How are ecosystems used by people? (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Geography B): Revision Note

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The notes on this page cover part 3.2.1 of the WJEC Eduqas GCSE B Geography.

3.2.1 - How are ecosystems used by people?

• An overview of how humans use, modify and change ecosystems and environments in order to obtain food, energy and water resources.

Human use of ecosystems

• Human exploitation of ecosystems has changed them over time

  • There are very few ecosystems which remain untouched by humans

• All ecosystems provide goods and services. Some of the most significant are:

  • Climate and air quality regulation

  • Water supply and recycling

  • Food

  • Leisure and recreation

  • Soil fertility and plant growth

• These are all essential for humans, plants and animals

• Ecosystems must be conserved to ensure that these benefits are sustainable for future generations

• Other benefits provided by ecosystems include:

  • Medicines

  • Biochemicals

  • Employment

  • Education

  • Genetic diversity

  • Building materials

  • Aesthetic value

• Human use of ecosystems has significant impacts

Human modifications of ecosystems

Food and agriculture

• Agriculture (farming) is one of the main uses of the world's ecosystems

• The world population is now over 8 billion, which has increased the demand for food

• Large areas of land are cleared to provide space for grazing livestock and growing crops

  • This can increase deforestation, which leads to soil erosion and may lead to desertification

  • Overcultivation and overgrazing lead to a loss of vegetation and soil fertility

• Large-scale crop growth often involves the use of pesticides and fertilisers

  • These leach into the water systems, impacting the aquatic life

    • Excess fertilisers lead to eutrophication

• One example of the impact of agriculture is the production of palm oil

  • Palm oil plantations are monocultures

  • This type of agriculture leads to a rapid decrease in biodiversity

• Malaysia and Indonesia produce 80% of the world's palm oil

  • In Malaysia, it is estimated that palm oil production is responsible for 60% of the rainforest destruction

• The destruction of rainforests in these areas has led to habitat loss for many endangered plant and animal species, including:

  • Orangutans

  • Sumatran tigers

  • Rhinos

• The loss of the rainforest can also impact the local climate, leading to a reduction in rainfall due to the decrease in transpiration

Energy

• To obtain energy, humans have exploited ecosystems in several ways

• Coal, oil and gas are obtained by drilling and mining, which leads to the destruction of habitats

  • The burning of these fossil fuels then releases greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming and climate change

• As countries reduce their reliance on non-renewable energy sources, the use of renewable energy sources increases

  • These also modify the ecosystems, but reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases

• The production of hydropower requires the construction of dams and reservoirs

  • The construction of these:

    • Floods habitats

    • Impacts on the river flow downstream

    • Affects sediment movement

• The use of solar panels has increased, a 33% growth between 2023 to 2024

  • In 2025, approval was granted for a UK solar farm in Lincolnshire

    • It will generate electricity for 300,000 homes

  • There are concerns regarding habitat loss during installation

  • The land may still be used for grazing

  • Wildlife may return, leading to increased biodiversity

• Wind farm construction has also increased

  • Effects on the ecosystems include:

    • Bird migration paths are affected

    • Bats are confused

    • Offshore turbines impact the marine life on the seabed

    • Visual impact in rural areas

Water

• Humans have always abstracted water from sources within the ecosystems, including:

  • Rivers and lakes

  • Aquifers

• The abstraction of water reduces discharge in rivers, which leads to the loss of habitats both in the river and in related ecosystems

  • This leads to decreased biodiversity

• Reduced water quality because there is less to dilute any pollutants, such as fertilisers and pesticides

• Abstraction of water at a faster rate than recharge can lead the groundwater level to fall

• Over-abstraction in coastal areas can lead to saltwater intrusion, where seawater flows into the areas previously filled with groundwater

  • This contaminates the freshwater, making it unusable