Chapter 11-12 Environmental Science

1. Biodiversity Part 3 and Land Use Planning Chapter 11-12Environmental Science

2. Fish Farming • Is fish farming better? • 60% of all aquaculture production is freshwater • EDF describes as “Aquatic feedlots” • Environmental impacts: • Nutrient overloads • Escape into natural waters • Land conversion • Best bets: the filter feeders (clams, oysters, other mollusks) and catfish • Salmon, trout and shrimp less enviro-friendly • http://www.oceansalive.org/eat.cfm?subnav=bestandworst

3. Threats to Biodiversity • The Wildlife Conservation Society estimates 70% of wildlife species in Asia and Africa and about 40% of species in Latin America are being hunted unsustainably. • Part of all subsistence cultures. • Delicacies or herbal remedies • Aquarium trade • Valuable pelts or other parts

4. Report: Primates in Danger of Extinction from the San Francisco Examiner • BANGKOK, Thailand - Almost a third of all apes, monkeys and other primatesare in danger of extinction because of rampant habitat destruction, thecommercial sale of their meat (bush meat) and the trade in illegal wildlife, a report released Friday said. Of the world's 394 primate species, 114 areclassified as threatened with extinction by the World Conservation Union.The report by Conservation International and the InternationalPrimatological Society in Hainan, China, focuses on the plight of the 25most endangered primates, including China's Hainan gibbon, of which only 17 remain."You could fit all the surviving members of the 25 species in a singlefootball stadium; that's how few of them remain on Earth today," saidRussell A. Mittermeier, president of Conservation International.To read more: http://www.examiner.com/a-1010731~Report__Primates_in_Danger_of_Extinction.htmlOr: http://tinyurl.com/2kzo9w

5. Invasive Species • What has caused their increased introduction in last 100 yrs? • Accidental vs purposeful • 30% of birds and 15% of plants are threatened b/c unable to compete • Tree diseases: • Chestnut blight & Dutch elm disease • Insects • Asian long-horned beetle • Emerald Ash Borer • Freshwater ecosystems • Zebra mussel. Eurasian Milfoil, Asian Clam

6. How Do Invasives Impact Ecosystems? • Lack natural predators, disease, etc • Overrun and crowd out natives – kudzu, the plant that ate the south • Some harmless (pheasant) others harmful (brown tree snake) • Reduce biodiversity • Cause extinction (90% of Hawaii’s birds nonnative) • Reduce ecosystem function • Tamarisk, Phragmites both suck up water, alter hydrology

7. Great Lakes Exotic Species • The absurdity: P. 250 2nd Para, 2nd sentence • 140 non-natives and invasives since 1800s • http://www.iisgcp.org/EXOTICSP/ans.htm#animals • http://www.great-lakes.net/teach/pollution/ans/ans_1.html • Is there a time when introducing a nonnative species is OK?

8. World Conservation Union • The World Conservation Union (IUCN) estimates by the year 2010, at least 500,000 species of plants and animals may have been exterminated. • IUCN classifies species in danger of extinction into four categories: • Endangered • Vulnerable • Rare • Indeterminate

9. What Is Being Done to Preserve Biodiversity? • Awareness and concern is high in developed countries. • Most vulnerable species in these areas have already been eliminated. • Protecting biodiversity not a high priority for public in developing countries. • More immediate concerns: food and shelter vs. long-range issues (think back to EO Wilson) • (Values for near future of family is easier than selecting values for distant future of the entire planet.)

10. Importance of Biodiversity • Economic • Agricultural importance - 90% of today's food plants have been developed from wild resources. • Medical importance - 40% of our drugs come from plants and animals. No one can predict what plants could provide a cure for diseases in the future. Ehtnobotany • Industrial • Aesthetics • Ethics • Ecosystem stability

11. What Is Being Done to Preserve Biodiversity? • U.S., the primary action for Biodiversity: Endangered Species Act (1973) • legislation designates species as endangered or threatened and gives the U.S. government jurisdiction over those species. • Directs that no activity by a government agency should lead to the extinction of an endangered species. • Directs government agencies to use whatever means necessary to preserve the species in question. • Amendments to ESA have weakened ability of U.S. government to add new species to the list.

