Chapter 8 Chapter 8 LandLand Resources and UsesResources and Uses

Wapusk National ParkWapusk National Park Just southeast of Churchill Just southeast of Churchill MBMB

Wild and remote landscape Wild and remote landscape One of world’s largest One of world’s largest polar bear maternity polar bear maternity denning areasdenning areas

Supports wide variety of Supports wide variety of wildlifewildlife

Current stressors include Current stressors include climate change, long-range climate change, long-range transport of contaminants, transport of contaminants, and overabundant snow geeseand overabundant snow geese

Land UseLand Use Terrestrial land base of the Earth Terrestrial land base of the Earth is 148,940,000 square kilometersis 148,940,000 square kilometers

Canada’s total land area 9,984,670 Canada’s total land area 9,984,670 square kilometers (6%)square kilometers (6%)

11% of land in Canada is owned 11% of land in Canada is owned privatelyprivately

89% is crown land (provincial or 89% is crown land (provincial or federal government)federal government)

Responsibility generally falls Responsibility generally falls under provincial governmentunder provincial government

Agriculture in CanadaAgriculture in Canada One of the largest producers in One of the largest producers in the worldthe world

Exports over $24 billion worth Exports over $24 billion worth of agricultural productsof agricultural products

Five largest sectors are grains Five largest sectors are grains and oilseeds, livestock, dairy, and oilseeds, livestock, dairy, horticulture, poultry and eggshorticulture, poultry and eggs

5% of grain farms are reported 5% of grain farms are reported as organicas organic

Principle Types of Principle Types of AgricultureAgriculture

Industrialized Agriculture: Industrialized Agriculture: modern methods, large input of modern methods, large input of capital and energy and less capital and energy and less land and labor than traditional land and labor than traditional methodsmethods

Subsistence Agriculture: Subsistence Agriculture: traditional methods, depend on traditional methods, depend on labor and large amounts of land labor and large amounts of land

Industrialized Industrialized AgricultureAgriculture

Modern agricultural Modern agricultural methodsmethods

Developed countriesDeveloped countries InputsInputs

CapitalCapital EnergyEnergy ChemicalsChemicals

High yieldsHigh yields

Subsistence AgricultureSubsistence Agriculture

Traditional agricultural Traditional agricultural methodsmethods

Developing countriesDeveloping countries Food for familyFood for family InputsInputs

LaborLabor LandLand

Shifting CultivationShifting Cultivation

Subsistence agricultureSubsistence agriculture Grow crops, then leave land aloneGrow crops, then leave land alone Slash-and-burn agricultureSlash-and-burn agriculture

Clear forestClear forest Grow cropsGrow crops Soil loses productivity quicklySoil loses productivity quickly

Supports small populationsSupports small populations

Nomadic HerdingNomadic Herding Subsistence agricultureSubsistence agriculture Land not suitable for cropsLand not suitable for crops Livestock continually moveLivestock continually move Why?Why?

IntercroppingIntercropping

Subsistence agricultureSubsistence agriculture Variety of crops in same fieldVariety of crops in same field PolyculturePolyculture Plants mature at different Plants mature at different timestimes

Different crops harvested Different crops harvested throughout the yearthroughout the year

Agricultural ChallengesAgricultural Challenges

Loss of prime farmlandLoss of prime farmland Loss of domesticated Loss of domesticated varietiesvarieties

Improving yieldsImproving yields Curbing environmental Curbing environmental impactsimpacts

Loss of Agricultural Loss of Agricultural LandLand

Land loss to urbanization and Land loss to urbanization and suburban sprawlsuburban sprawl

Loss of Domestic Loss of Domestic VarietiesVarieties

Farmers using fewer varieties of Farmers using fewer varieties of plants and animalsplants and animals

Modern methodsModern methods UniformityUniformity Maximum productionMaximum production

Loss of genetic diversityLoss of genetic diversity Save germplasmSave germplasm

TissuesTissues May need laterMay need later

Increasing Crop YieldsIncreasing Crop Yields

Food production has increasedFood production has increased Green revolutionGreen revolution

