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

Brian Kaestner

Saint Mary’s Hall

Brian Kaestner

Saint Mary’s Hall

Thanks to Miller and ClementsThanks to Miller and Clements

Land Use in the WorldLand Use in the World

Tundra and Tundra and wetlands 9%wetlands 9%

Desert 20%Desert 20%

Cropland 11%Cropland 11%

RangelandRangelandand pastureand pasture26%26%

ForestForest32%32%

Urban 2%Urban 2%

Land Use in the United StatesLand Use in the United States

RangelandRangelandand pastureand pasture29%29%

U.S. Land UseU.S. Land Use

ForestForest30%30%

Parks,Parks,wildlife refuge,wildlife refuge,wilderness 9%wilderness 9%

Desert, tundra,Desert, tundra,wetlands 13%wetlands 13%

Urban 2%Urban 2%

Cropland 17%Cropland 17%

ForestForest30%30%

U.S. Land OwnershipU.S. Land Ownership

FederalFederal35%35%

Native American 3%Native American 3%

State and local 7%State and local 7%

PrivatePrivate55%55%

Types of US Public LandsTypes of US Public Lands

Multiple-use lands: National Forests; National Resource Lands

Multiple-use lands: National Forests; National Resource Lands

Moderately-restricted use lands: National Wildlife Refuges

Moderately-restricted use lands: National Wildlife Refuges

Restricted-use lands: National Park System; National Wilderness Preservation System

Restricted-use lands: National Park System; National Wilderness Preservation System

US Public LandsUS Public Lands

National parks and preserves National forests National wildlife refuges

Moderate mineral deposits

Rich mineral deposits

Federal land

National ForestsNational Forests

Moderate mineral deposits

Rich mineral deposits

Federal land

NPS in TexasNPS in Texas

Managing and Sustaining ForestsManaging and Sustaining Forests

Ecological Importance of ForestsEcological Importance of Forests

Food webs and energy flowFood webs and energy flow

Water regulationWater regulation

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)Fuelwood (50% of global forest use)

Industrial timber and lumberIndustrial timber and lumber

Pulp and paperPulp and paper

MedicinesMedicines

Mineral extraction and recreationMineral extraction and recreation

Types of ForestsTypes of Forests

Old-growth (frontier) forestsOld-growth (frontier) forestsSecond-growth forestsSecond-growth forestsTree farms/plantationTree farms/plantation

Virgin forests, 1620Virgin forests, 1620 Virgin forests, 1998Virgin forests, 1998Fig. 23.13b, p. 600

Logging RoadsLogging Roads

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

HighwayCleared plotsfor grazing

Cleared plotsfor agriculture

Highway

Virgin forest

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

Selective CuttingShelterwood Cutting

Cut 1Cut 2

Seed-Tee Cutting Clear-Cutting

Strip Cutting

Uncut Cut Cut Cut Uncut

6–10 years ago 3–5 years ago1 year ago

ClearcuttingClearcutting

Clear CutsClear Cuts

Management StrategiesManagement Strategies

Years of growthYears of growth3030

25251515

101055

Clear Clear cutcut

Weak treesWeak treesremovedremoved

SeedlingsSeedlingsplantedplanted

TimeTime

Short rotation

Wo

od

vo

lum

e o

r w

oo

d b

iom

ass

Wo

od

vo

lum

e o

r w

oo

d b

iom

ass

B

C

A

Long rotations

Old-growth harvest(such as hardwoodsfor furniture)

Clear cuts over timeClear cuts over time

Selection CuttingSelection Cutting

Shelterwood ClearingShelterwood Clearing

Drought MapDrought Map

FireFire

Surface firesSurface fires Crown firesCrown fires

Surface fireSurface fire Crown fireCrown fire

Tree FireTree Fire

Forest FireForest Fire

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 useSubstitues for tree productsSubstitues for tree products

Degradation of Tropical Forests

BromeliadBromeliad

OrchidOrchid

RoadsRoads

LoggingLogging

Cash cropsCash crops

Cattle ranchingCattle ranchingTree plantationsTree plantationsFlooding from damsFlooding from damsMiningMining

Oil drillingOil drilling

Unsustainable peasant Unsustainable peasant farmingfarming

Primary Primary Causes:Causes:

Rapid population growthRapid population growth

Exploitive government policiesExploitive government policiesPovertyPoverty

Exports to developed countiesExports to developed countiesFailure to include ecological servicesFailure to include ecological servicesin evaluating forest resourcesin evaluating forest resources

ToucanToucan ScarletScarletmacawmacaw

Golden lionGolden lionmarmosetmarmoset

Blue morpho Blue morpho butterflybutterfly

Secondary Causes:Secondary Causes:

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

Annual Deforestation Rates

More than 1% loss

0.5–1% loss

0–0.5 loss

Stable or increased forest

No data

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 Encourage protection of large tracts

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

Less destructive harvesting methods Less destructive harvesting methods

MADAGASCAR

INDIANOCEAN

Existing rain forest

Former rain forest

Southern spiny desert

Western tropical deciduous forest

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

Wilderness areas Wilderness areas

Biosphere Reserve

Core area

Buffer zone 1

Buffer zone 2

Fig. 23.27, p. 620

Production forest1.6 million acres

Watershed protection area 540,000 acres

Savanna buffer zone 312,000 acres

Biological reserve 330,000 acres

Bolivia