Humans Affecting the Environment Environment & Resource Management

Humans Affecting the Environment Changing the Landscape Urbanization

Changing the Landscape Methods of Harvesting Forests Pipeline Construction Effect of Chemicals

Methods of Harvesting Forests Clear-cutting Shelterwood Cutting Selective cutting

Methods of Harvesting Forests Trees up to 25" in diameter can be cut with the XL25.

When replanted, the new forest grows uniformly in species and size Methods of Harvesting Forests Clear Cutting Loggers remove every tree and leave a barren landscape. When replanted, the new forest grows uniformly in species and size

Methods of Harvesting Forests Shelterwood Cutting Involves clear-cutting only part of an old growth forest Small groups of seed bearing trees are left so the area will regenerate. Shelterwood method is often used in forests that have grown and aged evenly

Only mature trees of the desired size, type or quality Methods of Harvesting Forests Selective Cutting Only mature trees of the desired size, type or quality Another shot of the same stand in an area that has been finished--except for picking up a few logs.  The stand is about 65 years old.

Methods of Harvesting Forests This is the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Haiti has one set of policies, Dominican Republic another…

Pipeline Construction The Mackenzie Gas Project proposes to develop natural gas fields in the Mackenzie Delta of the Northwest Territories and deliver the natural gas to markets through a pipeline system built along the Mackenzie Valley.

Effect of Chemicals Pesticides, Herbicides, Carbon Dioxide emissions, and even weather modification…

Weather Modification What is purposeful weather modification? “Any action designed or intended to produce, by chemical means, changes in composition or dynamics of the atmosphere for the purpose of increasing, decreasing, or redistributing precipitation, decreasing or suppressing hail or lightning, or dissipating fog or cloud.”

Weather Modification Why modify the weather? to increase the effects of a natural element (e.g. rainfall) to redistribute the effects of a natural element (e.g. snowfall) to remove the effects of a natural element (e.g. fog) to reduce the effects of a natural element (e.g. hail or a hurricane)

Weather Modification How is the weather modified? to increase precipitation in warm clouds, add salt or water spray with planes, generators, and rockets to increase precipitation in cold clouds, add synthetic ice forming nucleus with planes, generators, and rockets dry ice silver iodide liquid propane to redistribute precipitation, over seed the clouds to create lighter flakes which the wind will blow away from target area (e.g. Buffalo)

Weather Modification How is the weather modified? to disperse fog in warm clouds: thermal dissipation – adding heat chemical desiccation – adding lithium hydroxide (dry) mechanical mixing – helicopter downwash to disperse fog in cold clouds, seed the clouds as with increasing precipitation, but how to get the plane in the air?! Salt Lake City Anchorage Paris USAF

Weather Modification Who is involved with weather modification projects?

Weather Modification Issues being raised about weather modification scientific – evaluation of techniques, results social – conflicts between land uses environmental – side effects of chemicals legal political

Weather Modification Reducing the effects of hurricanes hurricanes are on the rise, El Nino and La Nina too but where to experiment with these ideas? “NIMBY!” cool the warm waters (submarines) reduce evaporation (oil) seeding agent into wall clouds around the eye of the storm to slow wind speeds…

Weather Modification

Weather Modification Weather modification as a military weapon Vietnam especially (7 years) Operation POP EYE used to increase precipitation to soften road surfaces, cause landslides along roadways, wash out river crossings, and maintain saturated soil conditions longer than normal time span” 2600 sorties flown 1275 sorties deemed successful has been international discussions on prohibiting purposeful weather modification for military purposes

Urbanization

hamlet → village → town → suburb → city → metropolis Urbanization Urbanization is the movement of people up the urban hierarchy. hamlet → village → town → suburb → city → metropolis

Urbanization Urbanization is the movement of people UP the urban hierarchy. This has been the main migration pattern of Canadians since the creation of our country in 1867 until the 1990s. The chart below illustrates the overall percentage of Canada’s population living in rural and urban areas. Year % Rural % Urban 1871 77 23 1931 50 1976 34 66

Urbanization Why did people leave the countryside to live in the big cities? reduced need for farm labour due to farm modernization (e.g. tractors) improvements in mobility (better transportation systems reduces need for local stores) consolidation of goods & services (most things one needs has relocated to urban areas)

Counter-Urbanization Counter-urbanization is the movement of people DOWN the urban hierarchy. This has been the trend for many parts of Canada since the late 1970s. (metropolis → hamlet) In general, there are now three categories of people living in rural areas. Newcomers - retain ties to urban core, younger, well educated, well off, managers/professionals Homecomers - young families returning to provide rural upbringing to children Ruralites – have never lived in an urban core

Counter-Urbanization Why are people leaving the cities to live in smaller towns and villages? health issues, security, “community” “back to nature” movement (desire to live in the country) increase in telecommuting (less need to be at an office) cheaper land and house prices

Urbanization What is Urban Planning? who controls where things get developed? how do they show where what is permitted? what different types of land uses are there? land use maps are quite general.... how do I know what is allowed on a specific piece of property? who does the actual construction on the land? what are the steps in getting an empty field to occupied subdivision? What is the impact of new subdivisions?

Town of Whitby Official Plan Map

Winchester Community Features LEGEND 1. Landscaped Stone Entrance Gate 2. Neighbourhood Park 3. Landscaped Stone Entrance Gate 4. Community Park   a) Future seperate elementary school   b) Future public elementary school 5. Pond with Gazebo 6. Proposed Future Secondary School 7. Neighbourhood Park 8. Landscaped Stone Entrance Gate 9. Pond and ravine lands 10. Meanding creek and nature trails 11. Landscaped Stone Entrance Gate

Winchester Subdivision Site Plan

Residential Property Survey

“Brooklin Estate” Artist’s Concept

“Brooklin Estate” Floor Plan