Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity: The Ecosystem ApproachSustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity: The Ecosystem Approach

G. Tyler Miller’sLiving in the Environment

13th Edition

Chapter 23

G. Tyler Miller’sLiving in the Environment

13th Edition

Chapter 23

Dr. Richard ClementsChattanooga State Technical Community CollegeDr. Richard ClementsChattanooga State Technical Community College

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

Human land use Human land use

Types and uses of US public lands Types and uses of US public lands

Forests and forest management Forests and forest management

Implications of deforestation Implications of deforestation

Management of parks Management of parks

Establishment and management of nature preserves

Establishment and management of nature preserves

Importance of ecological restoration Importance of ecological restoration

Land Use in the WorldLand Use in the World

Fig. 23-2p. 595

Land Use in the United StatesLand Use in the United States

Fig. 23-3 p. 595Fig. 23-3 p. 595

Rangeland and pasture 29%

Types of US Public LandsTypes of US Public Lands

Multiple-use lands: National Forests; National Resource Lands –Land uses? Mining, logging, oil/gas drilling, atv, hunting, commercial fishing

Multiple-use lands: National Forests; National Resource Lands –Land uses? Mining, logging, oil/gas drilling, atv, hunting, commercial fishing

Moderately-restricted use lands: National Wildlife Refuges – permitted logging and mining, hunting, fishing, camping

Moderately-restricted use lands: National Wildlife Refuges – permitted logging and mining, hunting, fishing, camping

Restricted-use lands: National Park System; National Wilderness Preservation System –camping, hiking, highly restricted logging/mining, fishing with permits

Restricted-use lands: National Park System; National Wilderness Preservation System –camping, hiking, highly restricted logging/mining, fishing with permits

US Public LandsUS Public Lands

Fig. 23-4p. 596

Fig. 23-4p. 596

Managing US Public LandManaging US Public Land

Biodiversity and ecological functionBiodiversity and ecological function

No subsidies or tax breaks for useNo subsidies or tax breaks for use

Public should get fair compensationPublic should get fair compensation

Users held responsible for actionsUsers held responsible for actions

Takings and property rightsTakings and property rights

Managing and Sustaining ForestsManaging and Sustaining Forests

Ecological Importance of ForestsEcological Importance of Forests

Food webs and energy flowFood webs and energy flow

Water regulation-removing trees alters water cycle and soil

Water holding capacity

Water regulation-removing trees alters water cycle and soil

Water holding capacity

Local and regional climateLocal and regional climate

Numerous habitats and nichesNumerous habitats and niches

Air purificationAir purification

Managing and Sustaining ForestsManaging and Sustaining Forests

Economic Importance of ForestsEconomic Importance of Forests

Fuelwood (50% of global forest use)-

Developing countries rural use of fuelwood, urban areas use coal but require wood to createAlternatives are often dung, removes nutrients that would be part of manure, forests are depleted in circle around urban areas.

Fuelwood (50% of global forest use)-

Developing countries rural use of fuelwood, urban areas use coal but require wood to createAlternatives are often dung, removes nutrients that would be part of manure, forests are depleted in circle around urban areas.

Industrial timber and lumberIndustrial timber and lumberPulp and paper-3rd most polluting industry in N. Am. Due to

Chlorine bleaches –water, air, soil pollution

Pulp and paper-3rd most polluting industry in N. Am. Due to

Chlorine bleaches –water, air, soil pollution

MedicinesMedicinesMineral extraction and recreationMineral extraction and recreation

Forest StructureForest Structure

Fig. 23-9 p. 601Fig. 23-9 p. 601

Types of ForestsTypes of Forests

Old-growth (frontier) forestsOld-growth (frontier) forestsSecond-growth forestsSecond-growth forestsTree farms/plantationTree farms/plantation Fig. 23-18 p. 609Fig. 23-18 p. 609

Forest ManagementForest Management

Even-aged managementEven-aged managementIndustrial forestryIndustrial forestryUneven-aged managementUneven-aged managementImproved diversityImproved diversitySustainable productionSustainable productionMultiple-useMultiple-use

Rotation cycleRotation cycle

Management StrategiesManagement Strategies

Fig. 23-11 p. 601Fig. 23-11 p. 601

Fig. 23-12 p. 602Fig. 23-12 p. 602

Logging RoadsLogging Roads

Increased erosion and runoffIncreased erosion and runoffHabitat fragmentationHabitat fragmentationPathways for exotic speciesPathways for exotic speciesAccessibility to humansAccessibility to humans

