What you need to know:
Key concept: Ecosystem- a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
What: The characteristics of the tropical rainforest
How: To study the climate, soils, vegetation and animals of the rainforest and consider the interactions between these components.
Why: Unless we understand the interactions between the components of the rainforest we cannot limit damage, conserve or restore them.
Key concept: Ecosystem- a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
What: The characteristics of the tropical rainforest
How: To study the climate, soils, vegetation and animals of the rainforest and consider the interactions between these components.
Why: Unless we understand the interactions between the components of the rainforest we cannot limit damage, conserve or restore them.
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The Characteristics of the Tropical Rainforest
Using the PPT below, information from the textbook and the video we will watch in class create a profile of the tropical rainforest. You must include: - Climatic conditions- create and analyze climate graph - Factors influencing the climate- complete Hadley cell worksheet -The relationship in the ecosystem of natural vegetation, soil, wildlife and climate- analyse soil profiles, food webs and animal and plant adaptions Knowledge check: You should be able to use this information answer the following exam questions.... Describe the main characteristics of a tropical rainforest ecosystem. (6 marks) Explain the location of the world’s tropical rainforests. (4 marks) Describe the main characteristics of a tropical rainforest soil. (4 marks) 
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Drawing a climate graph for the Tropical Rainforest
Tasks: 1. Complete the 'Rainforest adaptions' sheet to the left- by completing an information race to collect the missing details 2. Watch the video to the left- complete the following notes: - Describe the general characteristics of the forest. - What is their location? - What is their climate and why is it like this? - What is the vegetation like and why is it like this? - How has the rainforest vegetation adapted to the conditions in the rainforest? - What is the soil like and why is it like this?
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Deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest:
You need to be able to have a detailed answer for the following question: Describe two causes of deforestation in a rainforest you have studied. (7 marks)
You need to be able to have a detailed answer for the following question: Describe two causes of deforestation in a rainforest you have studied. (7 marks)
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Management of the tropical rainforest
Examples of exam questions you should be able to answer for the economic risks section (using the Tropical rainforest case study):
For an area you have studied, explain the effects of tropical rainforest destruction (7)
Economic development may cause problems for the natural environment. For an area you have studied explain how the environment is at risk from economic development. (7)
For a named area which you have studied, describe attempts to maintain, conserve or improve the natural environment (7)
For a named area of tropical rainforest which you have studied, describe and explain the characteristics of its climate.[7]
For a named area of tropical rainforest which you have studied, describe the ways in which it benefits people.[7]
For an area you have studied, explain the effects of tropical rainforest destruction (7)
Economic development may cause problems for the natural environment. For an area you have studied explain how the environment is at risk from economic development. (7)
For a named area which you have studied, describe attempts to maintain, conserve or improve the natural environment (7)
For a named area of tropical rainforest which you have studied, describe and explain the characteristics of its climate.[7]
For a named area of tropical rainforest which you have studied, describe the ways in which it benefits people.[7]
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Case Study of the Napo region in Ecuador, an ecotourism area within the Yasuni National Park ● The Rio Napo region is situated at the western extreme of Amazonia where it has extraordinarily rich tropical moist forests.
● There has been a lot of oil exploration and deforestation in the past (a research by the British charity Action Aid proved this).
● This was destroying the traditional lifestyles of the locals (Quicha people).
● Action Aid developed the eco-tourism project to stop this from continuing and to provide a sustainable income for the Quicha people.
● The Napo Wildlife Centre is a 100% community-owned lodge which is located inside the Yasuni National Park deep in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
● The Anangu Quichua community receives half of the profits from the lodge, this allows them to be active in conservation and to work towards preventing logging, market hunting, and oil extraction all of which are actively destroying local forests.
● The members of the community are active participants in the conservation and management of over 52, 000 acres within the Yasuni National Park as well as partners in the lodge
● Ten big luxury cabins, private shaded porches with lake view, ceiling fans, mosquito nets.
● Private bathroom, on-demand hot water showers, 24-hour electricity.
● Large thatch-roof dining hall
● Local fruits, fresh baked bread.
● 50-foot viewing tower, 120 foot canopy tower, parrot clay licks.
● This conservation region is more than 52, 000 acres in size, and an important biosphere reserve of Amazon rain forest.
● Costs roughly $865 for 4-5 days.
● All money goes to the local community so all Quicha people benefit with education and healthcare, etc.
● 85-93% of locals make up workforce, so a lot of employment has been made by eco-tourism scheme.
● The lodge has an environmentally sustainable sewage system and all waste water is treated to the highest standard in order to keep the swamps clean.
● Rubbish is kept to a minimum and they compost what they can, burn and bury what is safe to burn, and pack the remainder to designated landfills.
● Solar panels and diesel generations provide power.
● There has been a lot of oil exploration and deforestation in the past (a research by the British charity Action Aid proved this).
● This was destroying the traditional lifestyles of the locals (Quicha people).
● Action Aid developed the eco-tourism project to stop this from continuing and to provide a sustainable income for the Quicha people.
● The Napo Wildlife Centre is a 100% community-owned lodge which is located inside the Yasuni National Park deep in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
● The Anangu Quichua community receives half of the profits from the lodge, this allows them to be active in conservation and to work towards preventing logging, market hunting, and oil extraction all of which are actively destroying local forests.
● The members of the community are active participants in the conservation and management of over 52, 000 acres within the Yasuni National Park as well as partners in the lodge
● Ten big luxury cabins, private shaded porches with lake view, ceiling fans, mosquito nets.
● Private bathroom, on-demand hot water showers, 24-hour electricity.
● Large thatch-roof dining hall
● Local fruits, fresh baked bread.
● 50-foot viewing tower, 120 foot canopy tower, parrot clay licks.
● This conservation region is more than 52, 000 acres in size, and an important biosphere reserve of Amazon rain forest.
● Costs roughly $865 for 4-5 days.
● All money goes to the local community so all Quicha people benefit with education and healthcare, etc.
● 85-93% of locals make up workforce, so a lot of employment has been made by eco-tourism scheme.
● The lodge has an environmentally sustainable sewage system and all waste water is treated to the highest standard in order to keep the swamps clean.
● Rubbish is kept to a minimum and they compost what they can, burn and bury what is safe to burn, and pack the remainder to designated landfills.
● Solar panels and diesel generations provide power.
For a named tropical rainforest you have studied, describe the impact of deforestation on the local natural environment (7)
•In the Oriente region of the Amazon in Ecuador Oil has discharged 4.3 million barrels of toxic waste into the environment each day. Toxic contaminants in dinking water have reached 1,000 times the safe standard Increases in gastrointestinal problems, skin rashes, birth defects and cancers (stomach cancer 5x more in areas with oil extraction). Miscarriage is high amongst indigenous people such as Huaorani. Plants such as periwinkle (used to cure childhood leukemia) are now endangered. The oil has only benefitted a few- many have become poorer- social inequalities. Only 20 years of oil left in the Amazon.
•Plantations, such as those for palm oil and soy impact the functioning of the ecosystem. The monoculture crops take away from the biodiversity and so the functioning of the ecosystem. Without the variety of plants the nutrients are not replenished into the soil, and the loss of vegetation means there is not a protective layer- this causes rapid infertility of the soil.
Case study Borneo
Threats to the Borneo rainforest
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Management solutions
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