Land Use in the World. Land Use in the United States Rangeland and pasture 29%

Land Use in the WorldLand Use in the World

Land Use in the United StatesLand Use in the United States

Rangeland and pasture 29%

U.S. Public LandsU.S. Public Lands

Managing U.S. Public LandsManaging U.S. Public Lands

Management ethicsManagement ethics

EconomicEconomic

Balanced multiple useBalanced multiple use

EcologicalEcological

Preservationist Preservationist

Changing ManagementChanging Management

Through late-1800s: economicThrough late-1800s: economic

Developed to maximize use and profitDeveloped to maximize use and profit

Sold to homesteaders, railroads,timber and mining companies

Sold to homesteaders, railroads,timber and mining companies


Late-1800s: balanced multiple useLate-1800s: balanced multiple use

Use in several ways, but manageproperly so resource is not damaged

Use in several ways, but manageproperly so resource is not damaged

Maximum sustained yieldMaximum sustained yield

Set aside forest reserves to ensure adequate timber supply, protectriver watersheds

Set aside forest reserves to ensure adequate timber supply, protectriver watersheds


Also late-1800s: ecologicalAlso late-1800s: ecological

Use it, but emphasize maintainingnatural aspects (plants, animals)

Use it, but emphasize maintainingnatural aspects (plants, animals)

1872: lands set aside for eventual 1stnational park - Yellowstone

1872: lands set aside for eventual 1stnational park - Yellowstone

Ethic supported greatly by U.S.President Theodore Roosevelt

Ethic supported greatly by U.S.President Theodore Roosevelt


Throughout 1900s: preservationistThroughout 1900s: preservationist

No development, leave as is for futureNo development, leave as is for future

Aldo Leopold, WI conservationistAldo 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”

Today’s ManagementToday’s Management

Most lands managed according tobalanced multiple use or ecologicalethics- e.g. U.S. Forest Service

Bureau of Land Management

Most lands managed according tobalanced multiple use or ecologicalethics- e.g. U.S. Forest Service

Bureau of Land Management

Public lands still facing many problemsPublic lands still facing many problems

Conflicting DemandsConflicting Demands

Mineral Resources

Wilderness ProblemsWilderness Problems

Suffering from overuseSuffering from overuse

Limited entry in many areasLimited entry in many areas

Timber, mining companies wantaccess to resources

Timber, mining companies wantaccess to resources

For the “national good”For the “national good”

Park ProblemsPark Problems

Severe overuseSevere overuse

Billions of visitors each yearBillions of visitors each year

Cars, noise, pollution, litter, crimeCars, noise, pollution, litter, crime

Conflicts between providing forvisitor enjoyment and stillconserving resources

Conflicts between providing forvisitor enjoyment and stillconserving resources

Forest ProblemsForest Problems

Conflicting demandsConflicting demandsTimber, 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 shelterExceeding maximum sustained yield

in many areas

Exceeding maximum sustained yieldin many areas

Rangeland ProblemsRangeland Problems

OvergrazingOvergrazing

Too many on too little for too longToo many on too little for too long

Kills grass root systemsKills 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

Degradation of Tropical ForestsDegradation of Tropical Forests

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

Wildlife ResourcesWildlife Resources

What is happening to the wildlifeand plant resources around us today?

What is happening to the wildlifeand plant resources around us today?

U.S. Species DiversityU.S. Species Diversity

Decreasing BiodiversityDecreasing Biodiversity

10-20% of species alive in 1975 wereextinct in 2000

10-20% of species alive in 1975 wereextinct in 2000

Mostly plants, invertebrates in tropicalrain forests (many undescribed species)

Mostly plants, invertebrates in tropicalrain forests (many undescribed species)

40% of all species live in tropical areas40% of all species live in tropical areasDisappear along with forestsDisappear along with forests

Extinction Not NewExtinction Not New

99% of all species have gone extinct99% of all species have gone extinct

Gradual environmental changes havebeen responsible for most extinctions

Gradual environmental changes havebeen responsible for most extinctions

Rapid environmental changes fromasteroids, etc. also have been importantin many extinctions

Rapid environmental changes fromasteroids, etc. also have been importantin many extinctions

Extinction RatesExtinction Rates

Background (natural) rate of extinctionBackground (natural) rate of extinction

Massextinction

Massextinction

Why Should We Care About Extinctions and Biodiversity?Why Should We Care About Extinctions and Biodiversity?

