Land Use: Forests and Range lands Land Use Distribution of World:
Closed canopy- 4/5 of remaining forest and woodlands. Tree crown covers over 20% or more of the ground. Open canopy- Tree crown covers over less than 20%of the ground. Old Growth Forests- remnants of ancient forest contain much of the world's biodiversity and endangered species! Less than 10% virgin forest remains in US.
Tropical Forests- (Rainforests/Jungles) are critically threatened. Less than 10% Earth. Located in S. America, Central Africa and SE _______. Jungles contain 2/3 of all plants and ____ of all animal life. There need to be laws preventing deforestation in developing countries. Benefits: Forests regulate climate (fights global __________!!), controls water runoff and _________, cleans water, provides shelter and food and purifies the air. Provide wood, paper pulp. Plus they are pretty to look at! Deforestation: _______ of the world original forests have been distroyed. :( Forest Products:
Forest "Mis-management": More forests is being cut down than replanted. 25% of forests are managed for wood Monoculture forestry -Tree plantations of single species are the most profitable but the most __________ to the health of the forest. Pests and disease abound. Most countries harvest more than they replant. :( Logging old-growth forest Harmful timber harvest methods
U.S. Forest Service is all about providing cheap timber not protecting nature!!! National Forests are holding area for trees for future ___________.
Sustainable Land Use Strategies
Debt-for-Nature Swap- banks and govenments forgive loan pay back by 3rd world countries in turn for jungle ____________!!! Yah! Fire Management:
Sustainable Forestry: In both temperate and tropical regions, certification programs set by FSC- Forest Stewardship Council are being developed to identify __________ produced wood products. Cooperatives, second or third generation forests and recycled paper products. Federal Land Policy and Management Act- manage public land for multiple uses National Environmental Policy Act- requires Environmental Impact Statements Environmental Impact Statement- site study of the positive and negative impacts of the proposed development
Range lands: Pasture (generally enclosed domestic meadows or managed grasslands) and open range (unfenced, natural prairie and open woodlands) occupy about 27% of the world's land surface. Losing grasslands faster than forests. Overgrazing: About _________ of the world's range is severely degraded by overgrazing, making this the largest cause of soil degradation. The process of denuding and degrading a once-fertile land initiates a desert-producing cycle that feeds on itself and is called ________________. Rangeland (MIS)Management:
Solution- _________ number of animals grazing!! Rotational grazing: confining animals to a small area for a short time (often only for a day or two) before _________ them to a new location; stimulates the effects of wild herds. This allows the animals to trample and fertilize the ground without damaging it. Mixed species herd: all vegetation used equally- no overgrazing of ______ type Other rangeland management techniques include letting land rest so vegetation can rebuild or fertilizing, water and seeding the grazing area. Prescribed burning kills invasive species.
Earthshots activity
|
