Chapter 17Chapter 17Land ResourcesLand Resources
Overview of Chapter 17Overview of Chapter 17
o Land UseLand Use• World land useWorld land use• US land useUS land use
o Wilderness Park and Wildlife RefugesWilderness Park and Wildlife Refuges• National ParksNational Parks• Wildlife RefugeWildlife Refuge
o ForestsForests• Forest management Forest management • DeforestationDeforestation
o Rangeland and Agricultural LandRangeland and Agricultural Lando Wetlands and Coastal AreasWetlands and Coastal Areaso Conservation of Land ResourcesConservation of Land Resources
Land Use- WorldwideLand Use- Worldwide
Land Use- United StatesLand Use- United States
Local areasLocal areaso National ParksNational Parkso http://www.nps.gov/applications/http://www.nps.gov/applications/
parksearch/state.cfm?st=PAparksearch/state.cfm?st=PA
National Wildlife Refuge- Erie and Tinicum National Wildlife Refuge- Erie and Tinicum (John Heinz, close to Philadelphia)(John Heinz, close to Philadelphia)
http://www.fws.gov/heinz/index.htmlhttp://www.fws.gov/heinz/index.html
o Allegheny National Forest – only one in PAAllegheny National Forest – only one in PAo http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/allegheny/http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/allegheny/
John Heinz National Wildlife John Heinz National Wildlife RefugeRefuge
Allegheny National ForestAllegheny National Forest
Land Use- United StatesLand Use- United States
o 55% of US land is privately owned55% of US land is privately ownedo Remainder of land is owned by governmentRemainder of land is owned by government
• Most federally owned land is in Alaska and 11 Most federally owned land is in Alaska and 11 western stateswestern states
Managing Public and Private Managing Public and Private LandLand
o Public Planning and Land UsePublic Planning and Land Use• Land use decisions are complex and have Land use decisions are complex and have
multiple effectsmultiple effects• Must take into account all repercussions of Must take into account all repercussions of
proposed land useproposed land use
o Management of Federal LandManagement of Federal Land• Wide-Use MovementWide-Use Movement• Environmental MovementEnvironmental Movement
Wilderness AreasWilderness Areaso WildernessWilderness
• A protected area of land in which no human A protected area of land in which no human development is permitteddevelopment is permitted
o Wilderness Act (1964)Wilderness Act (1964)• Set aside federally owned land as part of Set aside federally owned land as part of
National Wilderness Preservation SystemNational Wilderness Preservation System• No development permitted (including No development permitted (including
roads), trails left alone, not maintained. roads), trails left alone, not maintained. Maybe difficult to visitMaybe difficult to visit
o Managed by NPS, USFS, FWS & BLMManaged by NPS, USFS, FWS & BLM
WildernessWilderness
o Some areas have a limited number of Some areas have a limited number of permitted human guests to reduce permitted human guests to reduce impactimpact
o Other problems include invasive Other problems include invasive speciesspecies
PA Wilderness areasPA Wilderness areas
o http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&WID=7fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&WID=7
o http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/allegheny/recreation/hiking/allegheny/recreation/hiking/hickory_creek/hickory_creek/
Within Allegheny National Forest Within Allegheny National Forest
National Park SystemNational Park System
o Created in 1916Created in 1916o Currently includes 58 Currently includes 58
parks parks (not including other (not including other designations like designations like monument, historic site monument, historic site etc.)etc.)
o Primary goalPrimary goal• Teach people about the Teach people about the
natural environment, natural environment, management of natural management of natural resources and history resources and history of a siteof a site
Yosemite National ParkYosemite National Park
National Park SystemNational Park System
o Threats to U.S. ParksThreats to U.S. Parks• Crime & VandalismCrime & Vandalism• Traffic jamsTraffic jams• Pollution of the soil, water and airPollution of the soil, water and air
• Originating both inside and outside the parkOriginating both inside and outside the park• Resource violationsResource violations
o Natural RegulationNatural Regulation• Policy to let nature take it coursePolicy to let nature take it course• No culling wildlife (no hunting)No culling wildlife (no hunting)• No suppressing wildfireNo suppressing wildfire
Ken Burn’s National Parks Ken Burn’s National Parks documentarydocumentary
o Antiquities ActAntiquities Act
o http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/watch-http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/watch-video/#658video/#658
o Teddy Roosevelt – A Progressive Teddy Roosevelt – A Progressive Republican of his dayRepublican of his day
o Park scandal of the day: Park scandal of the day: http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/watch-http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/watch-video/#807video/#807
Wildlife RefugesWildlife Refuges
o National Wildlife Refuge System (1903)National Wildlife Refuge System (1903)o Represent all major ecosystems founds Represent all major ecosystems founds
in the USin the USo MissionMission
• To preserve lands and waters for the To preserve lands and waters for the conservation of fishes, wildlife and plants of conservation of fishes, wildlife and plants of the USthe US
o Recreation (including hunting and Recreation (including hunting and fishing) are permitted fishing) are permitted • Cannot impede conservation effortsCannot impede conservation efforts
ForestsForests
o Role in Hydrologic Role in Hydrologic Cycle (right)Cycle (right)
o Forest Forest ManagementManagement
o DeforestationDeforestationo Forest Trends in Forest Trends in
the USthe USo Trends in Tropical Trends in Tropical
ForestsForestso Boreal ForestsBoreal Forests
SuccessionSuccession
o How has succession played a role in How has succession played a role in Okehocking?Okehocking?
o Describe the historical change in Describe the historical change in Okehocking’s land use?Okehocking’s land use?
o What stage of succession is What stage of succession is Okehocking? Think of trees that Okehocking? Think of trees that indicate stage.indicate stage.
