Outline two historical influences on the development of the modern environmental movement.

Describe two possible methods that could be used to collect data for a baseline study for an environmental impact assessment.

Evaluate the proposal to convert an area of tropical rainforest into agricultural use.

Please note: although "quality of expression" marking is no longer used in exams, this question from a past syllabus may still be useful for student practice.

Al Gore produced film, “Inconvenient Truth”;
this raised international awareness about global warming;

Rachel Carson published book, “Silent Spring”;
this raised awareness about impact of pesticides/DDT on ecosystems / encouraged establishment of EPA in US;

Industrial revolution led to high levels of atmospheric pollution;
the impact of this on human health/living standards promoted great public concern/interest in pollution;

John Snow made connection between water quality and spread of cholera/water borne disease;
this led to public concern to manage water quality standards/introduce water treatment;

Passenger pigeon in US became extinct through overhunting;
this unexpected extinction led to first conservation efforts in US / Woodrow Wilson setting up first National Parks;

Wackernagel & Rees introduced concept of ecological footprint;
this model has gained widespread recognition as a means of evaluating environmental impacts of societies/populations. 

For each of the TWO examples, award [1 mark] for naming and stating influential action and [1 mark] for describing/developing their influence on environmental movement

[4 max]

Please note: although "quality of expression" marking is no longer used in exams, this question from a past syllabus may still be useful for student practice.

Evaluating species’ abundance:
identifying sample points through random coordinates/along transect to cover area of development;
employ sampling method appropriate for given species e.g. quadrats/traps/sweep nets;
calculate total abundance from sample nos e.g. through extrapolation of sample size/Lincoln index/mark-release-recapture;

Evaluating ecological significance/diversity:
survey area obtaining comprehensive species list/no of species/species richness;
identify any species of special interest/Red List Status/local breeding/feeding grounds;
use abundance data to calculate diversity index/Simpsons Index;
quantify current status of ecosystems using a biotic Index;

Evaluating abiotic variables:
identify those abiotic variables most relevant/likely to be impacted by the development e.g. pollutant levels/water temperature/soil qualities;
design a sampling regime to cover relevant area/seasonal variations/diurnal variations/max-min ranges;
select appropriate instrumentation for recording abiotic factors e.g. temperature probes/pH meters/atmospheric particle collectors;

Evaluating social factors:
distribute questionnaires to local population to identify responses/opinions regarding development;
set up community meetings of different constituencies e.g. developers/commercial/residential/environmentalists;
carry out surveys/research to establish current economic/employment/land ownership/land use issues associated with proposed area. 

[6 max]

Please note: although "quality of expression" marking is no longer used in exams, this question from a past syllabus may still be useful for student practice.

Reasons to not convert tropical rainforest (TRF) into agricultural use:
TRF contain high levels of biodiversity/ are significant hotspots;
when TRF is the home of indigenous people, we can't suppress their rights (to have a decent living);
TRF provide important ecosystem services of global value / have high intrinsic value;
e.g. carbon storage / involvement in water cycles / oxygen production;
TRF normally have nutrient poor soil due to fast cycling of nutrients in tropical climate;
soils in tropics vulnerable due to high levels of rainfall;
…which can contribute to loss of top soil / loss of productivity / landslides;

Reasons to convert tropical rainforest (TRF) into agricultural use:
may lead to employment opportunities for local populations;
economic development may lead to investment in local medical and education facilities;
produce a greater income for country leading to development;
high population/growth rate may entail that this conversion is the only means to feed local community;
exploitation of limited areas may provide income to support conservation/reduce exploitation of larger areas.    [1 max]

Conclusion should be a clear statement of whether the conversion should go ahead and be justified by evidence given in the response.

e.g. conversion should not go ahead because despite short term gains, in the longer term it is not sustainable;
conversion should go ahead where it is necessary for the subsistence of local populations but should be limited to more eco-friendly agriculture e.g. coffee and spice plantations/polyculture/integrated agriculture which reduce the ecological value of the forest less than large scale monoculture. 

Conclusion should be a clear statement of whether the conversion should go ahead with supporting statements.
Award [7 max] if no clear conclusion regarding relative strengths or weaknesses.
Award [5 max] if only strengths or limitations discussed.

[8 max]

Expression of ideas [2 max]

If the candidate was able to identify a historical influence they usually handled it very well, but some very vague influences were mentioned.

Candidates rarely performed well in this question, they tried to determine species abundance or diversity but without much detail of how to do it, probably due to lack of teaching of ecological methods. Social factors were rarely addressed.

Most candidates answered this questioned successfully. Most could identify the loss in biodiversity and the strongest candidates discussed the vulnerability of TRF soils. Mostly in Q3, (a) & (c) were well answered.