Land Use in the World

Land Use in the United States Rangeland and pasture 29%

U.S. Public Lands

Managing U.S. Public Lands  Management ethics  Economic  Balanced multiple use  Ecological  Preservationist

Changing Management  Through late-1800s: economic  Developed to maximize use and profit  Sold to homesteaders, railroads, timber and mining companies  Sold to homesteaders, railroads, timber and mining companies

Changing Management  Late-1800s: balanced multiple use  Use in several ways, but manage properly so resource is not damaged  Use in several ways, but manage properly so resource is not damaged  Maximum sustained yield  Set aside forest reserves to ensure adequate timber supply, protect river watersheds  Set aside forest reserves to ensure adequate timber supply, protect river watersheds

Changing Management  Also late-1800s: ecological  Use it, but emphasize maintaining natural aspects (plants, animals)  Use it, but emphasize maintaining natural aspects (plants, animals)  1872: lands set aside for eventual 1st national park - Yellowstone  1872: lands set aside for eventual 1st national park - Yellowstone  Ethic supported greatly by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt  Ethic supported greatly by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt

Changing Management  Throughout 1900s: preservationist  No development, leave as is for future  Aldo Leopold, WI conservationist  1964: National Wilderness Act (4%) - lands set aside, retained in natural state, no development unless for the “national good”  1964: National Wilderness Act (4%) - lands set aside, retained in natural state, no development unless for the “national good”

Today’s Management  Most lands managed according to balanced multiple use or ecological ethics - e.g. U.S. Forest Service Bureau of Land Management  Most lands managed according to balanced multiple use or ecological ethics - e.g. U.S. Forest Service Bureau of Land Management  Public lands still facing many problems

Conflicting Demands Mineral Resources

Wilderness Problems  Suffering from overuse  Limited entry in many areas  Timber, mining companies want access to resources  Timber, mining companies want access to resources  For the “national good”

Park Problems  Severe overuse  Billions of visitors each year  Cars, noise, pollution, litter, crime  Conflicts between providing for visitor enjoyment and still conserving resources  Conflicts between providing for visitor enjoyment and still conserving resources

Forest Problems  Conflicting demands  Timber, grazing, recreation, mining, ecology  Timber, grazing, recreation, mining, ecology  Ecological benefits: air cleaning, erosion control, oxygen, soil fertility, water recycling, wildlife shelter  Ecological benefits: air cleaning, erosion control, oxygen, soil fertility, water recycling, wildlife shelter  Exceeding maximum sustained yield in many areas  Exceeding maximum sustained yield in many areas

Rangeland Problems  Overgrazing  Too many on too little for too long  Kills grass root systems  When combined with drought, overgrazing can cause desertification - conversion to desert  When combined with drought, overgrazing can cause desertification - conversion to desert

Degradation of Tropical Forests

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

Wildlife Resources  What is happening to the wildlife and plant resources around us today?  What is happening to the wildlife and plant resources around us today?

U.S. Species Diversity

Decreasing Biodiversity  10-20% of species alive in 1975 were extinct in 2000  10-20% of species alive in 1975 were extinct in 2000  Mostly plants, invertebrates in tropical rain forests (many undescribed species)  Mostly plants, invertebrates in tropical rain forests (many undescribed species)  40% of all species live in tropical areas  Disappear along with forests

Extinction Not New  99% of all species have gone extinct  Gradual environmental changes have been responsible for most extinctions  Gradual environmental changes have been responsible for most extinctions  Rapid environmental changes from asteroids, etc. also have been important in many extinctions  Rapid environmental changes from asteroids, etc. also have been important in many extinctions

Extinction Rates  Background (natural) rate of extinction  Mass extinction

Why Should We Care About Extinctions and Biodiversity? 1) economics 2) aesthetics 3) ecological 4) ethics 1) economics 2) aesthetics 3) ecological 4) ethics

Causes of Premature Extinction of Wild Species

Habitat Disturbance and Destruction California Condor

Commercial Hunting Black Rhino Range in 1700 Range today (about 2,400 left)

Predator and Pest Control African Elephant Probable range 1600 Range today (300,000 left)

