Settlements

Deforestation is the permanent removal of forests to use the land for other purposes. It is happening fastest in tropical rainforests and is a major driver of biodiversity loss, soil erosion, and climate change.

Human activities create a range of environmental problems — from pollution and waste to habitat destruction and resource depletion. Tackling these issues requires action at individual, national, and global levels.

Farming is the world's largest land use, covering about 50% of Earth's habitable land. Different farming systems — arable, pastoral, subsistence, commercial — reflect different environments, resources, and technologies. Land use decisions profoundly affect food security and the environment.

Migration is the movement of people from one place to another to live. Push factors drive people away from a place, while pull factors attract them to a new one. Migration can be within a country or across international borders.

Natural resources are materials from the natural world that humans use. Some can be renewed; others will eventually run out. Where resources are found has a powerful influence on where people settle and how they make a living.

Population density measures how many people live in a given area. Some places on Earth are packed with millions of people per square kilometre, while others are almost completely empty — and geography helps explain why.

Settlements range from tiny hamlets to huge cities, and each type differs in population size, the services it offers, and the functions it performs.

Tourism is one of the world's largest industries, with over 1.4 billion international trips per year before the COVID-19 pandemic. It generates income and jobs but can also cause environmental damage and cultural change in destination areas.

Trade is the exchange of goods and services between countries. Globalisation has linked the world's economies together, making countries interdependent. Trade creates wealth but can also widen inequalities between countries.

Urban areas are towns and cities where most people live and work in built-up environments, while rural areas are the countryside where land is used mainly for farming and fewer people live. Understanding the differences between them helps explain how people use land and resources.