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EM Syllabus Content

The Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 syllabus for 2022-2024 covers nine key topics including rocks, energy, agriculture, water management, and ecosystems, aimed at understanding natural and human environments. Assessment consists of two papers, each contributing 50% to the final grade, with objectives focusing on knowledge, information handling, and investigation skills. The syllabus emphasizes flexibility in teaching, allowing for case studies and context-specific examples to enhance learning.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
9 views

EM Syllabus Content

The Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 syllabus for 2022-2024 covers nine key topics including rocks, energy, agriculture, water management, and ecosystems, aimed at understanding natural and human environments. Assessment consists of two papers, each contributing 50% to the final grade, with objectives focusing on knowledge, information handling, and investigation skills. The syllabus emphasizes flexibility in teaching, allowing for case studies and context-specific examples to enhance learning.

Uploaded by

renwhaley
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 18

Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 syllabus for 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Syllabus overview

Content overview
The syllabus is divided into nine topics which have been designed to develop an understanding of both the natural
and the human environment:
1 Rocks and minerals and their exploitation
2 Energy and the environment
3 Agriculture and the environment
4 Water and its management
5 Oceans and fisheries
6 Managing natural hazards
7 The atmosphere and human activities
8 Human population
9 Natural ecosystems and human activities.

Assessment overview
All candidates take two papers. Candidates will be eligible for grades A* to G.

All candidates take: and:

Paper 1 1 hour 45 minutes Paper 2 1 hour 45 minutes


Theory 50% Management in context 50%
80 marks 80 marks
Section A: short and structured questions Short, and extended response questions based
on source material
– 20 marks
Externally assessed
Section B: short-answer and extended
response questions based on source material
– 60 marks

Externally assessed

Information on availability is in the Before you start section.

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Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 syllabus for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Syllabus overview

Assessment objectives
The assessment objectives (AOs) are:

AO1 Knowledge and understanding

Candidates should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding, in familiar and unfamiliar contexts, of:
•• phenomena, facts, definitions, concepts and theories
•• vocabulary, terminology and conventions
•• technological applications with their social, economic and environmental implications.

AO2 Information handling and analysis

Candidates should be able, in words or using other forms of presentation (e.g. graphical or numerical), in familiar
and unfamiliar contexts, to:
•• locate, select, organise and present information from a variety of sources
•• translate information and evidence from one form to another
•• manipulate numerical data
•• interpret and evaluate data, report trends and draw inferences.

AO3 Investigation skills and making judgements

Candidates should be able, in familiar and unfamiliar contexts, to:


•• plan investigations
•• identify limitations of methods and suggest possible improvements
•• present reasoned explanations for phenomena, patterns and relationships
•• make reasoned judgements and reach conclusions based on qualitative and quantitative information.

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Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 syllabus for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Syllabus overview

Weighting for assessment objectives


The approximate weightings allocated to each of the assessment objectives (AOs) are summarised below.

Assessment objectives as a percentage of the qualification

Assessment objective Weighting in IGCSE %

AO1 Knowledge and understanding 40

AO2 Information handling and analysis 35

AO3 Investigation skills and making judgements 25

Total 100

Assessment objectives as a percentage of each component

Assessment objective Weighting in components %

Paper 1 Paper 2

AO1 Knowledge and understanding 40 40

AO2 Information handling and analysis 40 30

AO3 Investigation skills and making judgements 20 30

Total 100 100

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Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 syllabus for 2022, 2023 and 2024.

3 Subject content

This syllabus gives you the flexibility to design a course that will interest, challenge and engage your learners.
Where appropriate you are responsible for selecting suitable subject contexts, resources and examples to support
your learners’ study. These should be appropriate for the learners’ age, cultural background and learning context as
well as complying with your school policies and local legal requirements.

Case studies
The curriculum gives teachers the opportunity to select their own case studies to illustrate the content.

Teachers should select appropriate examples where specified. The same case study can be used to illustrate more
than one topic as long as it gives candidates the opportunity to study an example of appropriate content.

Candidates are encouraged to integrate appropriate information from their case studies into their answers.

Expected knowledge
Candidates should be able to identify and name the world’s continents and oceans:
•• Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America
•• Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arctic Ocean and Southern Ocean.