Forest ManagementForest Management
o Traditional Forest Traditional Forest ManagementManagement• Low diversity- monocultures Low diversity- monocultures
(right)(right)• Managed for timber Managed for timber
productionproduction
o Ecological Sustainable Ecological Sustainable Forest ManagementForest Management• Environmentally balancedEnvironmentally balanced• Diverse treesDiverse trees• Prevent soil erosionPrevent soil erosion• Preserve watershedsPreserve watersheds• Wildlife corridors- unloggedWildlife corridors- unlogged
Harvesting TreesHarvesting Trees
Harvesting Trees - ClearcuttingHarvesting Trees - Clearcutting
DeforestationDeforestation
o Temporary or permanent clearance of Temporary or permanent clearance of large expanses of forest for agriculture large expanses of forest for agriculture or other useor other use
o World forests shrank 90 million acres World forests shrank 90 million acres from 2000–2005from 2000–2005
o CausesCauses• FireFire• Expansion of agricultureExpansion of agriculture• Construction of roadsConstruction of roads• Tree harvestTree harvest• Insect and diseaseInsect and disease
DeforestationDeforestation
o ResultsResults• Decreased soil fertilityDecreased soil fertility• Uncontrolled soil erosionUncontrolled soil erosion• Production of hydroelectric power (silt build Production of hydroelectric power (silt build
up behind dams)up behind dams)• Increased sedimentation of waterwaysIncreased sedimentation of waterways• Formation of desertsFormation of deserts• Extinction of speciesExtinction of species• Global climate changesGlobal climate changes
Forest Trends in USForest Trends in US
o Most temperature Most temperature forest are steady or forest are steady or expandingexpanding
o Returning stands lack Returning stands lack biodiversity of original biodiversity of original forestsforests
o More than half of US More than half of US forest are privately forest are privately owned (right)owned (right)• Forest Legacy ProgramForest Legacy Program• Conservation easementConservation easement
Local EffortsLocal Efforts
o http://www.wctrust.org/Conservation/http://www.wctrust.org/Conservation/RushtonWoodsPreserve/RushtonWoodsPreserve/RushtonWoodsPreserve.htmlRushtonWoodsPreserve.html
US National ForestsUS National Forests
o Managed for multiple usesManaged for multiple uses• Timber harvestTimber harvest• Livestock forageLivestock forage• Water resource and watershed protectionWater resource and watershed protection• Mining, hunting, fishing, etc.Mining, hunting, fishing, etc.
o Road building is an issueRoad building is an issue• Provides logging companies with access to Provides logging companies with access to
forestforest
o Clearcutting is an issueClearcutting is an issue
Sheep grazing in Apache National Sheep grazing in Apache National Forest, AZForest, AZ
Case-In-Point Tongass National ParkCase-In-Point Tongass National Park
o One of world’s few One of world’s few temperate temperate rainforestsrainforests
o Prime logging areaPrime logging areao Modified 1997 Modified 1997
Forest PlanForest Plano Roadless Area Roadless Area
Conservation Rule Conservation Rule (2000)(2000)
o Politics rules Politics rules government government agenciesagencies
Trends in Tropical ForestsTrends in Tropical Forests
o Tropical rainforests (below) and tropical Tropical rainforests (below) and tropical dry forestsdry forests
Disappearing Tropical Rain Disappearing Tropical Rain ForestsForests
o Population growthPopulation growth• Cannot account for Cannot account for
all of itall of ito Immediate causesImmediate causes
• Subsistence Subsistence agricultureagriculture
• Commercial loggingCommercial logging• Cattle ranchingCattle ranching
o Other causesOther causes• MiningMining• Hydroelectric powerHydroelectric power
Disappearing Tropical Dry Disappearing Tropical Dry ForestsForests
o Primarily destroyed for fuelwoodPrimarily destroyed for fuelwood• Used for heating and cookingUsed for heating and cooking
Boreal ForestsBoreal Forestso World’s largest biomeWorld’s largest biomeo Extensive clearcuttingExtensive clearcutting
• Primary source of world’s industrial wood Primary source of world’s industrial wood and wood fiberand wood fiber
Rangeland and Agricultural landsRangeland and Agricultural lands
o RangelandRangeland• Land that is not intensively managed and is used Land that is not intensively managed and is used
for grazing livestockfor grazing livestock
Rangeland Degradation and Rangeland Degradation and DeforestationDeforestation
o Overgrazing leaves ground barrenOvergrazing leaves ground barren• Animals exceed their carrying capacityAnimals exceed their carrying capacity
o Land degradationLand degradation• Natural or human-induced process that Natural or human-induced process that
decreases future ability of land to support decreases future ability of land to support crops or livestockcrops or livestock
