Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity: The Ecosystem Approach G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment 14th Edition Chapter 11 Dr. Richard Clements Chattanooga State Technical Community College

Key Concepts Human land use Types and uses of US public lands Forests and forest management Implications of deforestation Management of parks Establishment and management of nature preserves Importance of ecological restoration

Types of US Public Lands Multiple-use lands: National Forests; National Resource Lands Moderately-restricted use lands: National Wildlife Refuges Restricted-use lands: National Park System; National Wilderness Preservation System

National parks and preserves National wildlife refuges US Public Lands National parks and preserves National forests National wildlife refuges

Managing and Sustaining Forests Ecological Importance of Forests Food webs and energy flow Water regulation Local and regional climate Numerous habitats and niches Air purification

Managing and Sustaining Forests Economic Importance of Forests Fuelwood (50% of global forest use) Industrial timber and lumber Pulp and paper Medicines Mineral extraction and recreation

Forest Structure Emergent Canopy Understory Floor Subsoil Birds, invertebrates, bats reptiles, amphibians, lichens, mosses Shade-tolerant plants, birds, squirrels, lizards, chipmunks Rotting debris, worms, insects, bacteria Nematodes, microrganisms Bole Snag Fig. 23.6, p. 592

Types of Forests Old-growth (frontier) forests Second-growth forests Tree farms/plantation Virgin forests, 1620 Virgin forests, 1998 Fig. 23.13b, p. 600

Forest Management Rotation cycle Even-aged management Industrial forestry Uneven-aged management Improved diversity Sustainable production Multiple-use

Management Strategies Years of growth 30 25 15 10 5 Clear cut Weak trees removed Seedlings planted Time Short rotation Wood volume or wood biomass B C A Long rotations Old-growth harvest (such as hardwoods for furniture) Fig. 23.7, p. 593 Fig. 23.9, p. 594

Logging Roads Increased erosion and runoff Habitat fragmentation Pathways for exotic species Accessibility to humans Fig. 23.10, p. 595 Highway Cleared plots for grazing for agriculture Virgin forest

Harvesting Trees Selective cutting High-grading Shelterwood cutting Fig. 23.11, p. 596 Selective cutting High-grading Cut 2 Cut 1 Shelterwood Cutting Selective Cutting Shelterwood cutting Seed-tree cutting Seed-Tee Cutting Clear-Cutting Clearcutting Strip cutting Cut Cut Cut Uncut Uncut 1 year ago 6–10 years ago 3–5 years ago Strip Cutting

Sustainable Forestry Longer rotations Selective or strip cutting Minimize fragmentation Improved road building techniques Certified sustainable grown (See Solutions p. 598)

Pathogens Fungal Diseases Chestnut blight Dutch elm disease Insect Pests Bark beetles Gypsy moth

Fire Surface fires Crown fires Surface fire Crown fire

Forest Resources and Management in the United States Habitat fro threatened and endangered species Water purification services Recreation 3% of timber harvest Sustainable yield and multiple use Substitues for tree products

Tropical Deforestation Rapid and increasing Loss of biodiversity Cultural extinction Unsustainable agriculture and ranching Clearing for cash crop plantations Commercial logging Fuelwood

Degradation of Tropical Forests Bromeliad Orchid Roads Logging Cash crops Cattle ranching Tree plantations Flooding from dams Mining Oil drilling Unsustainable peasant farming Primary Causes: Rapid population growth Exploitive government policies Poverty Exports to developed counties Failure to include ecological services in evaluating forest resources Toucan Scarlet macaw Golden lion marmoset Blue morpho butterfly Secondary Causes: Fig. 23.18, p. 608

Reducing Tropical Deforestation Identification of critical ecosystems Reducing poverty and population growth Sustainable tropical agriculture Encourage protection of large tracts Debt-for-nature swaps Less destructive harvesting methods

The Fuelwood Crisis Planting fast-growing fuelwood plants Burning wood more efficiently Switching to other fuels Fig. 23.21, p. 611

Managing and Sustaining National Parks Most parks are too small to maintain biodiversity Invasion by exotic species Popularity a major problem Traffic jams and air pollution Visitor impact (noise) Natural regulation Better pay for park staff

Establishing, Designing, and Managing Nature Reserves Include some moderate disturbance Sustain natural ecological processes Protect most important areas Buffer zones Gap analysis See Solutions p. 620 Wilderness areas

Ecological Restoration Restoration ecology Rehabilitation See Individuals Matter p. 624 Replacement Creating artificial ecosystems Natural restoration