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Dr. Thomas M. Gehring Room 181 Brooks Hall 774-2484 tom.gehring@cmich

Welcome! BIO 240 – Conservation of Natural Resources. Dr. Thomas M. Gehring Room 181 Brooks Hall 774-2484 tom.gehring@cmich.edu http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/gehri1tm. “In short, a land ethic changes the role of Homo sapiens from conqueror of the land-community

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Dr. Thomas M. Gehring Room 181 Brooks Hall 774-2484 tom.gehring@cmich

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  1. Welcome! BIO 240 – Conservation of Natural Resources Dr. Thomas M. Gehring Room 181 Brooks Hall 774-2484 tom.gehring@cmich.edu http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/gehri1tm

  2. “In short, a land ethic changes the role of Homo sapiens from conqueror of the land-community to plain member and citizen of it. It implies respect for his [her] fellow-members, and also respect for the community as such.” Aldo Leopold

  3. "A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise. ...To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution to intelligent tinkering."(Aldo Leopold, champion of conservation)

  4. Knowledge Assessment • Current human population size? • Annual growth rate (%) of human population? • Number of species in the World? • Daily extinction rate of species? • What is biodiversity?

  5. Critical Thinking Skills • First, need to differentiate between beliefs and knowledge • Process: • Gather complete information • Question the methods, conclusions, sources of study or story • Tolerate some level of uncertainty • Look at the Big Picture

  6. Scientific Method Reject Fail to Reject

  7. Importance of Management • Finite natural resources (land, water, wildlife, fuel, etc…)

  8. Importance of Management • Healthy Environment = Healthy Human Community 6.7+ Billion

  9. Importance of Management • Future generations inherit our world

  10. Importance of Management • Human Land Use • Present Effects • Extraction of natural resources • Patterns of development • Transportation networks

  11. Three Problems • Population – explosion following Industrial Revolution • Ultimate cause of environmental problems • Current population = 6.7+ B (+1.3%/yr) • By 2050 = 8-9+ B

  12. Three Problems • Prosperity – excessive consumption (“affluenza”) • U.S. = 1st place in per capita consumption (30% of world’s resources) • = 5% of world’s population

  13. Prosperity? • 1 American = 20-40 persons from less developed nation • Loss of soil > natural replacement rate • ~1 million A (400,000 ha) farmland converted to subdivision annually • ~1 million species extinct during 1980-2000 (estimates of 50,000 species/yr

  14. Three Problems • Prosperity * Affluenza now for us, next generation on their own?

  15. Three Problems • Pollution – “There is no free lunch” • Air pollution & global impacts • Global Warming • Acid Deposition (Rain) • Ozone Depletion

  16. Three Problems • Pollution – “There is no free lunch” * Water Pollution leading to: 1) unsafe drinking water 2) regulated fish consumption 3) increased prevalence human disease

  17. Quality of Life • Future Projections The Limits of Growth (1972) Fig. 1.5 – poor prospects with ’72 rates Unsustainable society (define?) Updated in 1992 = underestimates

  18. The Limits of Growth (1972) • Unsustainable society (define?) • Updated in 1992 = underestimates

  19. Differing Viewpoints • Optimists Technology will solve our problems

  20. Differing Viewpoints • Pessimists Time is too short for “techno-fixes”

  21. Differing Viewpoints • Moderates Develop a sustainable society….SOON!

  22. Six Principles of Sustainability • Conservation: use needed resources wisely • Recycling: reuse materials again • Renewable Resources: resources that replenish themselves • Restoration: repair damaged systems • Population Control & Mgt. • Adaptability

  23. Do you live sustainably? • Next time: Calculate your carbon debt • How many tons of CO2 do you produce? • What actions could you take to reduce this debt? • Turn in 1-page written assignment

  24. History of Conservation • 19th Century • Early history of U.S. • National Park & National Forests • 20th Century • -- Four major periods

  25. History of Conservation • Fur trade & near extinction of beaver (Castor canadensis) • Market hunting • Near extinction of bison : 60M to ~150

  26. History of Conservation • Market hunting • Successful extinction of passenger pigeon

  27. History of Conservation • Passenger pigeon • immense abundance (400 km long, 1800) • 1878 – 3 months, 1.5 M pigeons from MI to market

  28. Conservation in the 20th CenturyFirst Wave: Early 1900’s • Theodore Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot, John Muir • White House Conference on Nat. Res.: • 1) timber depletion • 2) irrigation farming • 3) lack of water & resource use • 4) mismanagement of resources

  29. Conservation in the 20th CenturyFirst Wave: Early 1900’s • National Conservation Commission • Result of White House Conference • Completed 1st Natural Resources Inventory • State conservation departments created (MI DNR)

  30. Conservation in the 20th CenturySecond Wave: 1930’s • Franklin D. Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold

  31. Conservation in the 20th CenturySecond Wave: 1930’s • Franklin D. Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold • Natural Resources Board (2nd Nat. Res. Inventory • New Programs: • Prairie States Forestry Project (erosion) • Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) • Soil Conservation Service (SCS NRCS

  32. Conservation in the 20th CenturySecond Wave: 1930’s • Wildlife Management & Land Ethic

  33. The Wilderness Society - founded 1935 - Leopold = co-founder

  34. Conservation in the 20th CenturyThird Wave: 1960’s – 1970’s • Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Rachel Carson, Gaylord Nelson

  35. April 22, 1970

  36. Conservation in the 20th CenturyThird Wave: 1960’s – 1970’s • Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Rachel Carson, Gaylord Nelson • Important Conservation Legislation: • 1964 Wilderness Act • 1970 Clean Air Act • 1969 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

  37. Conservation in the 20th CenturyThird Wave: 1960’s – 1970’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) • All federal actions significantly affecting environment • Directs the preparation of Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

  38. Conservation in the 20th CenturyThird Wave: 1960’s – 1970’s • Important Conservation Legislation (cont.) • 1973 Endangered Species Act • Sec. Interior & Commerce • Listing species & develop recovery plans • 1976 National Forest Management Act • Sec. Agriculture • assess forest lands, multiple-use mgt. program, implement mgt. plan for each unit of the National Forest System.

  39. Conservation in the 20th CenturyThird Wave: 1960’s – 1970’s • Important Conservation Legislation (cont.) • 1977 Clean Water Act • 1985 Food Security Act • Farm Bill Provisions • Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

  40. Conservation in the 20th CenturyFourth Wave: 1990’s 2000 • Bill Clinton, Al Gore, E.O. Wilson • Earth Summit • Kyoto Treaty • Sustainable Development

  41. Conservation & Wilderness Lands

  42. Conservation in the 21st CenturyFifth Wave? • BIO 240 Students • What will you leave for the future generations? • How will you leave this a better place?

  43. Concepts & Terms Types of Resources • Renewable: • - natural processes replenish over finite time • - continued use depends on proper mgt. • - soil, forests, wildlife, fisheries

  44. Concepts & Terms Types of Resources • Non-Renewable: • - finite resource; near infinite time • - fossil fuels, minerals, metals

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