YEAR 8 GEOGRAPHY ASSESSMENT
TROPICAL RAINFORESTS
‘
SHOULD THE BELO MONTE DAM BE
BUILT IN PARA, BRAZIL?’
Rainforests
5 Impacts (positive and negative) of the Belo Monte
Dam
4 Groups interested in Belo Monte Dam
3 countries where Rainforests are located.
2 reasons why the Rainforest should be protected.
1 line of latitude where most Rainforests are found.
Why is this
happening?
A recap of the issues:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KseAAIsJLQ
• What is going to happen?
• What will be the impacts on the
environment?
• What will be the impact on the people?
Task: to write a magazine article
exploring the issue.
An Introduction to the place and issue
Where is the proposed site of the dam?
What is the purpose of the dam?
The dam is located within the Amazon Rainforest - how does the ecosystem operate naturally (without human
interventions) e.g. food chains (especially think about specific things that would be disrupted by the
building of a dam)?
Why is the rainforest special and worthy of protection?
The views of the people / organisations in favour of the dam being built.
Give a range of different people’s opinions in favour of the dam
Why do they believe it is a good thing?
The views of the people / organisations against the dam being built
Give a range of different people’s opinions in opposition to the dam
Why do they believe it is a bad thing?
Consequences of the dam for the environment
What might the benefits of the dam be on the environment? E.g. renewable power
What might the negative consequences for the natural environment be? E.g. fish / river system, tropical rainforest,
flooding, water supply, National Parks.
Consider the sustainability of the scheme – in what ways could it be considered sustainable/unsustainable?
Do these environmental effects lead to any other consequences?
Your own view and reasons why you believe this.
Explain whether or not you think the dam should be built. You must justify your view (explain why you think that way).
If you disagree with the dam, what might a more sensible/sustainable solution be?
If you agree with it, is there anything you would change in the current plans to make it more sustainable (meeting the
needs of people and the environment into the future)?
How do we annotate pictures?
Level descriptors