Chapter 17 Land Resources

1. Chapter 17Land Resources

2. Multiple choice Free response questions • 50 questions • # correct x 0.9 = • 2 questions • Question 1 _____ x 1.5 = • Question 2 _____ x 1.5 = • Total FRQ + MC = 40/75 • = 55%

3. Overview of Chapter 17 • Land Use • World land use • US land use • Wilderness Park and Wildlife Refuges • National Parks • Wildlife Refuge • Forests • Forest management • Deforestation • Rangeland and Agricultural Land • Wetlands and Coastal Areas • Conservation of Land Resources

4. Land Use- Worldwide

5. Land Use- Worldwide • Most is low density (nonurban/rural) • Benefits of land not impacted by humans: • Many ecological services • Educational – science and history • Recreational – hiking, swimming, hunting, fishing • Aesthetic/spiritual – escape civilized world • Key players: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir (major player in establishing 2nd national park and founder of Sierra Club)

6. Land Use- United States

7. Land Use- United States • 55% of US land is privately owned • Remainder of land is owned by government • Most federally owned land is in Alaska and 11 western states

8. Wilderness • Wilderness • A protected area of land in which no human development is permitted • Some areas have a limited number of permitted human guests to reduce impact • Other problems include invasive species • Wilderness Act (1964) • Set aside federally owned land as part of National Wilderness Preservation System • No development permitted (including roads)

9. National Park System Yosemite National Park • Created in 1916 • Managed by National Park Service • Preserved land • 1st: Yellowstone (1872) • No taking of resources (timber)

10. National Park System • Theodore Roosevelt – Antiquities Act • Threats to U.S. Parks – • tourism! (good and bad) - $, but overcrowded • Crime & Vandalism • Traffic jams • Pollution of the soil, water and air • Originating both inside and outside the park • Natural Regulation • Policy to let nature take it course • No culling wildlife • No suppressing wildfire

11. Wildlife Refuges • National Wildlife Refuge System (1903) • Managed by US Fish and Wildlife Service • 1st wildlife refuge was created by Theodore Roosevelt – Pelican Island, Florida • Mission • To preserve lands and waters for the conservation of fishes, wildlife and plants of the US • Recreation (including hunting and fishing) are permitted

12. Forest Management • Traditional Forest Management • Managed by US Forestry Service • Low diversity- monocultures (right); many pests/diseases  sprays • Managed for timber production • Ecological Sustainable Forest Management • Diverse trees • Prevent soil erosion • Preserve watersheds • Wildlife corridors- unlogged

13. Harvesting Trees

14. Harvesting Trees - Clearcutting

15. Forests • ecosystem services: • Influence climate: precipitation and shade • Store carbon to help prevent global warming • Release oxygen • Reduce erosion • Protect watersheds: Control floods • Improve water quality • Habitats for many

16. Forests • Benefits for human: • Wood for fuel, building materials and paper • Fruits, nuts, medicines • Employment • Recreation

17. Deforestation • Temporary or permanent clearance of large expanses of forest for agriculture or other use • Most serious problem for forests • Causes • Fire • Expansion of agriculture • Construction of roads • Tree harvest • Insect and disease

18. Deforestation • Results • Decreased soil fertility • Uncontrolled soil erosion • silt build up behind dams • Increased sedimentation of waterways – harm fish downstream • Formation of deserts • Extinction of species • Global climate changes

19. Old-growth forests • forests never logged • Old, mixed-aged trees • Lots of biodiversity • Dead tress important habitats • Many indicator species: including lichens • May take LOOOOONG time to re-grow

20. Forest fires BAD GOOD • Release stored carbon dioxide • Kills animals • Threatens homes • Increase soil erosion • Surface fires: • Clear ground litter • Release minerals to soil • Stimulates germination for some cone-bearing plants • Kill pathogens/insects

21. Forest Trends in US • Most temperate forests are steady or expanding from secondary succession on abandoned farms, tree plantations, and gov. protection. • Returning stands lack biodiversity of original forests; still threatened by population • More than half of US forests are privately owned (right) • Conservation easement

22. US National Forests • Managed for multiple uses • Timber harvest • Livestock forage • Water resource and watershed protection • Mining, hunting, fishing, etc. • Road building is an issue • Provides logging companies with access to forest • Clearcutting is an issue