12. Endangered Species • Record to Date of listed species: 10% improving, 40% declining, rest stable or unknown. • How is value assigned to determine which species to protect? • Focus shift to habitat protection: parks, refuges, wilderness areas • Critics: development blocked (nope, only 55 or >98,000 projects stopped 1987-92) • Lost and Found: The Ivory Billed Woodpecker • Endangered Species and humans • http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119335538682372231.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

13. Managing Biodiversity • Wildlife management • Game species managed below carrying capacity • Habitat planting/management • Hunting regulated in fall • Given adequate habitat and protection, species flourish: deer, turkey, elephants (some S. African countries) • High reproductive potential • Migratory birds – a special case – Partners in Flight –protect neotropical migrants • How do we manage habitat & predators? • Artificial introductions • Native species reintroduced: wolf, California condor • Fisheries- deciding on harvest limits

14. You Can Protect Biodiversity • Plant native trees and plants- even container planting is beneficial (sun-loving plants like purple coneflower, black-eyed susan, etc) • Contact OSU extension office for list of native plants (Master Gardeners) • National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat program • Reduce lawn • Increase number of grains you eat- • Buckwheat, corn, rice, quinoa, kamut, amaranth, oats, etc • Eat non-GMO foods • Teach your children to value and explore nature • Eat lower on food chain • http://www.oceansalive.org/eat.cfm?subnav=bestandworst&link=hp • Use less packaging – bring your own mug to Startbucks, buy 2 Liter instead of smaller bottles, or don’t buy plastic at all, buy cans • Recycle!!!!!!!! • http://investigate.conservation.org/xp/IB/savingbiodiversity/

15. Protecting Biodiversity • What are some ideas on an international scale? • Hotspots, logging, fishing, what do you protect? • How do we prevent extinction?

16. Chapter 12: Planning • Why do we need planning? • What are most land use decisions based on? • Where have we historically settled (geographically)? • What has driven us to the suburbs? • As populations grow, the need for land use planning increases

17. Problems with Unplanned Urban Growth • Transportation issues • Air pollution • Low energy efficiency • Loss of sense of cummunity • Death of a central city • Higher Infrastructure costs (sewer, gas, electric, schools, fire, roads, etc) • Loss of open space • Loss of farmland • Watershed issues: flooding, wetland loss • Geological issues: hillsides, earthquakes, fire, water shortage

18. Land Use Planning Principles • Land-use planning is a process of evaluating the needs and wants of a population, the land characteristics and value, and various alternative solutions to land uses • A basic rule should be to make as few changes as possible.

19. Land-Use Planning Principles • When changes are needed: • Evaluate and record unique geological, geographic, and biologic features. • Preserve unique cultural or historical features. • Conserve open space and environmental features. • Recognize and calculate the cost of additional changes required to accommodate altered land use. • Can current infrastructure support the change? • Plan for mixed uses in close proximity • Housing, apartments, shopping, others • Plan for a variety of transportation options. • Accommodate bikes, mass transit

20. Land-Use Planning Principles • Set limits and require managed growth patterns with compact development. • Set urban growth boundary w/ more restrictions outside boundary • Encourage development in areas with existing infrastructure. • Infill and redevelopment

21. Implementing Land-Use Plans • Establish State / Regional Planning Agencies • More effective than local agencies because political boundaries seldom reflect the geological and biological database used in planning. • A regional approach is more likely to prevent duplication of facilities and lead to greater efficiency. • Currently only advisory role • Purchase Land or Use Rights. • In many cases, owner may not be willing to sell the land but is willing to limit future uses of the land. • Regulate use through zoning

22. Mechanisms for Implementing Land-Use Plans • Regulate Special Types of land use • Historic site preservation, wetland regulations, floodplain protection, forestry, greenways, brownfields, ag land,

23. Special Urban Planning Issues • Urban Transportation Planning • Urban transportation planning usually involves four goals: • Conserve energy and land resources. • Provide efficient and inexpensive transportation, particularly to those who are unable to drive. • Provide efficient transportation opportunities to suburban residents. • Reduce urban pollution • The U.S. government encourages personal autos by financing highways, maintaining cheap (gas) energy policy, funding highway construction, and not funding mass-transit projects.

24. Special Urban Issues • Urban Recreational Planning • Nature centers, greenways, parks • Issues: location • Redevelopment: brownfields, shopping centers, commercial areas • Smart Growth

25. Special Urban Planning Issues • Smart growth recognizes benefits of growth • Advocates emphasize developing “livable” cities and towns • Recognizes that quality of environment directly affects quality of life • Promotes building of “green buildings.” • Standardized: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) • Use recycled materials, ensure better ventilation, reduce water and energy use, etc.

26. Special Urban Planning Issues • Characteristics of high-performance green building are: • Located near public transportation • Preserve natural habitat around the building • Lights and other electronic devices are timed to reduce energy use • Native vegetation is used for landscaping • http://www.greenenergyohio.org/page.cfm?pageID=261 • http://www.cbf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_merrillcenter_index

27. Public Land Issues • National Forest Multiple uses (1960 Act): wildlife, recreation, watershed protection, timber harvest, etc • ORV vs. hikers or equestrian • Noise pollution in Yellowstone from snowmobiles

28. Columbus • New Stormwater management plan • Cool Cities campaign • http://coolcities.us/cityProfiles.php?city=46&state=OH • http://www.dispatch.com/live/contentbe/dispatch/2006/05/28/20060528-D1-00.html