Chapter 17Chapter 17Land Land ResourcesResources

Land Use - WorldwideLand Use - Worldwide

Land Use - United StatesLand Use - United States 55% of US land is privately owned55% of US land is privately owned Remainder of land is owned by Remainder of land is owned by

governmentgovernment

Wilderness Parks and Wilderness Parks and Wildlife RefugesWildlife Refuges

Wilderness (NWPS)Wilderness (NWPS) A protected areaA protected area

of land in which noof land in which nohuman developmenthuman developmentis permittedis permitted

Wilderness ActWilderness Act(1964)(1964) Set aside federally owned land Set aside federally owned land

Managed by NPS, USFS, FWS & BLMManaged by NPS, USFS, FWS & BLM

National Park SystemNational Park SystemYellowstone National Yellowstone National

ParkPark

GoalGoal Teach people about Teach people about

the natural the natural environment, environment, management of management of natural resources natural resources and history of a siteand history of a site

National Park SystemNational Park System

Threats to U.S. ParksThreats to U.S. Parks Crime & VandalismCrime & Vandalism Traffic jamsTraffic jams Pollution of the soil, water and airPollution of the soil, water and air Resource violationsResource violations

Natural RegulationNatural Regulation Policy to let nature take it coursePolicy to let nature take it course

Wildlife RefugesWildlife Refuges

National Wildlife Refuge System National Wildlife Refuge System 1903, Theodore Roosevelt1903, Theodore Roosevelt

MissionMission To preserve lands and waters for the To preserve lands and waters for the

conservation of fishes, wildlife and conservation of fishes, wildlife and plants of the USplants of the US

Global Distribution of Global Distribution of BiomesBiomes

ForestsForests

Role in Hydrologic Role in Hydrologic Cycle Cycle

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=rainforest+alliance+commercial+follow+the+frog&FORM=VIRE1#view=detail&mid=B0F82A0D28ADA15F9854B0F82A0D28ADA15F9854

Forest ManagementForest Management

Traditional Forest ManagementTraditional Forest Management Low diversity - Low diversity - monoculturesmonocultures Managed for timber productionManaged for timber production

Forest ManagementForest Management

Ecological Sustainable Forest Ecological Sustainable Forest ManagementManagement Environmentally balancedEnvironmentally balanced Diverse treesDiverse trees Prevent soil erosionPrevent soil erosion Preserve watershedsPreserve watersheds Wildlife corridors - unloggedWildlife corridors - unlogged

Harvesting TreesHarvesting Trees

DeforestationDeforestation

Temporary or permanent clearance Temporary or permanent clearance of large expanses of forest for of large expanses of forest for agriculture or other useagriculture or other use

Causes:Causes: FireFire Expansion of agricultureExpansion of agriculture Construction of roadsConstruction of roads Tree harvestTree harvest Insect and diseaseInsect and disease

DeforestationDeforestation

Results of DeforestationResults of Deforestation Decreased soil fertilityDecreased soil fertility Soil erosionSoil erosion Production of hydroelectric power (silt Production of hydroelectric power (silt

build up behind dams)build up behind dams) Increased sedimentation of waterwaysIncreased sedimentation of waterways Formation of desertsFormation of deserts Extinction of speciesExtinction of species Global climate changesGlobal climate changes

US National ForestsUS National Forests

Managed for multiple usesManaged for multiple uses Timber harvestTimber harvest Livestock Livestock Water resource and watershed protectionWater resource and watershed protection Mining, hunting, fishing, etc.Mining, hunting, fishing, etc.

Road building for logging is an issue-Road building for logging is an issue- Who pays? You do!Who pays? You do!

Clearcutting is an issueClearcutting is an issue

Case-In-Point Tongass Case-In-Point Tongass National ParkNational Park

Trends in Tropical ForestsTrends in Tropical Forests

Tropical rainforestsTropical rainforests

Human Settlement in a Human Settlement in a Brazilian Tropical Rain Brazilian Tropical Rain

ForestForest

Disappearing Tropical Rain Disappearing Tropical Rain ForestsForests

Immediate causesImmediate causes1.1. Subsistence Subsistence

agriculture agriculture

2.2. Commercial loggingCommercial logging

3.3. Cattle ranchingCattle ranching Other causesOther causes

MiningMining Hydroelectric powerHydroelectric power

Southeast Asia- Orangutans

Disappearing Tropical Dry Disappearing Tropical Dry ForestsForests

Primarily destroyed for fuelwoodPrimarily destroyed for fuelwood Used for heating and cookingUsed for heating and cooking

Led to fuel crisis in many countriesLed to fuel crisis in many countries Increase in Increase in

waterborne diseaseswaterborne diseases

Boreal ForestsBoreal Forests

World’s largest biomeWorld’s largest biome Extensive clearcutting for paper and Extensive clearcutting for paper and

lumber materiallumber material

Rangeland and Agricultural Rangeland and Agricultural LandsLands RangelandRangeland

Land that is not intensively managed Land that is not intensively managed and is used for grazing livestockand is used for grazing livestock

Rangeland Degradation and Rangeland Degradation and DeforestationDeforestation Overgrazing leaves ground barrenOvergrazing leaves ground barren

Land degradationLand degradation Natural or human-induced process that Natural or human-induced process that

decreases future ability of land to decreases future ability of land to support crops or livestocksupport crops or livestock

DesertificationDesertification

WetlandsWetlands

Lands that are usually covered with water Lands that are usually covered with water for at least part of the yearfor at least part of the year

Have characteristic soils, and water-Have characteristic soils, and water-tolerant vegetationtolerant vegetation

Benefits:Benefits: Habitat for migratory waterfowl and wildlifeHabitat for migratory waterfowl and wildlife Recharge groundwaterRecharge groundwater Reduce damage from floodingReduce damage from flooding Improve water qualityImprove water quality Produce many commercially important Produce many commercially important

productsproducts

Human Threats to WetlandsHuman Threats to Wetlands

Drainage for agriculture or mosquito Drainage for agriculture or mosquito controlcontrol

Dredging for navigationDredging for navigation Construction of dams, dykes or seawallsConstruction of dams, dykes or seawalls Filling in for solid waste disposalFilling in for solid waste disposal Road buildingRoad building Mining for gravel, fossil fuels, etc.Mining for gravel, fossil fuels, etc. Shrinking 58,500 acres per yearShrinking 58,500 acres per year

Protection of WetlandsProtection of Wetlands

Clean Water Act (1972) Clean Water Act (1972) Sweetwater MarshSweetwater Marsh CA has lost the largest % of original CA has lost the largest % of original

wetlands within the statewetlands within the state

91%!91%!