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Published byChristian Chad Black Modified over 9 years ago
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Land Use in the World
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Land Use in the United States Rangeland and pasture 29%
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U.S. Public Lands
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Managing U.S. Public Lands Management ethics Economic Balanced multiple use Ecological Preservationist
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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
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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
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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
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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”
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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
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Conflicting Demands Mineral Resources
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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”
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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
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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
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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
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Degradation of Tropical Forests
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Tropical Deforestation Rapid and increasing Loss of biodiversity Cultural extinction Unsustainable agriculture and ranching Clearing for cash crop plantations Commercial logging Fuelwood
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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?
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U.S. Species Diversity
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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
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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
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Extinction Rates Background (natural) rate of extinction Mass extinction
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Why Should We Care About Extinctions and Biodiversity? 1) economics 2) aesthetics 3) ecological 4) ethics 1) economics 2) aesthetics 3) ecological 4) ethics
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Causes of Premature Extinction of Wild Species
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Habitat Disturbance and Destruction California Condor
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Commercial Hunting Black Rhino Range in 1700 Range today (about 2,400 left)
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Predator and Pest Control African Elephant Probable range 1600 Range today (300,000 left)
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Collecting for Pets, Zoos, Research
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Pollution Bald Eagle - DDT
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Species Introductions Dodo Bird Zebra Mussel
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Threats from Nonnative Species
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Strategies for Protecting Biodiversity Species approach Ecosystem approach
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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
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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
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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
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Bird Success Stories California Condor Whooping Crane Peregrine Falcon Canada Goose Wild Turkey
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Economics and the Environment Sustaining economic growth? - Is growth necessary for progress? - Limited natural resources - Limited capacity to deal with wastes
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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
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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
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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
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Politics Orderly distribution of resources Political systems designed to accomplish this goal Political systems designed to accomplish this goal
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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)
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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
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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)
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United States Political System Judicial: interpreting the laws Environmental law - Who “speaks for the trees”? Environmental law - Who “speaks for the trees”? The Lorax
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Environmental Policy in the United States
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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Ecological Crisis? Gloom and doom? Technological optimism? “Good old days”? An important beginning Lots more to accomplish
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