This introduction covers Setting the Scene within Tropical Rainforests for GCSE Geography. Revise Tropical Rainforests in The Living World for GCSE Geography with 18 exam-style questions and 22 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 1 of 14 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
🌿 Setting the Scene
The Amazon is often called the Earth's lungs. It covers 5.5 million km² across 9 countries, contains around 10% of all species on Earth, and influences rainfall patterns from Brazil to Bolivia. Its trees hold 150–200 billion tonnes of carbon — more than 15 years of global human emissions. But since 1970, an area larger than France has been cleared. Each year, Brazil alone loses an area of forest roughly the size of Belgium. This is one of geography's great tensions: development versus conservation. Poor farmers need land to feed their families. Governments need money to build roads and hospitals. Corporations need land for cattle and soya. And the planet needs the Amazon to stay standing. These forces have been in collision for 50 years — and this topic is about understanding why, and what can be done.
Practice questions for Tropical Rainforests
Where are most nutrients stored in a tropical rainforest ecosystem?
Explain why rainforest soils are nutrient-poor despite the lush, dense vegetation above them.
Quick recall flashcards
Where are tropical rainforests mainly found?
Around the equator.
What is the climate like in tropical rainforests?
Hot and wet all year.