Human impact on natural systems

• Ways climate change is expected to affect animals, people and plants

  • Change in precipitation patterns - wet areas get wetter, dry areas get drier
  • Increase in extreme weather events (storms, floods, droughts)
  • Decrease in agricultural productivity in some areas leading to food shortages
  • Sea level rise flooding coastal and low-lying areas
  • Changes in geographical range of species, arrival of new species damaging ecosystems, species becoming extinct
  • Decline in plankton numbers affecting marine food chains
• Increase in extreme weather events

  Less developed countries will probably be worst affected as they are less able to deal with the impacts
• Benefits of Afforestation include:

  A) Carbon Sequestration

  B) Biodiversity Enhancement

  C) Soil Conservation

  D) erosion

  E) landslides

  F) Water Cycle Regulation

  
• How does afforestation help regulate the water cycle?

  Afforestation helps regulate the water cycle by enhancing transpiration, increasing precipitation, retaining soil moisture, reducing surface runoff and erosion, recharging groundwater, mitigating floods, and balancing evapotranspiration..
• Transpiration

  • Process: Trees absorb water from the soil through their roots and release water vapour into the atmosphere via their leaves in a process called transpiration.
  • Impact: This contributes to the humidity and the formation of clouds, which can influence local and regional precipitation patterns. Transpiration helps maintain atmospheric moisture levels, which are crucial for the water cycle.
• Afforestation Increases Precipitation:

  • Cloud Formation: The water vapour released by trees can condense to form clouds, increasing the likelihood of rainfall. In regions with significant afforestation, this can lead to higher and more consistent precipitation.
  • Rainfall Recycling: Forests can create their own microclimates. By continuously recycling water through transpiration and subsequent precipitation, forests maintain local rainfall patterns.
• Afforestation helps with Soil Moisture Retention

  • Soil Structure: Tree roots enhance soil structure and increase its ability to retain water. This reduces surface runoff and promotes groundwater recharge.
  • Infiltration: The presence of trees increases the infiltration rate of rainwater into the soil, helping to replenish groundwater supplies.
• Afforestation helps with the reduction of Surface Runoff and Erosion

  • Root Systems: Tree roots anchor the soil, reducing erosion and preventing the loss of topsoil. This is crucial for maintaining soil fertility and structure.
  • Canopy Interception: Tree canopies intercept rainfall, slowing its descent to the ground and reducing the impact of heavy rains. This helps prevent flooding and soil erosion
• What are some problems to do with afforestation?

  A) Species Slection

  B) Non-native

  C) Displacement of local communities

  D) Water Resourc impact

  E) Inital Carbon Debt

  
• Afforestation's Impact on Palestinians

  Israel's afforestation policies lead to displacement, restricted access to resources, environmental damage, and human rights violations against Palestinians
• Jewish National Fund (JNF)


  A non-profit organization established in 1901 helped raise funds for an afforestation project in Palestine
• Afforestation can negatively impact Water Resource:

  • Some tree species consume large amounts of water, potentially reducing water availability for other uses.
• What are the effects of deforestation?

  A) Loss of Biodiversity

  B) Climate Change

  C) Soil Degredation

  D) Disrupts the Water cycle

  
• China’s Afforestation Projects:

  • Purpose: Combat desertification and soil erosion, improve air quality.
  • Impacts: Positive effects on soil stabilization and carbon sequestration, but challenges include water consumption by non-native species and potential impacts on local water resources.
• Amazon Rainforest (Deforestation):

  • Causes: Agricultural expansion (e.g., soy and cattle), logging, infrastructure development (e.g., roads, dams).
  • Impacts: Significant biodiversity loss, contribution to climate change, disruption of indigenous communities, changes in regional rainfall patterns.