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Year 7

The future of our forests

I can describe ways in which forests are being protected for the future.

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New
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Year 7

The future of our forests

I can describe ways in which forests are being protected for the future.

Download all resources
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Share activities with pupils
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These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Sustainable management of the forests is vital for the health of Earth and for future generations.
  2. Reforestation and afforestation schemes help absorb carbon dioxide and improve biodiversity.
  3. Agroforestry can help people farm more sustainably and reduce forest clearance.
  4. Stronger laws and the use of technology help to combat deforestation and illegal logging.

Keywords

  • Afforestation - introducing forest to land which has not been forested for a long time/ever

  • Reforestation - replanting of forest that has been lost

  • Agroforestry - trees, crops and/or livestock occupy the same land

  • Erosion - erosion is the process of Earth’s surface, e.g. rock or soil, being worn away and transported from its original site

  • Deforestation - deforestation is the complete removal of trees

Common misconception

The forests should be fenced off and guarded to stop illegal logging.

Forests span far too great an area for humans to guard or fence off. Therefore technology is used to help track forests and timber.


To help you plan your year 7 geography lesson on: The future of our forests, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

There is potential for students to use GIS further to investigate deforestation as homework.
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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.
What is a forest?
an ecosystem characterised by a dense community of grasses
Correct answer: an ecosystem characterised by a dense community of trees
an ecosystem characterised by very little vegetation
Q2.
What are the benefits of a forest?
Correct answer: habitats for plants and animals
they take up land where houses could be built
Correct answer: they provide wood as a raw material that we can use
they are ugly
Q3.
What is climate change?
Correct answer: long-term change in the average weather patterns
short-term changes in the weather
the rapid increase in Earth's temperature due to greenhouse gases
Q4.
are areas of the planet with a similar climate and landscape, where similar animals and plants live.
Correct Answer: Biomes
Q5.
Trees that lose their leaves in winter are .
Correct Answer: deciduous
Q6.
means doing something that will cause little or no damage to the environment and will be able to continue for a long period of time.
Correct Answer: Sustainability , sustainable

Exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
Match the key words to their description.
Correct Answer:deforestation,the complete removal of trees
tick

the complete removal of trees

Correct Answer:afforestation,planting trees where there have not been any for a long time/ever
tick

planting trees where there have not been any for a long time/ever

Correct Answer:reforestation,replanting a lost forest
tick

replanting a lost forest

Q2.
management maintains the environmental, economic and social functions of forests now and in the future.
Correct Answer: Sustainable
Q3.
How can technology help combat deforestation?
Correct answer: satellites and drones can use pictures to monitor the forest
Correct answer: sound detectors can monitor for chainsaw sounds and alert authorities
large fences can be built to keep people out of the forests
Q4.
What are the advantages of shelterbelt planting?
Correct answer: prevent erosion from soil being blown away by the wind
remove trees to make fields larger and easier to farm
Correct answer: protect fields of crops from the wind
plant trees to be harvested to build homes