Mid-20Mid-20thth century century Modern methodsModern methods High-yield varietiesHigh-yield varieties ChemicalsChemicals

High-Yield VarietiesHigh-Yield Varieties Done with breeding and biotechnologyDone with breeding and biotechnology

Green RevolutionGreen Revolution BenefitsBenefits

Mexico increased wheat productionMexico increased wheat production Indonesia self-sufficient in riceIndonesia self-sufficient in rice

ProblemsProblems Developing countries dependent on Developing countries dependent on chemicals, machinerychemicals, machinery

High energy costsHigh energy costs Too many chemicalsToo many chemicals

Increasing Crop YieldsIncreasing Crop Yields

Demand for grains will increaseDemand for grains will increase Can’t increase amount of landCan’t increase amount of land Yields can only increase so Yields can only increase so muchmuch

Genetic engineering could helpGenetic engineering could help Developing countries will need Developing countries will need better farming methodsbetter farming methods

Increasing Livestock Increasing Livestock YieldsYields

HormonesHormones Promote faster growthPromote faster growth European Union limits imports European Union limits imports of hormone-treated beef: why?of hormone-treated beef: why?

AntibioticsAntibiotics Animals grow larger (4 – 5%)Animals grow larger (4 – 5%) Resistant bacteriaResistant bacteria WHO wants them eliminatedWHO wants them eliminated U.S. still usingU.S. still using

Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts Air, water pollutionAir, water pollution Feedlot agriculture is the normFeedlot agriculture is the norm

Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts PesticidesPesticides

ResistanceResistance Farmers use moreFarmers use more Residues on foodResidues on food

Land degradationLand degradation Loss of Loss of productivityproductivity

SalinizationSalinization Habitat Habitat fragmentationfragmentation

Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts

Looking Towards The Looking Towards The FutureFuture

Food requirements have been metFood requirements have been met Environmental problems increasingEnvironmental problems increasing More food will be neededMore food will be needed Vicious circle???Vicious circle???

Controlling Controlling Agricultural PestsAgricultural Pests

Pest: interferes with human Pest: interferes with human welfare or activitieswelfare or activities

PesticidesPesticides Help control pestsHelp control pests InsecticidesInsecticides HerbicidesHerbicides FungicidesFungicides RodenticidesRodenticides

Genetic resistanceGenetic resistance 520 insect species resistant520 insect species resistant 84 weed species resistant84 weed species resistant

BioaccumulationBioaccumulation BiomagnificationBiomagnification Affect non-target speciesAffect non-target species New pests may emergeNew pests may emerge Don’t stay putDon’t stay put

Problems With Problems With PesticidesPesticides

Alternatives to Alternatives to PesticidesPesticides

Integrated Pest Integrated Pest ManagementManagement

Combination of control methodsCombination of control methods Keep crop loss to economically Keep crop loss to economically tolerable leveltolerable level

Sustainable agricultureSustainable agriculture Management vs. Management vs.

eradicationeradication Education criticalEducation critical On the increaseOn the increase

RangelandsRangelands Grasslands not intensively managedGrasslands not intensively managed Livestock grazingLivestock grazing Grasses, forbs, shrubsGrasses, forbs, shrubs

Vegetation has fibrous root Vegetation has fibrous root systemsystem

GrazingGrazing Can be beneficialCan be beneficial Carefully manageCarefully manage Can increase plant diversityCan increase plant diversity Don’t exceed carrying capacityDon’t exceed carrying capacity

RangelandsRangelands

Rangeland DegradationRangeland Degradation DesertificationDesertification

Progressive degradationProgressive degradation Result of overgrazing and droughtResult of overgrazing and drought On the increaseOn the increase

Canadian RangelandsCanadian Rangelands Only 70 million acres are suitable for Only 70 million acres are suitable for livestock grazing in Canadalivestock grazing in Canada

Under increasing pressure: why?Under increasing pressure: why? Conservation easementsConservation easements

Protect privately owned land from Protect privately owned land from developmentdevelopment

Public rangelandsPublic rangelands Provincial crown landProvincial crown land Agri-Environmental Services BranchAgri-Environmental Services Branch

