7.3.4

Land Use

Test yourself

Land Use

The growth of the human race has meant that there is less space and fewer resources for other organisms on Earth. Building, dumping waste, farming and quarrying all take up space and deplete resources:

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Peat

  • Peat is a deposit of partially decayed plant matter, which accumulates in bogs.
  • Here, carbon remains in the plants instead of being released into the atmosphere.
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Peat bog destruction

  • The destruction of peat bogs has become more common, resulting in the burning or decay of peat.
  • This releases the stored carbon into the atmosphere in the form of the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide.
  • Another negative impact of peat bog destruction is the loss of biodiversity within the habitat.
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Reasons for peat bog destruction

  • Peat bogs are being destroyed for the following reasons:
    • To free up land for farming, which requires the bogs to be drained. This draining process stimulates peat decay.
    • To burn the peat for fuel.
    • To sell the peat to gardeners as garden compost.
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Reducing peat demand

  • Peat demand can be reduced by gardeners using peat-free compost, such as manure or bark chippings.

Jump to other topics

1Cell Biology

1.1What's in Cells?

1.2Cell Division

1.3Transport in Cells

2Organisation

2.1Principles of Organisation

2.2Enzymes

2.3Circulatory System

2.4Non-Communicable Diseases

2.5Plant Tissues, Organs & Systems

3Infection & Response

4Bioenergetics

5Homeostasis & Response

5.1Homeostasis

5.2The Human Nervous System

5.3Hormonal Coordination in Humans

5.4Plant Hormones

6Inheritance, Variation & Evolution

7Ecology

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