Land Chapter 14

How we use land  Land usage- –Rangeland= used for grazing and wildlife –Forest land= used for harvesting wood, wildlife, fish, and other resources –Cropland= used for farming –Parks and reserves= land used for recreation and scenic enjoyment or for preserving native ecosystems. –Wetlands, mountains, deserts, and other= land that is difficult for use by humans –Urban land= used for homes, businesses, industry, and roads

How we use land

 Where we live –Until about 1850 most people lived in rural areas.

How we use land  All people (those in cities or in rural areas) are dependent on resources from rural areas.

How we use land  In most developed counties it takes about 8 hectares of land to supply the ecosystem services needed for survival.  In the U.S. it take about 12 hectares of land for needed ecosystem services.  Many developing countries require less than1 hectare of land per person

Urban Land Use  Urbanization- movement of people from rural areas to cities – % of the U.S. population lived in urban areas – % of the U.S. population lived in urban areas –Sometimes several small towns grow together to make an urban area and this is refered to as a complex metropolitan area (Auburn-Opelika)

Urban land use  Urban Crisis –Infrastructure- all the things society builds for public use  Roads  Buildings  Sewers  Water mains  Power lines

Urban land use  Urban sprawl- rapid expansion of a city into the countryside around the city –Suburbs –People commute to work and to get resources –Development of cities on marginal lands (land not suited for building) because of a lack of space around the city for growth. –Heat island= the temperature at the heart of a city is higher than the surrounding countryside (affects locate weather patterns)

Urban land use  Urban planning- –Land use planning- determining in advance how land will be used.  Uses GIS to plan areas around existing sewer lines, roads, and parks  Transportation- Mass transit system are set up to move large #’s of people throughout the city  Open space (green space)- set aside to leave scenic and recreational enjoyment. –greenbelts

Land Management and conservation  Farmlands –U.S. has 100 million hectares of prime farmland –1996 National Farmland Protection Program

Land Management and Conservation  Rangeland –Land that supports different vegetation types like grasslands, shrublands or desert –Not used for growing crops ot timber –Population increases require greater use –Overgrazing- animals graze more than the ecosystem can maintain. Causes desertification –Most U.S. rangelands are public lands –Public Rangeland Improvement Act of 1978

Land Management and Conservation  Forest Lands- provide timber, paper products, recreation, and has aesthetic value –Worldwide use of lumber is 1,800 cm 3 per day but the U.S. is about 3.5 more –Clear cutting- removal of all trees when harvesting  benefit= cheaper  disadvantage= greater disruption to habitat –Selective cutting- removal of only middle aged and mature trees  Benefit= less disruptive to ecosystem  Disadvantage= $$

Land Management and Conservation  Deforestation- clearing of trees without replacing them

Land Management and Conservation  Parks and Preserves –Yellowstone National Park (1872) –Public lands are used for all purposes  Recreation  Habitat/species protection  resources –Wilderness- a public land that are protected from all human interference  Sipsey Wilderness in Alabama

Land Management and Conservation