Public Canadian Public Canadian RangelandsRangelands

AESB manages 915,000 hectares of AESB manages 915,000 hectares of rangelands in Western Canadarangelands in Western Canada

Conduct biodiversity inventoriesConduct biodiversity inventories Management includes seeding, Management includes seeding, controlled burns, fence controlled burns, fence construction, rotational construction, rotational grazing, controlling invasive grazing, controlling invasive weeds, and protecting habitats weeds, and protecting habitats of endangered speciesof endangered species

Three essential service Three essential service programs:programs: Community Pasture ProgramCommunity Pasture Program Cover Crop Protection ProgramCover Crop Protection Program Prairie Shelter Belt ProgramPrairie Shelter Belt Program

Public Canadian Public Canadian RangelandsRangelands

ForestsForests Less than 1/3 Earth’s Less than 1/3 Earth’s areaarea

What do we use forests What do we use forests for?for?

Ecosystem servicesEcosystem services Help regulate Help regulate biogeochemical cyclesbiogeochemical cycles ““Carbon sinks”Carbon sinks” Release ORelease O22

Protect watersheds: Protect watersheds:

how?how? Provide habitatProvide habitat

Forest Regions of Forest Regions of CanadaCanada

Forest ManagementForest Management Traditional Traditional managementmanagement Tree plantationsTree plantations

MonoculturesMonoculturesSupport fewer Support fewer organisms: organisms: why?why?

Low-diversity Low-diversity forestsforests

Sustainable forestrySustainable forestry Practices varyPractices vary Environmentally balancedEnvironmentally balanced Maintain mix of treesMaintain mix of trees Long-term conservationLong-term conservation Wildlife corridorsWildlife corridors

Connects areasConnects areasHelp some populationsHelp some populations

Forest ManagementForest Management

Harvesting TreesHarvesting Trees 2005: 3.5 million 2005: 3.5 million cubic feet of wood cubic feet of wood harvestedharvested Some burned Some burned directlydirectly

Charcoal Charcoal productionproduction

Paper and wood Paper and wood productsproducts

Some wood Some wood ecologically ecologically certifiedcertified

Selective CuttingSelective Cutting Mature trees cut individually or in Mature trees cut individually or in small clusterssmall clusters

Forest remains essentially intactForest remains essentially intact

Shelterwood CuttingShelterwood Cutting Removal of all mature trees in Removal of all mature trees in an area over an extended periodan area over an extended period

Seed Tree CuttingSeed Tree Cutting Almost all trees removed from an areaAlmost all trees removed from an area Some left to provide seeds for Some left to provide seeds for regenerationregeneration

Clear-cuttingClear-cutting All trees in an area are cutAll trees in an area are cut Area reseeds naturally or plantedArea reseeds naturally or planted Common and controversialCommon and controversial

Clear-cuttingClear-cutting

DeforestationDeforestation

Clearing large expanses of forestsClearing large expanses of forests Most serious problem facing forests Most serious problem facing forests todaytoday

Why is this occurring?Why is this occurring? Most in Africa and Most in Africa and

South AmericaSouth America

Results of Results of DeforestationDeforestation

Decreased soil fertilityDecreased soil fertility Increased soil erosionIncreased soil erosion DesertificationDesertification Increased extinctionIncreased extinction Regional and global Regional and global climate changes: how?climate changes: how?

Deforestation: Boreal Deforestation: Boreal ForestsForests

Alaska, Canada, Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, Scandinavia, Northern RussiaNorthern Russia

Extensive by late Extensive by late 1980s1980s

Used for wood, wood Used for wood, wood fiberfiber

Annual loss = area Annual loss = area twice as large as twice as large as Brazil’s rain Brazil’s rain forestsforests

Tropical Rain ForestsTropical Rain Forests Central & South America, Africa, SE AsiaCentral & South America, Africa, SE Asia

Deforestation: Deforestation: Tropical Rain ForestsTropical Rain Forests

Subsistence agricultureSubsistence agriculture Farmers follow roadsFarmers follow roads Slash-and-burnSlash-and-burn Later used for ranchingLater used for ranching

Commercial loggingCommercial logging Cattle ranchingCattle ranching Dam buildingDam building MiningMining

