This comparison covers The Three Case Studies — Side by Side 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 8 of 14 in this topic. Use this comparison to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
⚖️ The Three Case Studies — Side by Side
| Factor | Great Barrier Reef (Australia — HIC) | REDD+ in DRC (LIC) | Knepp Rewilding (UK — HIC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scale | 2,300 km reef; 344,400 km² marine park | 1.5 million km² of forest; national scale | 3,500 acres; single farm |
| Main threat | Climate change (ocean warming) + agricultural run-off | Poverty-driven charcoal production + subsistence farming | Agricultural intensification had destroyed all biodiversity |
| Management approach | Zoning (33% no-take); water quality plan; coral restoration | International payments (carbon credits) to protect forest | Stop farming; introduce free-roaming herbivores; let nature recover |
| Economic model | AUD $6.4bn/year tourism; economic incentive to protect | Carbon credit payments; but often don't reach communities | Safari tourism + premium wildland meat; £2.5m/year |
| Ecological success | Partial — fish biomass up in no-take zones; but coral still declining | Partial — 15% protected area coverage; but illegal cutting continues | High — turtle doves, nightingales, white storks returned within 20 years |
| Main limitation | Cannot solve global climate change locally; outlook "very poor" | Payments don't reach local communities; no alternative livelihoods | Requires wealthy landowner; not scalable to all farms |
| Key exam point | Local management cannot fix a global problem | Conservation + poverty = failure without alternative livelihoods | Ecosystem recovery IS possible at speed — but conditions must be right |
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.
Quick recall flashcards
What does sustainable ecosystem management mean?
Using and protecting an ecosystem in a way that lasts into the future.
Why do fragile ecosystems need management?
Because damage can spread quickly and recovery can be slow.