1 Rocks and minerals and their exploitation


1.1 Formation of rocks
Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and interpret the rock cycle
•• state and explain the formation and •• igneous: granite and basalt
characteristics of named igneous, sedimentary •• sedimentary: limestone, sandstone and shale
and metamorphic rocks
•• metamorphic: marble and slate

1.2 Extraction of rocks and minerals from the Earth


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe the following methods of extraction of
rocks and minerals from the Earth:
– surface mining •• opencast / open-pit / open-cut / strip mining
– subsurface mining •• deep mining / shaft mining
•• discuss the factors that affect the decision to •• exploration
extract rocks and minerals •• geology
•• accessibility
•• environmental impact assessment
•• supply and demand

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Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 syllabus for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Subject content

1.3 Impact of rock and mineral extraction


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain the environmental, •• loss of habitat
economic and social impacts of rock and mineral •• noise, water, land, air, visual pollution
extraction
•• management of waste
•• employment opportunities
•• improvements in local / national economy
•• improvements in facilities and infrastructure

1.4 Managing the impact of rock and mineral extraction


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and evaluate strategies for restoring •• safe disposal of mining waste
landscapes damaged by rock and mineral •• land restoration: soil improvement,
extraction bioremediation, tree planting
•• making lakes and nature reserves
•• using as landfill sites

1.5 Sustainable use of rocks and minerals


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• define sustainable resource and sustainable
development
•• describe and evaluate strategies for the •• increased efficiency of the extraction of rocks and
sustainable use of rocks and minerals minerals
•• increased efficiency of the use of rocks and
minerals
•• the need to recycle rocks and minerals
•• legislation
Case study:
•• Study the development, impact and management of a mine including land restoration after the mine has
closed.

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Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 syllabus for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Subject content

2 Energy and the environment


2.1 Fossil fuel formation
Candidates should be able to:
•• describe the formation of the fossil fuels: coal, oil
and gas

2.2 Energy resources and the generation of electricity


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• classify the following energy resources as non- •• non-renewable: fossil fuels, nuclear power using
renewable or renewable: uranium
•• fossil fuels, nuclear power, biofuels, geothermal •• renewable: biofuels (bioethanol, biogas and
power, hydro-electric power, tidal power, wood), geothermal power, hydro-electric power,
wave power, solar power, wind power tidal power, wave power, solar power, wind
•• describe how each of these energy resources is power
used to generate electricity
•• describe the environmental, economic and social
advantages and disadvantages of each of these
energy resources

2.3 Energy demand


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain the factors affecting the •• domestic demand
demand for energy •• industrial demand
•• transport
•• personal and national wealth
•• climate

2.4 Conservation and management of energy resources


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain strategies for the efficient •• reducing consumption, such as using insulation,
management of energy resources turning electrical devices off and using energy
efficient devices and vehicles
•• energy from waste cooking oil
•• exploiting existing energy sources
•• education of people for energy conservation
•• transport policies
•• research and development of new energy •• fracking
resources

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Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 syllabus for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Subject content

2.5 Impact of oil pollution


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe the causes and impacts of oil pollution •• causes: off-shore oil extraction, pipelines and
on marine and coastal ecosystems shipping
•• impacts on ecosystems: birds, marine mammals,
coral reefs, beaches

2.6 Management of oil pollution


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• discuss strategies for reducing oil spills in marine •• MARPOL (International Convention for the
and coastal ecosystems Prevention of Pollution from Ships)
•• double-hulled oil tankers
•• discuss strategies for minimising the impacts of •• dealing with oil spills (booms, detergent sprays,
oil spills on the marine and coastal ecosystems skimmers)
Case study:
•• Study the impact and management of an oil pollution event.

3 Agriculture and the environment


3.1 Soil composition
Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain the composition of soils •• composition: mineral particles, organic content
(living plants, animals, microorganisms and their
dead remains), air and water
•• particle size: sand, silt, clay

3.2 Soils for plant growth


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe soils as a medium for plant growth •• mineral ion:
•• nitrogen as nitrate ions (NO3–), phosphorus as
phosphate ions (PO43–), potassium as potassium
ions (K+)
•• organic content
•• pH
•• describe the differences between a sandy and •• air content
clay soil •• water content
•• drainage
•• ease of cultivation

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Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 syllabus for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Subject content

3.3 Agriculture types


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe the different types of agriculture •• arable, pastoral and mixed
•• subsistence and commercial

3.4 Increasing agricultural yields


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe techniques used to increase agricultural •• rotation
yields •• fertilisers
•• irrigation
•• insect control (insecticide and biological
control), weed control (herbicide), fungi control
(fungicide)
•• mechanisation
•• selective breeding of animals and plants
•• genetically modified organisms
•• controlled environments: greenhouses and
hydroponics