Deforestation: Deforestation: Tropical Dry ForestsTropical Dry Forests

India, Kenya, India, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Egypt, BrazilBrazil

FuelwoodFuelwood Charcoal productionCharcoal production

Very wastefulVery wasteful 4 tons wood 4 tons wood run run smelter for 5 smelter for 5 minutesminutes

Important MineralsImportant Minerals Sulfides: contain sulphurSulfides: contain sulphur Oxides: contain oxygenOxides: contain oxygen MetalsMetals

Malleable, lustrous, Malleable, lustrous, conductorsconductors

Iron, aluminum, copperIron, aluminum, copper Nonmetallic mineralsNonmetallic minerals OreOre

Rock with valuable mineralRock with valuable mineral

EconomyEconomy

Enabled highly developed nations to Enabled highly developed nations to become industrializedbecome industrialized

In 2006:In 2006: Canada’s mineral and mining Canada’s mineral and mining products accounted for over 17% products accounted for over 17% the nations total domestic exportsthe nations total domestic exports

$40 billion toward the gross $40 billion toward the gross domestic productdomestic product

369,000 jobs369,000 jobs

Extracting MineralsExtracting Minerals

Locate depositLocate deposit Analyze mineral compositionAnalyze mineral composition Mine for minerals: many Mine for minerals: many different waysdifferent ways

Process mineralProcess mineral Make productMake product

Surface MiningSurface Mining Near the surfaceNear the surface Less expensiveLess expensive Overburden removedOverburden removed Open-pitOpen-pit

Dig quarryDig quarry Iron, copper, Iron, copper, gravel gravel

Strip miningStrip mining Dig trench to extract mineralDig trench to extract mineral Dig parallel trenchDig parallel trench Cover old trench with new Cover old trench with new overburdenoverburden

Spoil bankSpoil bank

Surface MiningSurface Mining

Subsurface MiningSubsurface Mining Minerals deep in groundMinerals deep in ground Less land disturbanceLess land disturbance More expensiveMore expensive More hazardousMore hazardous Shaft mineShaft mine

Direct Direct

vertical shaftvertical shaft CoalCoal

Slope mineSlope mine Slanting passageSlanting passage Ore hauled in carsOre hauled in cars

Subsurface MiningSubsurface Mining

Mining & The Mining & The EnvironmentEnvironment

Disturbs landDisturbs land Land prone to erosion Land prone to erosion further further damagedamage

Uses a lot of waterUses a lot of water Contaminated streamsContaminated streams Acid-mine drainageAcid-mine drainage

Impacts of RefiningImpacts of Refining

About 80% of mined ore made of About 80% of mined ore made of impuritiesimpurities

TailingsTailings Waste left Waste left

behindbehind Left in pilesLeft in piles ToxicToxic

Restoration of Mining Restoration of Mining LandsLands

When mine no longer profitableWhen mine no longer profitable Prevents further degradationPrevents further degradation Filling in and grading the areaFilling in and grading the area Planting vegetationPlanting vegetation Large communityLarge community

restoration took placerestoration took place

in Sudbury, Ontario in in Sudbury, Ontario in

the early 1970’sthe early 1970’s

Soil: What Is It?Soil: What Is It?

More than just dirt!More than just dirt! Uppermost layer of Uppermost layer of Earth’s crustEarth’s crust

Mineral and organic Mineral and organic mattermatter

Living organismsLiving organisms We depend on it: We depend on it: how?how?

Soil FormationSoil Formation Formed from parent materialFormed from parent material Biological, chemical and Biological, chemical and physical weathering processesphysical weathering processes

Continuous processContinuous process Topography plays a role: how?Topography plays a role: how? Takes a long timeTakes a long time

Soil CompositionSoil Composition Four main partsFour main parts Mineral particlesMineral particles

Main componentMain component From parent materialFrom parent material Provides anchorage and mineralsProvides anchorage and minerals

Organic matterOrganic matter Living or formerly living matterLiving or formerly living matter HumusHumus

