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Rangelands. Objective: I will evaluate the importance of rangeland management and connect it to my knowledge of food production and consumption. Rangelands. 40% of all lands in US (most in Western US) Purpose: Habitat for animals and plants Water, clean air, and open space source
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Rangelands Objective: I will evaluate the importance of rangeland management and connect it to my knowledge of food production and consumption.
Rangelands • 40% of all lands in US (most in Western US) • Purpose: • Habitat for animals and plants • Water, clean air, and open space source • Recreation • Cattle industry • Most of the grain that is grown in the US goes towards feeding our livestock
Overgrazing • Theme of tragedy of the commons • Top 5 rated threat to endangered species (plants and animals) • A plant is considered overgrazed when it is regrazed before its roots recover (root die back) • Consequences: • Less fertile soil • Less productive pastures • Weed species thrive • Decrease in biodiversity • Soil erosion • Eutrophication from animal waste • Decreased sustainability
Desertification • Steps of desertification • Overgrazing • Rain washes away trampled soil • All sources of water dry up • What vegetation is left dries from drought • Weeds take over and nothing else can grow • Wind blows away the top soil
Federal Management • Controlled by Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) • Must have a federal grazing permit • Distributed by resource advisory councils • 40% of all permits are owned by 3% of livestock operators • Reduce cost through federal subsidies • Methods • Control number of livestock • Restoration • Moving livestock to allow areas to recover • Fencing off streams • Replanting barren rangeland to reduce soil erosion • Providing supplemental livestock feed
Urbanization • The movement of people from rural areas to cities • Asia and Africa are experiencing the greatest growth of urbanization • Reasoning: • Access to jobs • Higher standards of living • Easier access to health care • Access to education Think Box: How has urbanization impacted our agricultural industry?
Urbanization Pros Cons Higher impact on concentrated areas of the environment Overcrowded schools Increase crime rates Pollution levels are higher in urbanized areas • Uses less land less impact on the environment overall • High tax revenues • Recycling is more efficient • Better sanitation systems
Transportation Infrastructure • Federal Highway System • 160,000 miles of roadway • Important for economy, defense, and mobility • Distribution of all goods and services use interstate highways at some point • Benefits • Less pollutants • Reduce greenhouse gases • Improve fuel economy and reduce foreign oil dependence • Improve the economy • Improve quality of life • The “roadless rule” protects more than 60 million acres for wildlife habitats and endangered species