| Date | May 2022 | Marks available | 2 | Reference code | 22M.1.SL.TZ0.5 |
| Level | Standard Level | Paper | Paper 1 | Time zone | Time zone 0 |
| Command term | Outline | Question number | 5 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Figure 7(a): Variation in forest cover in Costa Rica between 1940 and 2010
Outline reasons for the changes in the forested areas over the period shown in Figure 7(a).
Outline how the change in the area of forest cover since 1987 may contribute to the mitigation of climate change.
Markscheme
initial decrease/deforestation due to: [1 max]
land clearance for agriculture (growth of cash crops e.g. coffee/sugar/palm oil or for cattle);
logging for timber / demand for wood;
urban development / industrialization;
Note: Do not accept ‘fire caused deforestation / deforestation occurred because areas were not protected / lack of education’.
Do not accept only ‘need for land/resources’.
later increase/reforestation due to: [1 max]
forest was allowed to regenerate naturally;
plantations for timber production;
promotion of tree planting by PES;
ban on deforestation in 1996;
increase in reserve/protected areas;
carbon off-set schemes;
increased environmental awareness on importance of forested areas;
Note: Do not accept only deforestation/reforestation without reasons.
trees/plants absorb carbon dioxide / forest acts as a carbon sink/store;
Examiners report
There were some good responses for this question and many candidates were able to correctly identify a reason that led to deforestation between 1940-1987 and a reason for forestation after 1987. The most common error was to simply state that deforestation occurred without providing a reason for why.
Many responses correctly linked the increase in trees to an increase in carbon dioxide absorption or increase in the carbon sink. Although some students incorrectly deduced that there had been a loss of trees/forest in Costa Rica since 1987 which resulted in more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In addition, a significant number of students inappropriately focused on trees producing oxygen rather than the importance of trees absorbing carbon dioxide in order to mitigate climate change.
