Human activity (CCEA)Positive effects

There is increasing evidence that the level of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere is rising. There is also evidence that humans are responsible for this rise.

Part ofCombined ScienceBiodiversity

Positive effects

The following table shows ways in which human activity can have positive effects on biodiversity.

Area of interestExample
Agriculture
  • Replanting hedgerows - provides habitats for plants and animals.
  • Managing for wildlife - provides habitats for plants and animals.
  • Using fertilisers efficiently - prevents overuse which can cause water pollution.
Land use and management
  • Reclaiming industrial sites - reusing these sites for housing prevents building on .
  • Using building sites - reusing these sites for housing prevents building on greenfields.
  • Planting sustainable woodlands - prevents deforestation of native woodland and still provides us with wood.
Seas (protecting fish stocks)
  • - reduce the number of fish caught.
  • Fishing bans - reduce the number of fish caught.
  • Restrictions on net size - reduce the number of fish caught. However, a larger mesh can also be used. This allows small, young fish to escape and breed.
Other strategies used to conserve fish stocks are fish sanctuaries and the decommissioning of boats.
Nature reservesNature reserves protect rare species and rare habitats. They are also used to educate the public about certain species and nature in general.
International treatiesInternational treaties are designed to combat global pollution. The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 and the Paris Agreement of 2015 are two examples.
Area of interestAgriculture
Example
  • Replanting hedgerows - provides habitats for plants and animals.
  • Managing for wildlife - provides habitats for plants and animals.
  • Using fertilisers efficiently - prevents overuse which can cause water pollution.
Area of interestLand use and management
Example
  • Reclaiming industrial sites - reusing these sites for housing prevents building on .
  • Using building sites - reusing these sites for housing prevents building on greenfields.
  • Planting sustainable woodlands - prevents deforestation of native woodland and still provides us with wood.
Area of interestSeas (protecting fish stocks)
Example
  • - reduce the number of fish caught.
  • Fishing bans - reduce the number of fish caught.
  • Restrictions on net size - reduce the number of fish caught. However, a larger mesh can also be used. This allows small, young fish to escape and breed.
Other strategies used to conserve fish stocks are fish sanctuaries and the decommissioning of boats.
Area of interestNature reserves
ExampleNature reserves protect rare species and rare habitats. They are also used to educate the public about certain species and nature in general.
Area of interestInternational treaties
ExampleInternational treaties are designed to combat global pollution. The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 and the Paris Agreement of 2015 are two examples.