Chapter 14

Objectives 1.Distinguish between urban and rural land. 2.Describe three major ways in which humans use land. 3.Explain the concept of ecosystem services.

Forests

Where we live -Prior to 1850 most people lived in rural areas - -Industrial Revolution changed where people live - -In developed countries most people live in urban areas

The Urban-Rural connection  People that live in urban areas depend on resources in rural areas

Ecosystem services – resources produce by natured and artificial ecosystems i.e. Renewal of soil, purification of water, changing climate

Supporting urban areas depends on the following:  Climate  Standard of living  Now efficient resources are used

Objectives 1.Describe the urban crisis, and explain what people are doing to deal with it. 2.Explain how urban sprawl affects the environment. 3.Explain how open spaces provide urban areas with environmental benefits. 4.Explain the heat-island effect. 5.Describe how people use the geographic information system as a tool for land-use planning.

Urbanization  Movement of people into rural areas % 1980 – 75% Why move out of rural areas???

The Urban Crisis  What problems are caused by a city that grows too quickly?? Infrastructure – all the things that a society builds for public use (roads, sewer, hospitals, fire & police, power lines, etc)

Urban sprawl  Expansion of city into the countryside

Devolvement on marginal lands (poorly suited for building)

Heat islands

 Land use planning determines in advance how land will be used  Input from all parties

 GIS (geographical information system)

 Transportation considerations  Mass transit  Need for open space (green spaces)

Objectives 1. Explain the benefits of preserving farmland 2. Describe two ways that rangeland can be managed sustainability 3. Describe the environmental effects of deforestation 4. Explain the function of parks and wilderness area

Farmland  Land that is used to grow crops or fruit  US has over 100 million hectares  1 hectare=10,000 square meters or around 108,000 feet  Development threats farmland  Establishment of Farmland Protection Agency

Rangelands  Grasslands, shrublands, and deserts not used for farming  Can be arid or wet  Mostly used for livestock Problems on rangeland - overgrazing changes plant community - maintenance Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978

Forest lands  Provide many products  CO2 removal  Harvesting  Each American uses 6300 cubic feet of wood  3 categories  Virgin forest  Native forest  Tree farms  Methods of harvest  Clear-cutting  Selective cutting

 Deforestation  Clearing of trees form an area without replacement  Reduces wildlife habitat  Soil erosion  Reforestation  The process by which trees are planted to re-establish trees that have been cut down

Parks and Preserves  The first national park, Yellowstone, created in 1870s  We currently have over 50 national parks  Purposes  Hunting and fishing  Wildlife refuges  Logging  Mining  Wildness areas  An area in which the land and the ecosystems it supports are protected from exploitation  13 million hectares  Hiking, boating (no motors), fishing

 Benefits of protected areas  Species preservation  Recreation for people  Outdoor classrooms  Threats to protected areas  Litter  Traffic  Nearby areas affect them  Climate change