Explain the role humans have played in the transformation of different landscapes. List the main threats to hot and temperate landscapes. Think. Has the landscape in your community been greatly modified? Explain your answer. K E Y Q U E S T I O N S Human modification of temperate landscapes Most of the population lives in temperate climate zones. In the most populated regions, natural landscapes have been greatly modified . This type of landscape has had a high population since ancient times due to its mild climate, fertile soils and abundant natural resources. For this reason , it is a greatly modified landscape. A good example of this is Western Europe, a densely populated region dominated by urban and industrial landscapes. Oceanic landscapes In the continental climate zones of the northern hemisphere, there are two characteristic landscapes: Meadows are large expanses of grass. This is a greatly modified landscape because it is densely populated and there are many cities, agricultural and livestock farms, etc. The taiga is a coniferous forest. It is located between the meadows to the south and the tundra to the north (the tundra is located around the Arctic Circle, where the low temperatures and frozen ground do not allow trees to grow). Until recently, the taiga was a predominantly natural landscape. However, it is currently threatened by acid rain and fires due to industrial development (12) and climate change. Continental landscapes This is a densely populated region and its landscape has been greatly modified by humans. (13) Most of the Mediterranean forest has disappeared and part of the remaining forest is severely degraded . This is due to high demographic pressure, the abandoning of rural areas, and fires and droughts. These are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. This situation is ver y serious because the Mediterranean region has the second highest concentration of biodiversity in the world . Mediterranean landscapes 13. Jounieh (Lebanon) 12. Gas exploration in the Siberian taiga (Russian Federation) 0
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