23. Case-In-Point Tongass National Forest • One of world’s few temperate rainforests • Old-growth forest • Prime logging area • Roadless Area Conservation Rule (2000) – protects 1/3 of national forests from road construction and logging

24. Trends in Tropical Forests • Tropical rainforests (below) and tropical dry forests

25. Disappearing Tropical Rain Forests • Greatest in Asia • Population growth • Immediate causes • Subsistence agriculture • Slash and burn • Commercial logging • Cattle ranching • Other causes • Mining

26. Disappearing Tropical Dry Forests • Primarily destroyed for fuelwood • Used for heating and cooking by most developing countries. Wood used to make charcoal (not efficient)

27. Boreal Forests • World’s largest biome (Alaska, Canada, N. Russia) • Extensive clearcutting • Primary source of world’s industrial wood and wood fiber

28. Rangeland (grassland) • Public rangeland managed by BLM(Bureau of Land Management) • Land that is not intensively managed and is used for grazing livestock

29. Rangeland Degradation • Overgrazing (grazed before roots recover) leaves ground barren • Animals exceed their carrying capacity • Increase erosion • Cattle waste increase eutrophication and spreads disease • Graze on riparian areas • Solution: limit permit #; charge market value to graze • Desertification • 1. animals graze all plant life • 2. rain washes soil away • 3. wells, springs dry up because nothing holding water • 4. left vegetation dies from drought or removed for firewood • 5. wind blows away topsoil

30. Rangeland Trends in US • Make up 30% of total US land area • Pressure from developers to subdivide • Public rangeland managed by BLM: • Taylor Grazing Act (1934) – requires grazing permits on federal land • Public Rangelands Improvement Act (1978) – established a commitment to improve rangelands to be as productive as possible • Conditions of public rangeland are slowly improving • Grazing fees is an issue

31. Wetlands • Lands covered with water at times during the year • High plant productivity!! (hold carbon!) • Converting land to agriculture is greatest threat. • Restoration of Everglades – famous example • Benefits • Habitat for migratory waterfowl and wildlife (many endangered species) – reminder: Endangered Species Act • Recharge groundwater • Reduce damage from flooding • Improve water quality (trap nitrogen/phosphates, pesticides) • Stabilize shorelines, reduce damage from storms • Recreation – photography, fishing

32. Wetlands • Human activity that threatens wetlands • Drainage for agriculture • Drainage for urbanization • mosquito control • Dredging for navigation • Construction of dams • Filling in for solid waste disposal • Road building • Mining

33. Conservation and Land Resources

34. Urban land development • ½ SO2, ¼ NO, 1/3 CO2 emissions • Green buildings/city design: • Rebates/tax incentives for solar energy • Xeriscaping for water conservation • Use recycled materials • Build near public transportation • Pedestrian friendly – close shopping, parks • Monitor indoor air quality

35. Suburban sprawl and urbanization • Most people live in cities • Latin America most urbanized of developing areas; Asia and Africa growing quickly • Reasons: access to jobs, better standard of living, access to health care, industrialized agriculture, access to education • City living: • Pros: less land used, less fossil fuels b/c commuting distances are shorter, better sanitation, more efficient recycling • Cons: urban heat islands (mitigate w/ green roofs), ozone levels, more pronounced pollution due to overwhelmed systems, landfill space, overcrowded schools, not enough jobs for all  slums, more crime

36. Rooftop Farming

37. Transportation • Federal Highway system reduces env. impact: • Less pollutants (carbon monoxide, NO) • Reduce greenhouse gases • Improve fuel economy and reduce dependence of foreign oil • Canals and Channels (straits) • Requires dredging • Panama Canal – prevent going around s. america • Suez Canal – prevent going around Africa

38. GOWANUS CANAL SLUDGE WHEN IT RAINS

39. Land conservation terms • Preservation: Never harmed. Ex. National Parks • Restoration: Return to original state. Ex: Everglades • Remediation: removal of a pollutant, typically for health reasons, environmental reasons, or to redevelop a unused industrial site (brownfield). Ex: phytoremdiation for soil salinization • Mitigation: projects that offset known environmental issues. Ex: stop deer from crossing road, purchase other land