down and out of the soil.

Run off

The process when rainwater removes nutrients from the litter.

Fall out

The process that occurs when biomass loses its leaves, adding nutrients to the litter.

Weathering

The process by which rocks decompose, adding nutrients to the soil.

Plant adaptations

Features that organisms develop to survive in different environments.

Buttress roots

Roots that stabilize trees and help absorb nutrients from thin rainforest soils.

Drip tips

Leaf adaptations with a waxy surface that allow excess rainwater to run off easily.

Epiphytes

Plants that grow on other plants to obtain sunlight without harming them.

Nocturnal living

An adaptation where animals are active at night to avoid competition for resources.

Picky eating

A dietary strategy that reduces competition by allowing some animals to consume specific foods that others cannot.

Camouflage

A technique used by animals to blend into their environment and avoid predation.

Poison dart frog

A small frog that possesses potent venom, deterring predators with its bright coloration.

Prehensile tails

Tails that allow animals to grasp and swing from branches, functioning as a fifth limb.

Mimosa pudica

A plant that wilts its leaves when touched to deter predators and prevent waterlogging.

Rainforest soil

Soil that is nutrient-poor and thin, making it unsuitable for farming.

Convectional rainfall

Rainfall caused by the rapid heating and cooling of the atmosphere, often occurring in rainforests.

Balsa tree

The fastest growing tree in the rainforest.

Photosynthesis

The process through which plants convert sunlight into energy.

High rainfall

A characteristic of rainforests that contributes to their humid climate.