Task 1. Deforestation Investigation
“Trees, how many of 'em do we need to look at?” Ronald Reagan, US President 1980 - 88
In this task you will investigate the causes and impacts of deforestation around the world.
Investigation outline: See below for questions
1. Introduction to deforestation.
Define deforestation and list the main causes of deforestation globally.
Describe the impacts of deforestation using examples.
Include an annotated graph of global deforestation to support your discussion. Don’t forget to caption it!
2. Global deforestation map:
Build a GIS map of global deforestation rate. (Include a viewable link in the report)
3. Deforestation Hot Spots:
Build a GIS map that examines five (3) deforestation hot spots around the world.
(Include a viewable link in the report)
4. Deforestation satellite analysis:
Annotate and label satellite images of deforestation in the Amazon Basin to describe the impacts of deforestation on Forest Biomes.
5. Deforestation source analysis
A source analysis that examines the causes and impacts of deforestation.
6. Recommendations: For reducing the human impact on forests.
How can modern societies reduce our impact on global forests?
Deforestation Investigation
1. Introduction to Deforestation
According to National Geographic, Deforestation refers to the intentional clearing of forested land, resulting in a permanent change in land use. This process is primarily driven by agricultural activities and livestock grazing, which account for nearly 90% of global deforestation.
To do: Introduction
Define deforestation and list the main causes of deforestation globally.
Describe the impacts of deforestation using examples.
Include an annotated graph of global deforestation to support your discussion. Don’t forget to caption it!
2. Global deforestation map
Create a GIS map of global deforestation using Google MyMaps.
Use the following steps to create a GIS map of global deforestation rates.
How to start:
Download and save the excel spreadsheet with deforestation data for 2020 to your computer.
Open: Google My Maps
Select Add layer and select Import
Select the excel file (The Deforestation 2020 file on your computer) and import the data.
Google will ask you to tick the place marks. Select Country
Continue and choose a column to title your markers: Select Country
Then Finish and My Maps will upload your data
Now you need to change the style of the markers.
Select Uniform Style
Click on the styled by data column and choose tree loss ha
Select Ranges
Choose a colour that represents a sliding scale
In your investigation.
Screenshot the map, include a copy of the key.
Describe the distribution of global deforestation using your map.
Use annotations to highlight the countries with the highest rates of deforestation.
3. Deforestation Hot Spots Map:
Follow these steps to create an interactive GIS map of 3 of the world's deforestation hotspots.
How to make a GIS Hot Spots Map.
Research the following information about deforestation rates for three countries and record the data on a word document.
Country annual deforestation rate %
Main reason for deforestation in that country? (Land clearing for palm oil or grazing?)
Not so Fun facts about deforestation in the country
Suggested high deforestation rate countries:
Indonesia
Brazil
Australia
DRC
Russia
Now go to your Google My Maps page.
Click on the Add layer button
Click on Untitled Map and change the title of the map. EG Deforestation hotspots
You can also change your basemap to satellite view.
Search for each of the countries in the search bar. Click Add to Map
Click on the pin for the country and paste the deforestation data (From above) into the text box using the menu at the bottom of the entry. (pen for the information)
Extra: Paint tin for the icon and camera for google image search to include an image of land clearing in each country.
Click the camera icon and select Google image search. Example: Deforestation in Brazil.
Note: Sharing a Google MyMap
If you have gone to the trouble of creating a GIS map to support your report or project.
It would be good if other people can look at it.
4. Deforestation satellite analysis
Follow these steps to do a satellite image analysis of deforestation.
How to start:
Go to the following site to examine deforestation in the Amazon:
Zoom in and find an area of deforestation and take a screenshot.
Pro tip: Turn off the shapes in the top right hand corner.
Label the human and natural features you can identify
Identify the evidence of the causes of deforestation. (Hint. Agriculture and cattle grazing)
Is there evidence of forest fragmentation?
What are the colours of the Rainforest?
How do the colours of the forest compare with the nearby farmland?
Explain the reason for the colours of the deforested areas?
5. Source analysis. Deforestation and forest degradation WWF
Read the source carefully before answering the questions.
Forests cover nearly one-third of the land area on our planet and are home to most of the world’s diversity of life on land. They are also essential to human health, purifying our water and air and serving as our first line of defense against new infectious diseases.
Additionally, forests provide livelihoods for billions of people, supplying vital resources such as food and fuel. Forests also play a critical role in mitigating climate change because they act as carbon sinks—soaking up carbon dioxide that would otherwise be in the atmosphere and contributing to ongoing changes in climate patterns.
The leading cause of deforestation is agriculture, with poorly planned infrastructure another significant contributor to global deforestation. In 2025, the world lost 10.6 million acres of tropical primary rainforests, equivalent to a rate of 11 soccer fields per minute.1 The primary causes of forest degradation are logging activities, livestock grazing, and road construction.
Deforestation is a particular concern in tropical rainforests because these forests are home to much of the world’s biodiversity. In the Amazon alone, around 17% of the forest has been lost over the last 50 years, mainly due to forest conversion for cattle ranching. Deforestation in this region is especially rampant near more populated areas, roads, and rivers, but remote areas have also been encroached upon with the discovery of valuable resources like gold and oil.
To do: Source questions
Answer each question as a sentence using evidence from the source.
According to the source, what proportion of Earth’s land area is covered by forests? (1)
Use evidence from the source to identify two ways forests benefit human populations. (2)
What does the term carbon sink mean in the context of this source? (2)
Explain why tropical rainforest deforestation is considered especially concerning. Use evidence from the source. (3)
What does the statistic “11 soccer fields per minute” help the reader understand about tropical forest loss? (2)
Using evidence from the source, explain why deforestation is concentrated near roads, rivers and populated areas. (2)
To what extent does this source provide a balanced explanation of deforestation? Support your judgement with evidence. (3)
6. Recommendations: For reducing the human impact on forests.
How can modern societies reduce our impact on global forests?
Five (5) recommendations for reducing deforestation.
Include a reflection on which are the two most important in your opinion. And Why?