3.5 Impact of agriculture


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain the impact of agricultural •• overuse of insecticides and herbicides
practices on the environment and people •• overuse of fertilisers
•• mismanagement of irrigation causing salinisation
and waterlogging
•• overproduction and waste
•• exhaustion of mineral ion content
•• soil erosion
•• cash crops replacing food crops

3.6 Causes and impacts of soil erosion


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe the causes of soil erosion •• removal of natural vegetation by over cultivation
and overgrazing
•• water and wind erosion
•• describe and explain the impacts of soil erosion •• loss of habitats
•• desertification
•• silting of rivers
•• displacement of people
•• malnutrition and famine

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Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 syllabus for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Subject content

3.7 Managing soil erosion


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain strategies to reduce soil •• terracing
erosion •• contour ploughing
•• bunds
•• wind breaks
•• maintaining vegetation cover
•• addition of organic matter to improve soil
structure
•• planting trees, mixed cropping, intercropping and
crop rotation

3.8 Sustainable agriculture


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain strategies for sustainable •• organic fertiliser (crop residue, manure)
agriculture •• managed grazing (livestock rotation)
•• crop rotation
•• use of pest resistant and drought resistant
varieties of crops
•• trickle drip irrigation
•• rainwater harvesting
Case study:
•• Study an example where agriculture has had severe environmental consequences including soil erosion and
strategies for the conservation of the soil.

4 Water and its management


4.1 Global water distribution
Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe the distribution of the Earth’s water •• oceans
•• fresh water: ice sheets and glaciers, ground water,
atmosphere, lakes and rivers

4.2 The water cycle


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and interpret the water cycle •• precipitation, surface run-off, interception,
infiltration, through-flow, ground water flow,
transpiration, evaporation and condensation

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Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 syllabus for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Subject content

4.3 Water supply


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe the sources of fresh water used by •• aquifers, wells, rivers, reservoirs, desalination
people plants

4.4 Water usage


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe the different ways in which fresh water •• domestic, industrial, agricultural
can be used

4.5 Water quality and availability


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• compare the availability of safe drinking water •• between water-rich and water-poor regions and
(potable water) in different parts of the world the potential for water conflict
•• access to safe drinking water in urban and rural
areas

4.6 Multipurpose dam projects


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and evaluate multipurpose dam projects •• choice of site
•• environmental, economic and social impacts
•• sustainability

4.7 Water pollution and its sources


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe the sources of water pollution •• domestic waste, including sewage from urban
and rural settlements
•• industrial processes
•• agricultural practices

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Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 syllabus for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Subject content

4.8 Impact of water pollution


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain the impact of pollution of •• global inequalities in sewage and water
fresh water on people and on the environment treatment
•• risk of infectious bacterial diseases, typhoid and
cholera
•• accumulation of toxic substances from industrial
processes in lakes and rivers
•• bioaccumulation of toxic substances in food
chains
•• the effect of acid rain on organisms in rivers and
lakes
•• nutrient enrichment leading to eutrophication

4.9 Managing pollution of fresh water


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain strategies for improving •• improved sanitation
water quality •• treatment of sewage
•• pollution control and legislation

4.10 Managing water-related disease


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe the life cycle of the malaria parasite
•• describe and evaluate strategies to control •• antimalarial drugs, vector control, eradication
malaria
•• describe strategies to control cholera •• safe drinking water (potable water) supply
•• boiling and chlorination
Case studies:
•• Study the impact of a named multipurpose dam scheme.
•• Study the causes, impact and management of pollution in a named body of water.

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Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 syllabus for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Subject content

5 Oceans and fisheries


5.1 Oceans as a resource
Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• outline the resource potential of the oceans •• food, chemicals, building materials
•• wave / tidal energy
•• tourism
•• transport
•• potential for safe drinking water

5.2 World fisheries


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• outline the distribution of major ocean currents •• identify the position of major cold and warm
ocean currents (names are not required)
•• explain the distribution of major marine fish •• shallow water of continental shelves
populations •• cold and warm ocean currents

•• describe the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)


phenomenon and its effects on fisheries along
the Pacific coast of South America

5.3 Impact of exploitation of the oceans


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain the impact of exploitation of •• overfishing of marine species
fisheries •• effect on target and bycatch species
•• describe how farming of marine species reduces
the exploitation of fisheries

5.4 Management of the harvesting of marine species


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe, explain and evaluate strategies for •• net types and mesh size
management of the harvesting of marine species •• other species-specific methods: pole and line
•• quotas
•• closed seasons
•• protected areas and reserves
•• conservation laws
•• international agreements (implementation and
monitoring)
Case studies:
•• Study the resource potential, exploitation, impact and management of a marine fishery.
•• Study an example of farming of marine species, including the source of food, pollution from waste and
impact on the natural habitat.