AirAir WaterWater

Soil ProfileSoil Profile Look at horizons: layersLook at horizons: layers O horizon: surface layerO horizon: surface layer A horizon: topsoilA horizon: topsoil

Deep in grassland soilsDeep in grassland soils Thinner in forest, tropical Thinner in forest, tropical soilssoils

B horizon: subsoilB horizon: subsoil C horizon: parent materialC horizon: parent material Materials leach through the layersMaterials leach through the layers

Soil ProfileSoil Profile

Soil OrganismsSoil Organisms

Soil OrganismsSoil Organisms

Soil is alive!Soil is alive! Plant roots, insects, Plant roots, insects, earthworms, moles, etc…earthworms, moles, etc…

Bacteria most numerousBacteria most numerous Fungi, algae, protozoaFungi, algae, protozoa Provide ecosystem services: Provide ecosystem services: examples?examples?

DecompositionDecomposition Nutrient cyclingNutrient cycling Pathway of Pathway of nutrient minerals nutrient minerals or elementsor elements

Sign of balanced Sign of balanced ecosystemecosystem

Soil ProblemsSoil Problems

Our activities cause many problemsOur activities cause many problems Soil erosionSoil erosion Mineral depletionMineral depletion Soil pollutionSoil pollution

Sustainable soil useSustainable soil use Wise use of soil resourcesWise use of soil resources Keep soil productive for the Keep soil productive for the futurefuture

Soil ErosionSoil Erosion Movement of soilMovement of soil Natural processNatural process Accelerated todayAccelerated today Water, windWater, wind Major effectsMajor effects

Loss of soil fertility Loss of soil fertility

Soil cannot retain as much Soil cannot retain as much waterwater

Runoff into bodies of waterRunoff into bodies of water

Poor soil managementPoor soil management Agriculture, road Agriculture, road

building, loggingbuilding, logging Plant cover limits Plant cover limits

erosionerosion

Soil ErosionSoil Erosion

Soil PollutionSoil Pollution Physical or chemical change in soilPhysical or chemical change in soil Adversely affects health of organismsAdversely affects health of organisms Some from fertilizers, pesticidesSome from fertilizers, pesticides Salinization Salinization

Result of irrigationResult of irrigation Can render soil Can render soil

uselessuseless

Parks and Protected Parks and Protected AreasAreas

National parks are managed by National parks are managed by Parks CanadaParks Canada

Established in 1911Established in 1911 There were 42 National Parks and There were 42 National Parks and Park Reserves in Canada in 2010Park Reserves in Canada in 2010

National Parks cover 225,000 National Parks cover 225,000 square kilometers, approximately square kilometers, approximately 2% of total land mass2% of total land mass

National Marine Conservation Areas National Marine Conservation Areas

National Parks of National Parks of CanadaCanada

National ParksNational Parks Primary goal is to protect the Primary goal is to protect the natural landscapes that occur in natural landscapes that occur in Canada’s 39 natural regionsCanada’s 39 natural regions

Protected under federal Protected under federal legislation, the Canada National legislation, the Canada National Parks ActParks Act

Managed primarily to protect and Managed primarily to protect and restore their ecological integrityrestore their ecological integrity

Ecosystem management approachEcosystem management approach

National ParksNational Parks 1989 the endangered spaces 1989 the endangered spaces campaign was launched by Canadian campaign was launched by Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and World Wildlife Fund of (CPAWS) and World Wildlife Fund of CanadaCanada

National MarineNational Marine

Conservation Areas Conservation Areas

are managed forare managed for

sustainable use. sustainable use.

Provincial ParksProvincial Parks Managed by agencies within the Managed by agencies within the government departmentsgovernment departments

Management plan is prepared for Management plan is prepared for each parkeach park

Face challenges of wildfires, Face challenges of wildfires, wildlife imbalances, disease, wildlife imbalances, disease, and human impactsand human impacts

Each province has legislation Each province has legislation to protect the provincial parksto protect the provincial parks

Conservation in ParksConservation in Parks Maintain ecological integrityMaintain ecological integrity Preserve historical and Preserve historical and commemorative placescommemorative places

Promote conservation ethicPromote conservation ethic Demonstrate conservation Demonstrate conservation principles and approaches principles and approaches from United Nations reportsfrom United Nations reports

