Deforestation and Land Use

• We use land for building, quarrying, farming and waste dumping. This means less land is available for other organisms.
• Deforestation can be done to clear land for farming, for more food and to grow crops from biofuels
• Deforestation problems

  • Cutting down more trees means less CO2 is removed from the atmosphere since photosynthesis is reduced
  • CO2 is released when trees are burnt to clear land
  • Microorganisms feeding on dead wood release CO2 as a waste product of respiration
  • Decreased biodiversity
• Destroying peat bogs

  • Carbon in plants is stored in peat
  • Peat reacts with oxygen and microorganisms begin to decompose it, this releases Co2 from respiration
  • CO2 is released when peat is burned as a fuel
  • Reduced habitats of the plants and animals which live there, decreasing biodiversity
• Protecting ecosystems

  • Breeding programmes to help endangered species
  • Programmes to regenerate rare habitats to protect the species which live there
  • Programmes to reintroduce hedgerows and field margins to provide a habitat for a wider variety of organisms
  • Reduce the levels of deforestation taking place
  • Reduce the amount of waste dumped in landfill sites
• Costs of protection

  • Costs a lot of money
  • Costs to local people livelihood
  • Uncertianty to food security
  • Development is important but it can affect the environment