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Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 syllabus for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Subject content

6 Managing natural hazards


6.1 Earthquakes and volcanoes
Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe the structure of the Earth •• crust, mantle and core
•• describe and explain the distribution and causes •• global pattern and structure of plates
of earthquakes and volcanoes •• plate movement: constructive, destructive and
conservative
•• understand magnitude and the Richter scale

6.2 Tropical cyclones


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain the distribution and causes •• between 5° and 20° north and south of the
of tropical cyclones (storms, hurricanes and Equator, ocean surface temperature of at least
typhoons) 27 °C and ocean depth of at least 60 m

6.3 Flooding
Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain the causes of flooding •• heavy rainfall, prolonged rainfall, snowmelt
•• land relief
•• saturated soil, compacted soil
•• deforestation, cultivation and urbanisation
•• storm surges, tsunamis
•• rise in sea level through climate change

6.4 Drought
Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain the causes of drought •• lack of rain caused by prolonged high pressure
•• effect of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
and La Niña on ocean temperatures and
evaporation
•• effect of climate change

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Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 syllabus for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Subject content

6.5 The impacts of natural hazards


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain the impacts of natural •• tectonic events: damage to buildings and
hazards on people and the environment infrastructure, fire, tsunamis, landslides, loss of
farmland and habitats, water-related disease, loss
of life, trauma, financial losses
•• tropical cyclones: flooding, loss of life, financial
losses, damage to buildings and infrastructure,
loss of crops and habitats, water-related disease
•• flooding: loss of life, loss of livestock, loss of
crops, damage to buildings and infrastructure,
contamination of drinking water supplies, water-
related disease, financial losses
•• drought: death of organisms, water sources dry
up, decline in crop yields, starvation, increased
soil erosion, desertification, decrease in air
quality, increased risk of wildfires

6.6 Managing the impacts of natural hazards


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and evaluate the strategies for managing •• tectonic: monitoring and warning, land
the impacts of natural hazards before, during and use zoning, structure of buildings, disaster
after an event preparation (plans, drills, emergency supplies and
emergency rescue teams), evacuation, rebuilding
of damaged areas, international aid
•• tropical cyclones: monitoring and warning,
structure of buildings, disaster preparation
(plans, drills, emergency supplies and emergency
rescue teams), evacuation, emergency shelters,
rebuilding of damaged areas, international aid
•• flooding: monitoring and warning, use of storm
hydrographs (run-off, through-flow, ground
water flow), shelters, rescue, rebuilding of
damaged areas, flood management techniques
•• drought: monitoring, emergency water supplies,
water conservation, increase water supply (dams
and reservoirs, wells, use of aquifers, water
transfer, desalination, rainwater harvesting),
international aid

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Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 syllabus for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Subject content

6.7 Opportunities presented by natural hazards


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain the opportunities presented •• flooding: deposition of silt on farmland
by natural hazards to people •• volcanoes: fertile soils, extraction of minerals,
geothermal energy resources
Case studies:
•• Compare and contrast the strategies for managing the impacts of tectonic events between a named more
economically developed country (MEDC) and a named less economically developed country (LEDC).
•• Study the strategies for managing the impacts of a tropical storm or flood or drought.

7 The atmosphere and human activities


7.1 The atmosphere
Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe the structure and composition of the •• troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere,
atmosphere thermosphere
•• nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, argon, water
vapour
•• the ozone layer
•• describe the natural greenhouse effect

7.2 Atmospheric pollution and its causes


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain the causes of atmospheric •• smog: volatile organic compounds (from
pollution, with reference to: industrial processes), vehicle emissions, impact of
– smog temperature inversion
– acid rain •• acid rain: sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen
– ozone layer depletion •• ozone layer depletion: action of
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
– enhanced greenhouse effect
•• enhanced greenhouse effect: greenhouse gases
(carbon dioxide, water vapour and methane)

