Chesterton Community College Geography Department

Cross Unit Task for OCR(B) GCSE Geography

Whose Rainforest? How should we use the Amazon Rainforest?

This coursework is worth 10% of your final mark at GCSE, so take it seriously!

You will need to

• explain why the Amazon Rainforest is an important natural resource

• describe how the Amazon Rainforest is being used at present and how this has
changed over time

• examine who benefits from these different uses of the rainforest

• discuss who benefits from the protection of the forest (think about local, national and
global scales – include issues such as global warming, global water cycle issues)

• choose different groups of people who hold opposing views on the use of the Amazon
Rainforest and explain how these groups justify their views (eg. Greenpeace, local
tribes such as the Jacuna, Brazilian Government, managers of the Avanca Brazil
project, managers of a logging company, owner of a hydroelectricity plant eg. Belo
Monte Hydroelectric Complex, Brazil’s economic minister, Brazil’s environment
minister, a wood importer or furniture manufacturer outside Brazil, residents,
tourists)

• consider whether there are ways that the resource of the Amazon Rainforest can be
both exploited and conserved so that the forest is managed in a sustainable way

Mark scheme

Level Mark What will your project look like?

Knowledge
2 3-4 You write in detail about a particular place and what is happening there.
1 1-2 You give some basic information about the place and what is happening there.

Understanding
2 3-4 You explain the impact of deforestation at lots of different scales: local, national and global.
You write about how deforestation affects people and places.
1 1-2 You show that you understand how deforestation affects people and places.

Application
2 3-4 You chose different groups of people and give their viewpoints about deforestation.
You explain why different people have different opinions. You show how their opinions
affect their lives. You also give your own opinions about deforestation.
1 1-2 You give the viewpoints of different groups of people and show how they affect their lives.

Skills
3 7-8 Your spelling, punctuation and grammar are perfect and you use lots of geographical words.
You use a wide variety of different materials and all the information you present is relevant.
You link your ideas together well and your writing has a sensible structure. You cover all the
main points in detail.
2 4-6 Your spelling, punctuation and grammar are very good and you use plenty of geographical
words. You use a variety of different materials - all the information you present is relevant.
The structure of your work is easy to follow. You cover all the main points.
1 1-3 Your spelling, punctuation and grammar are reasonable. You write in short paragraphs that
aren’t really linked together. You use some geographical words. You choose some different
materials, but you don’t cover the whole issue.
How can I present my project?

You may write an essay or make a poster. If you make a poster, it must be the size of a desk!
Make sure you read the mark scheme before you start your project – you can only be awarded high marks if
you write in detail and focus on the task in hand. You need to explain the issue fully, and present a variety of
viewpoints to score highly on this task.

This project is NOT about the structure of the rainforest! You must focus on how we should use the
rainforest - the arguments for and against economic development of the rainforest, and the ways in which
development can be managed in a sustainable manner.

What resources can I use?

This list is not exhaustive! It highlights some of the materials that are available within the classroom to
support you with your coursework.

Topic Textbook Pages

Farming in Brazil Wider World 82-83

Deforestation in the Amazon Basin Wider World 230-231

New Wider World 222-223
Foundation Wider World 186-187

Human use of the Tropical Rainforest Understanding GCSE Geography 96-97

Causes and effects of deforestation New Key Geography 118-119

Can development be sustainable? New Key Geography 120-121

What are we doing to the rainforests? Geog.2 52-53

Brazil’s natural riches Geog.2 102-103

The rainforest challenge Geog.2 118-119

Should the forests be saved? Earthworks 2 20-21

What is happening to the Amazon Rainforest? Places 28-29

Can development be sustainable? Places 36-37

Destroying the rainforest Geography for Avery Hill 40-41

You should also use the blog to help you: www.worldlywise.blogspot.com

You will be given a photocopy of a decision making exercise based upon the Amazon Rainforest. It includes
information about the following topics:

• Why is the Tropical Rainforest so valuable?

• Who exploits the Tropical Rainforest?
• How does economic activity exploit it?
• How does modern exploitation affect it?
• How does exploitation affect local people?
• What is sustainability?
• How should the Tropical Rainforest be managed?

Your project must be handed in on 14th December. It must be handed in on paper, not electronically.