Fig. 23-13 p. 602Fig. 23-13 p. 602

Harvesting TreesHarvesting Trees

Selective cutting Selective cutting

High-grading High-grading

Shelterwood cutting Shelterwood cutting

Seed-tree cutting Seed-tree cutting

Clearcutting Clearcutting

Strip cutting Strip cutting Fig. 23-14 p. 603Fig. 23-14 p. 603

Sustainable ForestrySustainable Forestry

Longer rotationsLonger rotations

Selective or strip cuttingSelective or strip cutting

Minimize fragmentationMinimize fragmentation

Improved road building techniquesImproved road building techniques

Certified sustainable grown-ecosystem approach

Pg. 606

(See Solutions p. 598)

Certified sustainable grown-ecosystem approach

Pg. 606

(See Solutions p. 598)

PathogensPathogens

Fungal DiseasesFungal Diseases

Insect PestsInsect PestsBark beetlesBark beetlesGypsy mothWoolly adelgid (hemlock)

Gypsy mothWoolly adelgid (hemlock)

Chestnut blightChestnut blightDutch elm diseaseDogwood Anthracnose

Dutch elm diseaseDogwood Anthracnose

FireFire

Surface firesSurface fires Crown firesCrown fires

Fig. 23-17 p. 607

Forest Resources and Management in the United StatesForest Resources and Management in the United States

Habitat for threatened and endangered species

Habitat for threatened and endangered species

Water purification servicesWater purification servicesRecreation Recreation 3% of timber harvest3% of timber harvestSustainable yield and multiple useSustainable yield and multiple useSubstitutes for tree productsSubstitutes for tree products

Tropical DeforestationTropical Deforestation

Rapid and increasing Rapid and increasing

Loss of biodiversity Loss of biodiversity

Cultural extinction Cultural extinction

Unsustainable agriculture and ranching Unsustainable agriculture and ranching

Clearing for cash crop plantations Clearing for cash crop plantations

Commercial logging Commercial logging

Fuelwood Fuelwood

Degradation of Tropical ForestsDegradation of Tropical Forests

Fig. 23-22p. 615

Reducing Tropical DeforestationReducing Tropical Deforestation

Identification of critical ecosystems Identification of critical ecosystems

Reducing poverty and population growth Reducing poverty and population growth

Sustainable tropical agriculture Sustainable tropical agriculture

Encourage protection of large tracts- government

policies

Encourage protection of large tracts- government

policies

Debt-for-nature swaps Debt-for-nature swaps

Less destructive harvesting methods Less destructive harvesting methods

The Fuelwood CrisisThe Fuelwood Crisis

Planting fast-growing fuelwood plants Planting fast-growing fuelwood plants Burning wood more efficiently Burning wood more efficiently Switching to other fuels= cheap and easy to construct solar

ovens

Switching to other fuels= cheap and easy to construct solar

ovens

Fig. 23-25 p. 618

Managing and Sustaining National ParksManaging and Sustaining National Parks

Most parks are too small to maintain biodiversity

Most parks are too small to maintain biodiversity

Invasion by exotic species Invasion by exotic species Popularity a major problem-since end of WWII Popularity a major problem-since end of WWII

Traffic jams and air pollution Traffic jams and air pollution Visitor impact (noise) Visitor impact (noise) Natural regulation Natural regulation Better pay for park staff Better pay for park staff

Establishing, Designing, and Managing Nature Reserves Establishing, Designing, and Managing Nature Reserves

Include some moderate disturbance Include some moderate disturbance

Sustain natural ecological processes Sustain natural ecological processes

Protect most important areas Protect most important areas

Buffer zones Buffer zones

Gap analysis Gap analysis

Wilderness areas Wilderness areas

See Solutions p. 625See Solutions p. 625

Ecological RestorationEcological Restoration

Ecological restorationEcological restoration

Restoration ecologyRestoration ecology

Rehabilitation Rehabilitation

Replacement Replacement

Creating artificial ecosystemsCreating artificial ecosystems

Natural restorationNatural restoration

See Individuals Matter p. 630See Individuals Matter p. 630