Using Figure 2 and your own knowledge, identify the two correct statements about agricultural expansion in the Amazon rainforest.
Figure 2: Information about agricultural expansion in the Amazon rainforest
Large-scale cattle ranching and soy cultivation are primary drivers of deforestation in the Amazon basin, leading to extensive fragmentation of primary rainforests.
Research shows that approximately 70% of deforested land in the Amazon has been converted to pasture for cattle ranching, with Brazil being the world's leading exporter of beef.
Soy cultivation is expanding rapidly along the agricultural frontier, primarily to satisfy the global demand for animal feed rather than direct human consumption.
The cultivation of soy in the Amazon region is highly mechanised, requiring relatively little labour per hectare compared to traditional smallholder farming, but causing significant soil compaction and nutrient depletion.
Options:
A. The vast majority of cleared land in the Amazon has been converted into pastures for cattle.
B. Soy grown in the Amazon is primarily produced for direct human consumption in local markets.
C. Brazil is currently the global leader in exporting beef products.
D. Mechanised soy farming requires a highly dense labor force per hectare of land.
E. Cattle ranching causes less habitat fragmentation than traditional smallholder farming.
