Question

Loss of the Gocha mangrove forests has caused coastal erosion, reducing fish populations and requiring the Gocha Fishing Cooperative (GFC) to partially fund dredging and new shore facilities. However, as part of its subsidiary businesses, the GFC has now invested in a program to replant significant parts of the coast with mangrove trees. Given income from a controlled harvest of wood with continuing replanting, the mangrove regeneration effort makes it more likely that the cooperative will increase its net income.Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument that mangrove replanting will increase the Gocha cooperative's net income?
A. The cost of dredging and shore facilities was shared with the local government.
B. The GFC will be able to hire local workers to assist with the mangrove replanting.
C. The GFC derives 10 percent of its revenue from salt-production facilities in an area previously cleared of mangroves.
D. Mangrove forests tend to increase the commercial fish populations in coastal fishing grounds.
E. A controlled harvesting of mangrove wood by the GFC would have little effect on coastal erosion.

Answer 1

Answer:

D. Mangrove forests tend to increase the commercial fish populations in coastal fishing grounds

Explanation:

From the scenario, we can see that

''Loss of the Gocha mangrove forests has caused coastal erosion, reducing fish populations and requiring the Gocha Fishing Cooperative (GFC) to partially fund dredging and new shore facilities.''

From the above extract of the scenario it is clear that loss of mangrove forests reduces fish population. If the foregoing is true, then reduction in fish population implies reduction in the revenue of the Gocha Fishing Cooperative. Secondly the loss of mangrove forests has not only led to loss of revenue due to less fish but also increase in cost by having to fund dredging

Therefore, based on the fact that loss of mangrove leads to loss of fish and by extension revenue, planting more trees will lead to more fish and more revenue, apart from the fact that the cost of dredging will not have to be incurred leading to greater revenue.