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Year 7

Protecting the tropical rainforest

I can describe how tropical rainforests can be protected using the example of Costa Rica.

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New
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Year 7

Protecting the tropical rainforest

I can describe how tropical rainforests can be protected using the example of Costa Rica.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Costa Rica is a small country in central America which once experienced the highest rate of deforestation in the world.
  2. Costa Rica was the first tropical country in the world to reverse deforestation.
  3. Wildlife corridors enable species such as the jaguar to move through the rainforest undetected.
  4. National parks, selective logging, small-scale agroforestry and ecotourism have protected the rainforest.

Keywords

  • Biodiversity - all the living things in an ecosystem or area

  • Deforestation - the complete removal of trees

  • Habitat - the natural home or environment of an animal, plant or other organism

  • Land use - the function or purpose of a particular area

Common misconception

Stopping deforestation just means preventing the felling of trees.

There are many approaches to preventing and even reversing deforestation not just one, for example national parks, selective logging, small-scale agroforestry and ecotourism.


To help you plan your year 7 geography lesson on: Protecting the tropical rainforest, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

There is the potential to use GIS to compare forested area over time.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Select the best definition for biodiversity.
all the non-living things in an ecosystem or area
Correct answer: all the living things in an ecosystem or area
some of the living things in an ecosystem or area
all the living animals in an ecosystem or area
Q2.
Name the keyword defined here: "the complete removal of trees from an area".
Correct Answer: deforestation, Deforestation
Q3.
What is the word for the natural home or environment of an animal, plant or other organism?
Correct Answer: habitat, Habitat
Q4.
Select the best definition of land use.
Correct answer: the function or purpose of a particular area
whether the area is rural or urban
whether the area is used for farming or houses, nothing else
when the land is used for building by humans
Q5.
Where are tropical rainforests located?
Correct answer: in the tropical climate zone
in the temperate climate zone
on and around the Arctic circle
Correct answer: on and around the Equator, between the tropics
Q6.
Which statements best describe tropical rainforests?
Correct answer: Tropical rainforests are home to millions of species; plants, animals, insects.
Correct answer: Tropical rainforests are hot and wet.
Tropical rainforests are cold and wet.
Tropical rainforests are home to many plants but few animals.

Exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
Name the first country in the world to reverse deforestation.
Correct Answer: Costa Rica
Q2.
What is the correct description of wildlife corridors?
Wildlife corridors enable people to move through the rainforest undetected.
Wildlife corridors are strips of land where trees are removed.
Correct answer: Wildlife corridors enable species to move through the forest undetected.
Wildlife corridors are strips of land with only one species of tree.
Q3.
Which of the following describe selective logging?
The least valuable trees are felled.
In one small area, all trees are felled.
Correct answer: Only individual trees are carefully felled if they are valuable enough to sell.
Correct answer: Trees are sometimes pulled out of the forest by buffalo, so no roads are needed.
Q4.
Which of the following are activities linked to ecotourism?
Correct answer: Learning about the local environment and how to protect it.
Correct answer: Tourists may take part in activities such as tree planting.
Correct answer: The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has a canopy walk.
Hotels want to keep guests happy by washing the towels every day.