This exam focus covers Exam Connection — OCR B Component 1 within Sustaining Ecosystems for GCSE Geography. Revise Sustaining Ecosystems in The Living World for GCSE Geography with 15 exam-style questions and 18 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 12 of 14 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
🎯 Exam Connection — OCR B Component 1
Exam frequency: HIGH — this is the evaluative heart of the Living World unit. Expect at least one 6–8 mark question on sustainable management in Paper 1.
Common question types:
- "Evaluate the effectiveness of one approach to managing an ecosystem sustainably." (6 marks)
- "To what extent can ecosystems be managed sustainably?" (8 marks)
- "Explain why some approaches to ecosystem management are more successful than others." (6 marks)
- "Assess the importance of local community involvement in sustainable ecosystem management." (6 marks)
What examiners are looking for — Level 1, 2, 3:
| Level | What it looks like | Marks (6-mark question) |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Simple statements without development: "Zoning helps protect the reef." "REDD+ protects forests." Describes ONE approach with no evaluation. | 1–2 marks |
| Level 2 | Developed explanation of one approach with some evaluation: "Zoning the Great Barrier Reef has increased fish biomass in no-take zones by 50–60%. However, it cannot address the main threat of ocean warming from climate change." Shows understanding of limitations but stays with ONE approach. | 3–4 marks |
| Level 3 | Compares approaches, evaluates against clear criteria, makes a supported judgement: "While marine park zoning (Barrier Reef) and rewilding (Knepp) both demonstrate ecological success, rewilding addresses root causes more completely because it removes the pressure entirely rather than managing it. However, neither approach is replicable everywhere — the key factor determining success is whether local communities have an economic stake in conservation." Uses CLEARS criteria implicitly or explicitly. | 5–6 marks |
Named evidence you MUST deploy:
- Great Barrier Reef: 33% no-take zone; 50% coral died in 2016; AUD $6.4bn/year tourism; "very poor" long-term outlook
- REDD+/Congo: 90% DRC population relies on charcoal; Norway paid $150m; payments often don't reach communities
- Knepp: 3,500 acres; white storks first nest in 600 years; £2.5m/year tourism; requires wealthy landowner
- Ecosystem services: 25% of Western medicines from tropical plants; £690m/year pollination value in UK; $125–145 trillion total global value
Practice questions for Sustaining Ecosystems
Which of the following is a direct consequence of deforestation in tropical rainforests?
Explain the process of coral bleaching and why it threatens the Great Barrier Reef.