The 12 Percent ChallengeThe 12 Percent Challenge

Sustainable AgricultureSustainable Agriculture Maintains soil productivity: Maintains soil productivity: conservation techniquesconservation techniques

Healthy ecological balanceHealthy ecological balance Minimal long-term impactsMinimal long-term impacts Natural fertilizersNatural fertilizers

Less chemicals and antibioticsLess chemicals and antibiotics Water and energy conservationWater and energy conservation Diverse cropsDiverse crops

Sustainable AgricultureSustainable Agriculture

Organic agricultureOrganic agriculture No non-natural chemicalsNo non-natural chemicals No genetic engineeringNo genetic engineering

View the farm as an View the farm as an agroecosystemagroecosystem

Second green revolution!Second green revolution!

Sustainable AgricultureSustainable Agriculture

Genetic EngineeringGenetic Engineering Move genes from one species to Move genes from one species to anotheranother

Could improve agricultureCould improve agriculture

Potential Benefits of GM Potential Benefits of GM CropsCrops

Decrease nutritional deficiencies Decrease nutritional deficiencies worldwide: Golden Riceworldwide: Golden Rice

Decreased use of pesticidesDecreased use of pesticides Heartier plantsHeartier plants Feed the worldFeed the world More productive farm animals More productive farm animals

Better animal vaccines Better animal vaccines

Potential Drawbacks of GM Potential Drawbacks of GM CropsCrops

Cross-Cross-pollination with pollination with native speciesnative species

Widespread crop Widespread crop failure failure

Food allergiesFood allergies Long-term Long-term impacts unknownimpacts unknown

Conservation TillageConservation Tillage Residues from Residues from previous crops previous crops left in soilleft in soil

Reduces erosion Reduces erosion up to 70%up to 70%

Soil has more Soil has more organic materialorganic material

Drawbacks?Drawbacks?

Crop RotationCrop Rotation

Planting a series crops in the Planting a series crops in the same field over a period of same field over a period of yearsyears

Decreases insect damageDecreases insect damage Reduces erosionReduces erosion Rotated crops depend Rotated crops depend

on where you farmon where you farm

TerracingTerracing

Used on Used on very steep very steep slopesslopes

Like Like stairsstairs

Very Very expensive!expensive!

Other MethodsOther Methods Contour plowingContour plowing

Farm with the natural Farm with the natural contours of the landcontours of the land

Strip croppingStrip cropping Strips of differing cropsStrips of differing crops

Soil ReclamationSoil Reclamation

Badly eroded landBadly eroded land Prevent further Prevent further erosionerosionSeed bare groundSeed bare groundPlant shelterbeltsPlant shelterbelts

Restore soil Restore soil fertilityfertilitySoil must recover Soil must recover firstfirst

Restrict farming?Restrict farming?

Canada lagging behind Canada lagging behind In the United States, Food Security In the United States, Food Security Act of 1985Act of 1985 Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

Voluntary programVoluntary program Take land out of production for Take land out of production for 10–15 years10–15 years

Receive subsidyReceive subsidy Reduced soil erosionReduced soil erosion Wildlife habitatWildlife habitat

Soil Conservation PoliciesSoil Conservation Policies

Consider a career as a Consider a career as a remediation specialistremediation specialist

Be involved in the planning of Be involved in the planning of removing contamination from soil, removing contamination from soil, groundwater, and other natural groundwater, and other natural sitessites

Eco Canada Career FocusEco Canada Career Focus

Case Study: Industrial Case Study: Industrial EcosystemsEcosystems

Industrial ecologyIndustrial ecology Efficient use of resourcesEfficient use of resources ““Wastes” are potential Wastes” are potential productsproducts

Mimic natural ecosystemsMimic natural ecosystems Kalundborg, DenmarkKalundborg, Denmark

Link different industriesLink different industries

Kalundborg, DenmarkKalundborg, Denmark

Takes many years to developTakes many years to develop Economy and environment Economy and environment benefit: how?benefit: how?

Case Study: Industrial Case Study: Industrial EcosystemsEcosystems