AICE Env. Case Studies

NOTE: These case study overviews give the main points of the studies that can be used in the Paper 1 essay. Read the original article for more info!

Captive Breeding: Sumatran Rhinos (pg 164-166)

Main Points of Reference:

  • Sumatra is an island located in the archipelago of Indonesia, with 1600 km of long mountains and tropical climate, home to great amounts of biodiversity.

  • The initial decline in the numbers of the Sumatran rhinos was due to poaching, as their horns were popular for medicinal usage. Populations continued declining due to ongoing poaching, deforestation, and habitat fragmentation. Between 1980 and 2022, the population of the Sumatran rhino went from 500 to 80.

  • The species has been declared as one of the most endangered, and captive breeding efforts have been carried out to try to increase the population, but they have been mainly unsuccessful. Difficulties that arose in the programmes included behavioural and dietary differences between this species and other rhino species, and many of the animals developed medical problems relating to reproduction. Despite 35 years of trying to make the captive breeding program a success, the females' reproductive problems are not fully understood.

Worlds apart: Energy security at either end of the economic scale

Main Points of Reference:

  • HIC’s have significantly better access to energy compared to LICs, as they are more economically and socially advanced, which allows them to further expand their energy production and sources.

Sustainability: the conflict between palm oil and orangutan habitats (case study 1)

Main Points of Reference:

  • Location: Sabah, Malaysia (Specifically, a part of the island of Borneo)

    • Home to immense biodiversity, most notably the orangutans, lush rainforests, and mangroves.

  • Background: Sabah’s rainforest produces a rich climate and habitats for many wildlife species that are additionally vital resources for the local people. The forests are intrinsic to the balance of life in Sabah.

  • Palm Oil

    • What is it: an edible vegetable oil that comes from the fruit of oil palm trees

    • Why it’s so important: Palm oil is used in many dishes across the world, with Malaysia and Indonesia producing 85% of the world’s palm oil that is exported to HIC’s.

    • Rapid expansion and demand for palm oil have caused major deforestation as new plantations are being built across Sabah, Malaysia. This has resulted in major deforestation and environmental degradation in the biodiverse regions of the rainforests. The decline in orangutan populations is directly linked to these expansions in development.

  • Solutions

    • The RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil), formed in 2004, produced standards for the cultivation of palm oil to encourage it in a sustainable and manageable way.

    • They focus on preserving the fragile habitats of the Sabah forests, preventing illegal hunting or collection outside of plantations, which helps promote biodiversity and management.