o DesertificationDesertification• Degradation of once fertile land into Degradation of once fertile land into
nonproductive desertnonproductive desert
Rangeland Trends in USRangeland Trends in US
o Make up 30% of total US land areaMake up 30% of total US land area• 2/3 privately owned2/3 privately owned
o Pressure from developers to subdividePressure from developers to subdivideo Public rangeland managed by:Public rangeland managed by:
• Taylor Grazing Act (1934)Taylor Grazing Act (1934)• Federal Land Policy and Management Act Federal Land Policy and Management Act
(1976)(1976)
o Conditions of public rangeland are Conditions of public rangeland are slowly improvingslowly improving• Grazing fees is an issueGrazing fees is an issue
Agricultural LandAgricultural Land
o US has 300 million acres of prime US has 300 million acres of prime farmlandfarmland
o Much is being Much is being overtaken by overtaken by suburban suburban sprawlsprawl• Parking lotsParking lots• Housing Housing
developmentsdevelopments• Shopping mallsShopping malls
WetlandsWetlands
o Lands that are usually covered with water Lands that are usually covered with water for at least part of the yearfor at least part of the year
o Have characteristic soils and water-Have characteristic soils and water-tolerant vegetationtolerant vegetation
o BenefitsBenefits• Habitat for migratory waterfowl and wildlifeHabitat for migratory waterfowl and wildlife• Recharge groundwaterRecharge groundwater• Reduce damage from floodingReduce damage from flooding• Improve water qualityImprove water quality• Produce many commercially important Produce many commercially important
productsproducts
Hurricane Sandy ImpactHurricane Sandy Impacto Influence of wetlandsInfluence of wetlands
http://articles.philly.com/2013-10-29/http://articles.philly.com/2013-10-29/news/43497891_1_wetlands-loss-news/43497891_1_wetlands-loss-barnegat-bay-hurricane-sandybarnegat-bay-hurricane-sandy
o Influence of oystersInfluence of oysters
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/12/oysters-eyed-as-technology/2012/12/oysters-eyed-as-help-for-new-york-harbor/help-for-new-york-harbor/
WetlandsWetlands
o Human activity that threatens wetlandsHuman activity that threatens wetlands• Drainage for agriculture or mosquito Drainage for agriculture or mosquito
controlcontrol• Dredging for navigationDredging for navigation• Construction of dams, dykes or seawallsConstruction of dams, dykes or seawalls• Filling in for solid waste disposalFilling in for solid waste disposal• Road buildingRoad building• Mining for gravel, fossil fuels, etc.Mining for gravel, fossil fuels, etc.
o Shrinking 58,500 acres per yearShrinking 58,500 acres per year
Restoring WetlandsRestoring Wetlands
o No Net Loss of No Net Loss of Wetlands:Wetlands:
o Development of Development of wetlands is allowed if wetlands is allowed if corresponding amount corresponding amount of previously of previously converted wetland is converted wetland is restoredrestored
o Not all wetland Not all wetland restorations are restorations are successfulsuccessful
CoastlinesCoastlines
o Coastal wetlandsCoastal wetlands• Provide food and habitat for many aquatic Provide food and habitat for many aquatic
animalsanimals• Historically regarded as wastelandHistorically regarded as wasteland
o US starting to see US starting to see importance of importance of protecting this protecting this environmentenvironment• Retaining Retaining
seawalls (right)seawalls (right)
Coastal DemographicsCoastal Demographics
o Many coastal areas overdevelopedMany coastal areas overdeveloped• 3.8 billion people live within 150km of coastline3.8 billion people live within 150km of coastline• 6.4 billion people will likely live there by 20256.4 billion people will likely live there by 2025
o United StatesUnited States• 14 of 20 largest US cities along coast14 of 20 largest US cities along coast• 19 of 20 most densely populated countries along 19 of 20 most densely populated countries along
coastscoasts
Conservation and Land Conservation and Land ResourcesResources
o All types of ecosystems must be All types of ecosystems must be preservedpreserved
o Four criteria of importance:Four criteria of importance:• Areas lost or degraded since European Areas lost or degraded since European
colonizationcolonization• Number of present examples of a particular Number of present examples of a particular
ecosystem (or the total area)ecosystem (or the total area)• Estimate of the likelihood that a given Estimate of the likelihood that a given
ecosystem will lost a significant area or be ecosystem will lost a significant area or be degraded in next 10 yearsdegraded in next 10 years
• Number of threatened and endangered Number of threatened and endangered species living in the ecosystemspecies living in the ecosystem
Conservation and Land Conservation and Land ResourcesResources