1) economics

2) aesthetics

3) ecological

4) ethics

1) economics

2) aesthetics

3) ecological

4) ethics

Causes of Premature Extinction of Wild SpeciesCauses of Premature Extinction of Wild Species

Habitat Disturbance and DestructionHabitat Disturbance and Destruction

California Condor

Commercial HuntingCommercial Hunting

Black Rhino

Range in 1700

Range today(about 2,400 left)

Predator and Pest ControlPredator and Pest Control

African Elephant

Probable range 1600

Range today(300,000 left)

Collecting for Pets, Zoos, ResearchCollecting for Pets, Zoos, Research

PollutionPollution

Bald Eagle

- DDT

Species IntroductionsSpecies Introductions

Dodo BirdZebra Mussel

Threats from Nonnative SpeciesThreats from Nonnative Species

Strategies for Protecting Biodiversity

Strategies for Protecting Biodiversity

Species approachSpecies approach

Ecosystem approach

Ecosystem approach

The Species Approach: Legal MeansThe 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

National Laws: ESA- Endangered Species Act

The Species Approach: The SanctuaryThe 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 Gene banks, botanical gardens, and farms

The Ecosystem ApproachThe Ecosystem Approach

Biosphere reservesBiosphere 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 reservesOther countries have similar reserves

Bird Success StoriesBird Success Stories

California CondorCalifornia Condor

Whooping CraneWhooping Crane

Peregrine FalconPeregrine Falcon

Canada GooseCanada Goose

Wild TurkeyWild Turkey

Economics and the EnvironmentEconomics and the Environment

Sustaining economic growth?Sustaining economic growth?

- Is growth necessary for progress?- Is growth necessary for progress?

- Limited natural resources- Limited natural resources

- Limited capacity to deal with wastes- Limited capacity to deal with wastes

Directed Economic GrowthDirected Economic Growth

Identify different forms of growthwith cost-benefit analyses

Identify different forms of growthwith cost-benefit analyses

Environmentally good (GDP)Environmentally good (GDP)

Environmentally bad (GDP)Environmentally bad (GDP)

Redirect growthRedirect growth

Redirecting Economic GrowthRedirecting Economic Growth

Reduce polluting growth, and growthdependent on nonrenewable resources

Reduce polluting growth, and growthdependent on nonrenewable resources

Encourage “clean” and efficientgrowth, and growth dependent onrenewable resources

Encourage “clean” and efficientgrowth, and growth dependent onrenewable resources

Harmful External Costs and Full-Cost PricingHarmful External Costs and Full-Cost Pricing

External costs - need to eliminatewaste in the economy

External costs - need to eliminatewaste in the economy

Full-cost pricing - pay true cost forgoods and services- recycling fee and pollutiontax to cost of new tires, oilchanges

Full-cost pricing - pay true cost forgoods and services- recycling fee and pollutiontax to cost of new tires, oilchanges

PoliticsPolitics

Orderly distribution of resourcesOrderly distribution of resources

Political systems designed toaccomplish this goal

Political systems designed toaccomplish this goal

United States Political SystemUnited States Political System

Legislative: enact laws to ensureequitable distribution of resources

Legislative: enact laws to ensureequitable distribution of resources

Clean Air & Water Acts, WaterPollution Control Act, RCRA,Endangered Species Act, NationalEnvironmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Clean Air & Water Acts, WaterPollution Control Act, RCRA,Endangered Species Act, NationalEnvironmental Policy Act (NEPA)

NEPANEPA

Environmental impact statementEnvironmental impact statement

Short- and long-term effects ofproject on the environment

Short- and long-term effects ofproject on the environment

Examine alternativesExamine alternatives


Executive: enforce the lawsExecutive: enforce the laws

Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)

Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)

Enforce environmental regulationsEnforce environmental regulations

Distribute federal money forenvironmental purposes (Superfund)

Distribute federal money forenvironmental purposes (Superfund)


Judicial: interpreting the lawsJudicial: interpreting the laws

Environmental law- Who “speaks for the trees”?

Environmental law- Who “speaks for the trees”?

TheLorax

Environmental Policy in theUnited StatesEnvironmental Policy in theUnited States

Factors Hindering Democracies in Dealing with Environmental ProblemsFactors 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 muchinfluence

Special interest groups have too muchinfluence

Too much bureaucracy Too much bureaucracy

Factors Hindering Democracies in Dealing with Environmental ProblemsFactors Hindering Democracies in Dealing with Environmental Problems

Reactive to problems instead of proactive Reactive to problems instead of proactive

Major affected groups do not vote; no obligation on the part of politicians

Major affected groups do not vote; no obligation on the part of politicians

Elected officials spend too much time raising money to be reelected

Elected officials spend too much time raising money to be reelected

Religion and the EnvironmentReligion and the Environment

Most environmental degradation has beenthe result of human attitudes and values.

Most environmental degradation has beenthe result of human attitudes and values.

Self-centered view of nature Self-centered view of nature


All major religions emphasize humans asa part of nature

All major religions emphasize humans asa part of nature

Steward of nature Steward of nature

A steward is a caretaker A steward is a caretaker


Most people do not practice their religious or philosophical beliefs when it relates to the environment (not acting as stewards)

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.

More emphasis is being placed on environmental concerns now by the world’s religious leaders.

Ecological Crisis?Ecological Crisis?

Gloom and doom? Gloom and doom?

Technological optimism? Technological optimism?

“Good old days”? “Good old days”?

An important beginning An important beginning

Lots more to accomplish Lots more to accomplish

Land Use in the World. Land Use in the United States Rangeland and pasture 29%

Documents

Transcript of Land Use in the World. Land Use in the United States Rangeland and pasture 29%