7.3 Impact of atmospheric pollution


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain the impact of atmospheric •• smog: effects on human health
pollution •• acid rain: acidification of bodies of water, effects
on fish populations, damage to crops and
vegetation, damage to buildings
•• ozone depletion: higher levels of ultraviolet
radiation reaching the Earth’s surface, increased
rates of skin cancer and cataracts, damage to
vegetation
•• climate change: melting of ice sheets, glaciers
and permafrost; rise of sea-level; flooding and
loss of land; forced migration

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Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 syllabus for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Subject content

7.4 Managing atmospheric pollution


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain the strategies used by •• reduction of carbon footprint
individuals, governments and the international •• reduced use of fossil fuels
community to reduce the effects of atmospheric
•• energy efficiency
pollution
•• carbon capture and storage
•• transport policies
•• international agreement and policies
•• CFC replacement
•• catalytic converters
•• flue-gas desulfurisation
•• taxation
•• reforestation and afforestation
Case study:
•• Study the causes, impact and management of a specific example of atmospheric pollution.

8 Human population
8.1 Human population distribution and density
Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• identify where people live in the world •• population density
•• population distribution

8.2 Changes in population size


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain the growth curve of •• lag, exponential (log), carrying capacity
populations •• birth and death rates
•• describe and explain the changes in human •• factors affecting birth and death rates
populations
•• factors affecting migration

8.3 Population structure


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe population structure in MEDCs and •• population pyramids
LEDCs

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Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 syllabus for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Subject content

8.4 Managing human population size


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• evaluate strategies for managing human •• family planning
population size •• improved health and education
•• national population policies – pronatalist or
antinatalist
Case study:
•• Study the strategies a named country or region has used to manage population size.

9 Natural ecosystems and human activities


9.1 Ecosystems
Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• define the terms ecosystem, population,
community, habitat and niche
•• describe the biotic (living) and abiotic (non- •• biotic: producers, primary, secondary and tertiary
living) components of an ecosystem consumers, decomposers
•• abiotic: temperature, humidity, water, oxygen,
salinity, light, pH
•• describe biotic interactions •• competition, predation and pollination
•• describe the process of photosynthesis •• state the word equation and the importance of
chlorophyll
•• describe energy flow using food chains, food
webs and trophic levels
•• describe and explain ecological pyramids based
on numbers and energy
•• describe the process of respiration •• state the word equation
•• describe the carbon cycle

9.2 Ecosystems under threat


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain causes and impacts of •• causes: the drainage of wetlands, intensive
habitat loss agricultural practices, deforestation
•• impacts: loss of biodiversity and genetic
depletion, extinction

9.3 Deforestation
Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain the causes and impacts of •• causes: timber extraction and logging,
deforestation subsistence and commercial farming, roads and
settlements, rock and mineral extraction
•• impacts: habitat loss, soil erosion and
desertification, climate change, loss of
biodiversity and genetic depletion

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Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 syllabus for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Subject content

9.4 Managing forests


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and explain the need for the sustainable •• growing forests act as carbon sinks and mature
management of forests forests act as carbon stores
•• role in water cycle
•• prevention of soil erosion
•• biodiversity as a genetic resource
•• food, medicine and industrial raw materials
•• ecotourism

9.5 Measuring and managing biodiversity


Candidates should be able to: Further guidance and exemplification:
•• describe and evaluate methods for estimating •• pitfall traps, pooters, quadrats and transects
biodiversity •• random and systematic sampling

•• apply sampling techniques to unfamiliar


situations
•• evaluate national and international strategies for •• sustainable harvesting of wild plant and animal
conserving the biodiversity and genetic resources species
of natural ecosystems •• sustainable forestry / agroforestry
•• national parks, wildlife / ecological reserves and
corridors
•• extractive reserves
•• world biosphere reserves
•• seed banks
•• role of zoos and captive breeding
•• sustainable tourism and ecotourism
Case studies:
•• Study the causes and impacts of deforestation in a named area.
•• Study the conservation of a named species.
•• Study a named biosphere reserve.

Gathering of data
Candidates should be able to:
•• formulate aims and hypotheses
•• design questionnaires that can be oral or written to gain information from an individual or a group of
individuals (consideration should be given to factors influencing the successful design of questionnaires, e.g.
layout, format of questions, the appropriate wording of questions and the number of questions. The practical
considerations of conducting a questionnaire, e.g. the sampling methods, pilot survey and location of survey
should also be discussed)
•• design a simple experiment using suitable controls
•• understand and evaluate random and systematic sampling techniques.

Back to contents page www.cambridgeinternational.org/igcse 23

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