Urban and Rural Environments

Managing Human Environments

Is a big topic and is usually studied at AS Level. Personally I feel this topic is a nicer medium to the Rivers and Coasts module, which is usually studied before hand.

You will start out learning the basics most probably, such as the terminology, which is essential when studying for your A-Levels. You must understand this to do well in your exams. GCSE's are there to test your general secondary school knowledge. A levels are there as a selection process for university. They sort the wheat from the chaff if you get my drift.

There are a lot of good case studies in which you could use for this topic of which I am going to share with you now so as I can show you how to incorporate them into an answer.

Rural Case Studies

Peak District

Footpath erosion is being managed by placing paving stones down in areas where the soil erosion and land scar is at its worst. Areas whereby the biodiversity of the natural landscape is likely to ruined if nothing is actually done about it. However, there are positives and negatives to this form of management. The usual issue which the examiners love you to bring up which is sustainability. So (Are these paving slabs sustainable methods of management?) Well as it is A level, and you have to evaluate (Weigh up the pros and the cons) you must therefore look at both sides of the story.

Advantages

1. These paving slabs are likely to reduce soil erosion, therefore reducing land scaring - This in turn protects biodiversity - encourages the growth of the traditional flora (Plants) – Brings us back to a sustainable environment.
2. They provide walkways for tourists so as they do not get lost in the hills.
3. The hills have more of an access to older generations, who aren’t as steady on their feet as they may want to be.

Disadvantages

1. The paving slabs are not very aesthetically pleasing (Could discourage walkers).
2. Some walkers may think that it ruins their right to roam around the countryside.
3. Paving slabs can become very slippery in damp environments.
4. The process of laying the slabs could be very expensive.
5. All in all in ruins the natural landscape, the reason why tourists go there to walk is because it is a beautiful place to be. If it is no longer beautiful then will they continue to go there?

The above just gives you a good example of exactly how you should look at a question, and how you should really get down to the nitty gritty of a case study.

Examiners Tip

There is always one thing you should always remember about the examiner. And this is that they like to be amazed. You have to remember that they don’t actually have to know where the place is you are talking about. Obviously it has to be a real geographical place, but an example could be ‘The Dja Faunal reserve’ in Cameroon (A wilderness case study which we will look at a later date.) However, the point I am getting at is, if they see a case study that hasn’t been used before, and you have gone into detail about it then they are more likely to give you higher marks.

More Rural Case Studies

MEDC - More economically developed country

• Peak District – Sheep Farming (Look up: Heafing)
• Lake District (Cumbria) (Second Home ownership)
• Rural France (Second Home Ownership)
• Rural Urban fringe of (Cambridge) - Impact of Silicon Fen.
• Indiana USA – Rural Deprivation of water

LEDC - Less economically developed country

• Soya Plantations (Argentina)
• Decertification of the Sahel
• Banana Plantations – Costa Rica
• Banana Plantations – Caribbean

Urban Case Studies

Urban is another big part of this paper. You must always remember to look at these environments as being divided up socially, economically AND environmentally and there is our old friend again sustainability.

The urban environments are always good to look at when we need to talk about the movement of people.

Terms

• Inward Migration - Rural to Urban Migration
• Outward Migration - Urban to rural migration
• Greenfield Sites - Never been built on
• Green Belt sites - Not allowed to be built on Government protected
• Brownfield Sites - Old redeveloped sites
• Urban depravation - Places that are deprived of investment
• Inward Investment - Business often runs business investment as a very important part of urban regeneration.

A good case study for inward investment and urban regeneration would be looking at the development of the Whitbread Brewery in Cheltenham from a brown field site to a multiplex cinema with car parks and shops. You have to remember though. The more areas are regenerated, the more likely they are to attract inward investment.

Urban case studies

MEDC - More economically developed country

• Glasgow (Scotland) – Urban Regeneration
• New York (USA) - Urban Regeneration
• London – Urban Degradation
• Easton and St Paul’s Bristol – Urban degradation due to black market (Drugs etc)

LEDC - Less economically developed country

• Bombay India – Mahila Milan
• Philippines – Manila
• Brazil – Brasilia
• Rio de Janeiro

Examples of the important three factors

This all leads to sustainability - Does a plan meet the needs of the people now without jeopardising the needs of the future generations.

There will be more articles on topics of geography in your syllabus. Ranging from GCSE – AS – A2.

Written by: Stuart Leaver

cool name, geography_man