Collecting for Pets, Zoos, Research

Pollution Bald Eagle - DDT

Species Introductions Dodo Bird Zebra Mussel

Threats from Nonnative Species

Strategies for Protecting Biodiversity  Species approach  Ecosystem approach

The Species Approach: Legal Means  International Treaties: CITES - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species  International Treaties: CITES - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species  National Laws:ESA - Endangered Species Act

The Species Approach: The Sanctuary  Wildlife refuges and protected areas - e.g. whooping cranes  Wildlife refuges and protected areas - e.g. whooping cranes  Zoos and Aquariums - captive breeding programs  Zoos and Aquariums - captive breeding programs  Gene banks, botanical gardens, and farms

The Ecosystem Approach  Biosphere reserves  U.S. has >30 reserves - Yellowstone National Park - Great Smoky Mtns. National Park  U.S. has >30 reserves - Yellowstone National Park - Great Smoky Mtns. National Park  Other countries have similar reserves

Bird Success Stories California Condor Whooping Crane Peregrine Falcon Canada Goose Wild Turkey

Economics and the Environment  Sustaining economic growth? - Is growth necessary for progress? - Limited natural resources - Limited capacity to deal with wastes

Directed Economic Growth  Identify different forms of growth with cost-benefit analyses  Identify different forms of growth with cost-benefit analyses  Environmentally good (GDP)  Environmentally bad (GDP)  Redirect growth

Redirecting Economic Growth  Reduce polluting growth, and growth dependent on nonrenewable resources  Reduce polluting growth, and growth dependent on nonrenewable resources  Encourage “clean” and efficient growth, and growth dependent on renewable resources  Encourage “clean” and efficient growth, and growth dependent on renewable resources

Harmful External Costs and Full- Cost Pricing  External costs - need to eliminate waste in the economy  External costs - need to eliminate waste in the economy  Full-cost pricing - pay true cost for goods and services - recycling fee and pollution tax to cost of new tires, oil changes  Full-cost pricing - pay true cost for goods and services - recycling fee and pollution tax to cost of new tires, oil changes

Politics  Orderly distribution of resources  Political systems designed to accomplish this goal  Political systems designed to accomplish this goal

United States Political System  Legislative: enact laws to ensure equitable distribution of resources  Legislative: enact laws to ensure equitable distribution of resources  Clean Air & Water Acts, Water Pollution Control Act, RCRA, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)  Clean Air & Water Acts, Water Pollution Control Act, RCRA, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

NEPA  Environmental impact statement  Short- and long-term effects of project on the environment  Short- and long-term effects of project on the environment  Examine alternatives

United States Political System  Executive: enforce the laws  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  Enforce environmental regulations  Distribute federal money for environmental purposes (Superfund)  Distribute federal money for environmental purposes (Superfund)

United States Political System  Judicial: interpreting the laws  Environmental law - Who “speaks for the trees”?  Environmental law - Who “speaks for the trees”? The Lorax

Environmental Policy in the United States

Factors Hindering Democracies in Dealing with Environmental Problems  Lack of long-range planning (usually focus on short-term issues)  Lack of long-range planning (usually focus on short-term issues)  Special interest groups have too much influence  Special interest groups have too much influence  Too much bureaucracy

Factors Hindering Democracies in Dealing with Environmental Problems  Reactive to problems instead of proactive  Major affected groups do not vote; no obligation on the part of politicians  Elected officials spend too much time raising money to be reelected

Religion and the Environment  Most environmental degradation has been the result of human attitudes and values.  Most environmental degradation has been the result of human attitudes and values.  Self-centered view of nature

Religion and the Environment  All major religions emphasize humans as a part of nature  All major religions emphasize humans as a part of nature  Steward of nature  A steward is a caretaker

Religion and the Environment  Most people do not practice their religious or philosophical beliefs when it relates to the environment (not acting as stewards)  Human population growth  Resource problems  Pollution problems  Human population growth  Resource problems  Pollution problems  More emphasis is being placed on environmental concerns now by the world’s religious leaders.

Ecological Crisis?  Gloom and doom?  Technological optimism?  “Good old days”?  An important beginning  Lots more to accomplish