7.1 Natural resources — uses and managementIB Environmental Systems and Societies HL: Subtopic test

1. 1
   The Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Queensland, Australia, is the world's largest coral reef system. It supports a large tourism industry, commercial and recreational fishing and a rich diversity of species, and its reefs protect parts of the coast from wave energy. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples the reef is part of 'Sea Country', with cultural and spiritual connections lasting many thousands of years. Several mass coral bleaching events since 2016 have damaged large areas of reef.

   (a)

   The fish harvested from the reef each year, without reducing the fish stocks, are best described as which of the following?

   [1 mark]

   • ANatural capital
   • BA non-renewable resource
   • CNatural income
   • DResource insecurity

   (b)

   Which value of natural capital is best illustrated by the connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Sea Country?

   [1 mark]

   • ACultural and spiritual value
   • BTechnological value
   • CPurely economic value
   • DAesthetic value only

   (c)

   Explain why the value of the reef as natural capital is described as dynamic.

   [2 marks]

   Total for question 1: 4 marks

2. 2
   The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia is the largest hydroelectric project in Africa. Ethiopia built it to greatly increase its electricity supply, because many of its people lacked access to electricity. Egypt, further downstream, depends on the Nile for almost all of its freshwater and fears that filling the reservoir will reduce the flow reaching it, especially during droughts. Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan have held many rounds of talks without reaching a binding agreement on how the dam should be filled and operated.

   (a)

   Which statement best defines resource security?

   [1 mark]

   • AThe ability to extract resources as fast as possible
   • BThe ability of societies to ensure the long-term availability of sufficient natural resources to meet demand
   • COwnership of all of a resource by a single country
   • DHaving no reliance on imported resources

   (b)

   Which statement best describes how natural resource insecurity can affect a region?

   [1 mark]

   • AIt always leads to rapid economic development
   • BIt affects only the environment and never politics
   • CIt reduces tension because countries always cooperate automatically
   • DIt hinders socioeconomic development and can lead to geopolitical tensions and conflict

   (c)

   Outline two ways in which resource security can be improved.

   [2 marks]

   Total for question 2: 4 marks

3. 3
   The following simplified data describe palm oil production in one Indonesian province. In 2000 the plantation area was 0.5 million hectares, palm oil production was 1.5 million tonnes and forest covered 60% of the province. In 2020 the plantation area was 2.0 million hectares, production was 7.0 million tonnes and forest covered 35% of the province. Oil palms are a crop that can be harvested every year, and palm oil is an important export earner that provides jobs.

   (a)

   Calculate the average yield of palm oil, in tonnes per hectare, in each year, and state what the data suggest was the main reason for the increase in production.

   [3 marks]

   (b)

   Explain how palm oil can be a renewable resource and yet its production can be unsustainable, and how economic interests may encourage this.

   [4 marks]

   Total for question 3: 7 marks

4. 4
   Belo Monte is a hydroelectric dam complex on the Xingu River in the Brazilian Amazon, built between 2011 and 2019. It is one of the world's largest hydroelectric schemes and supplies electricity to the national grid. Supporters, including the government and construction companies, argued that it provides renewable electricity for economic growth. Critics, including many Indigenous groups, environmental organisations and some local residents, argued that diverting the river would reduce the flow along a stretch of the river, harm fish populations on which communities depend, and displace thousands of people. An environmental impact assessment (EIA) was carried out before construction, but critics argued that the public consultation was inadequate.

   (a)

   Discuss how technocentric, anthropocentric and ecocentric perspectives might view the decision to build Belo Monte.

   [6 marks]

   (b)

   Evaluate the role of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) in managing resource use in a development project such as Belo Monte.

   [6 marks]

   Total for question 4: 12 marks

End of questions