Examine how human and physical factors can contribute to a low risk of river flooding.

Examine why it can be difficult to achieve stakeholder agreement over how best to manage one or more water resources.

Marks should be allocated according to the Paper 1 markbands (available under the "Your tests" tab > supplemental materials).

River flooding continues to cause serious human and environmental problems, especially in urban and densely populated rural areas. In order to reduce the impact, severity and frequency of flooding it is important that there should be an understanding of the physical and human causes of river flooding.

Possible applied themes (AO2) demonstrating knowledge and understanding (AO1):

Human factors that may contribute to low flood risk include: 

• flood mitigation schemes, such as structural changes to river systems, including levees, channel modification, dams and flood reservoirs
• land use planning and zoning; changes in land use, agricultural techniques and afforestation
• changes in land use and afforestation
• also important are factors such as weather forecasting and flood prediction.

Physical factors that may contribute to low flood risk include: • geology, including rock permeability

• relief, including slope steepness
• rainfall amounts and seasonality
• land use, including types of vegetation cover.

Good answers may be well structured (AO4) and may examine the relative importance (AO3) of the two sets of processes, or the interaction of the two sets of processes, or how influences may vary from place to place.

For 5–6 marks, expect some weakly evidenced outlining of how human and/or physical factors contribute to a low flood risk.

For 7–8 marks, expect a structured account that includes: 

• either an evidenced explanation of how human and physical factors (do not expect balance) contribute to a low flood risk
• or a discursive conclusion (or ongoing evaluation) grounded in geographical concepts and/or perspectives.

For 9–10 marks, expect both of these traits.

Marks should be allocated according to the Paper 1 markbands (available under the "Your tests" tab > supplemental materials).

As the quantity of water resources available to meet rising demands over time intensifies, and the quality of water degrades, there is increasing competition and possible conflict between water users. The rising demands include freshwater supplies from rivers, lakes and aquifers, fishing, irrigation and navigation. Many river basins cross political boundaries and there is a need for international agreements and cooperation to avoid possible conflicts over increasingly scarce resources.

Possible applied themes (AO2) demonstrating knowledge and understanding (AO1):

• Freshwater resources include rivers, lakes, reservoirs and aquifers.
• Many large river basins cross political boundaries, and there is potential conflict over the use of water resources.
• Increasing demands for water resources come from meeting the needs of water supply, fishing, agriculture, energy and navigation, and there is a potential for conflict between different stakeholders.
• There is a need for international treaties and agreements to resolve the potential conflicts.
• The different stakeholders involved in resolving possible conflicts include local populations, national governments and international associations like the UN, FAO and UNESCO.
• International agreements may also be important in water management, conservation and protection.

Good answers may be well structured (AO4) and may additionally offer a critical evaluation (AO3) of the roles and power of different stakeholders in relation to water management issues. Perspectives can differ so greatly that no consensus can be arrived at. Different stakeholders have unequal power, which means that some views are ignored. The scale and complexity of the issue affects outcomes.

For 5–6 marks, expect some weakly evidenced outlining of the management of one or more water resources.

For 7–8 marks, expect a structured account that includes: 

• either an evidenced explanation of the management of one or more water resources, and why it is difficult to get stakeholder agreement
• or a discursive conclusion (or ongoing evaluation) grounded in geographical concepts and/or perspectives.

For 9–10 marks, expect both of these traits.

There were some good responses showing understanding of human and physical factors. A few mis-interpreted the question by overlooking the words "low risk". Many answers would have benefitted from the use of examples or more detail of the processes involved.

Responses were often descriptive, with limited reference to stakeholder agreement. There was a limited range of examples; most focusing on the Nile and GERD. Many just wrote about everything they knew about this case study without referring to the question.