Land Use and Urbanization Chapter 10 Types of

Land Use and Urbanization Chapter 10

Types of Land Use Rangelands Forests Mining Parks, refuges, wilderness areas Wetlands Urban environments

Tragedy of the Commons Individuals exploit shared resources for short-sighted, personal gain Ex. ) Overgrazing by private cattle ranchers on public lands. Ranchers exceed carrying capacity because they expect that someone else will do the same anyway.

Tragedy of the Commons

Externalities An effect of a good or service not included in the price of that service.

Forest Services Forests provide these valuable services: Wildlife habitats Act as carbon sinks, by removing atmospheric CO 2 and storing it in tissues Generates oxygen through photosynthesis Affect local climates (higher humidity/less wind/moderate temperatures) Air and water purification Reduce soil erosion Reduce flooding by absorbing water

Forest Facts U. S. Public Land 42% of U. S. is public land 92% located in Alaska & Western U. S. Forests cover 1/3 of land surfaces 70% of forests are found in North America, Russia, and South America

Some Common NC Trees Loblolly Pine (Our state tree!)

Some Common NC Trees White Oak

Some Common NC Trees Maples

Some Common NC Trees Sweetgum

Global Forest Cover

Tropical Forest Concerns cover 6% of Earth (mostly Latin America, Asia, Africa) provide habitats for over ½ of Earth’s plants & animals ex. - 4 square miles contain: 1, 500 flowering plants, 750 tree species 400 bird species, 150 butterfly species contain over 2, 000 plants with anti-cancer chemicals 250 million indigenous people live in tropical forests Rate of deforestation: *football field sized area cut down every second* - equals 56, 000 square miles/year

Causes of Tropical Deforestation - all causes related to population, poverty, & policies 1) Commercial Logging 2) Cattle Ranching 3) Small Scale & Cash Crop Farming 4) Mining & Oil Drilling

Other Dangers to Trees Nonnative species Adelgid Kudzu (blocks sunlight) Hemlock Wooly Adelgid A tiny insect native to China and Japan invaded from Richmond, VA in 1951 and feeds voraciously on the Eastern Hemlock (Hemlocks comprise a large portion of Old Growth forests. ) in NC Dutch Elm Disease a fungal infection spread by bark beetles

Dutch Elm Disease Cause wilting and death by blocking the flow of water Beetle Tunneling Pupa Burrows

Tree Management Even-age: all trees are the same age; used in tree plantations Uneven-age: maintains a stand of all ages from seedling to mature

Tree Harvesting Methods Clear-cutting: removes all even-aged trees Good for shade-intolerant trees Decreases biodiversity and impacts ecosystems dramatically Strip cutting: a variation on clear-cutting that reduces widespread devastation and can be managed over a cycle. Shelterwood cutting: removes only mature trees Seed-tree cutting: majority of trees removed, leaving scattered, seed-producing trees to help the stand regenerate naturally

Uncut Cut Cut 3– 5 years ago 1 year ago 6– 10 years ago Strip Cutting Uncut

Tree Harvesting Methods

Forest Types 1) Old Growth Forests - forests that have been undisturbed for hundreds of years high biodiversity, with rare species well-developed, fertile soil act as a carbon sink due to large amounts of decaying matter 2) Second Growth Forests - forests containing naturally re-grown trees from cutting/fires

Tree Plantations Monocultures PROS CONS Practical for harvesters Reduces recreational value and biodiversity Can be efficiently geneticallymodified May cause soil erosion, water pollution and flooding Increases yield, economic returns and jobs Prone to disease and infestation due to lack of diversity

Wood Harvesting Rotation Cycles Short-rotation Trees grown in 8 -20 years primarily for lower quality fuelwood or paper production Long-rotation Average cycles of around 60 years for higher quality hardwood

Impacts of Deforestation Increases atmospheric carbon dioxide, due to reduced photosynthesis Threatens diversity of species Decreases soil fertility and ability to absorb water Contributes to flooding

Deforestation

Deforestation

Types of Forest Fires 1. Crown fires: very hot fires that burn entire trees Occur in forests that have not had surface fires in a very long time Kills wildlife Increases soil fertility 2. Ground fires: burn undergound in peat bogs Difficult to detect 3. Surface fires: burn leaf litter and seedlings, leaving large trees Maintains forest while reducing the chance of crown fires

Prescribed Burn Controlled fires that prevent large forest fires by burning underbrush in high-risk areas Require a permit

Forest Service The US Forest Service was established in 1905 as an agency of the US Department of Agriculture Manages public lands in national forests and grasslands about the size of Texas 155 national forests and 22 grasslands

Federal Management Agencies

Land Management Restricted Use Land Allows only camping, hiking, and fishing Managed by National Park Service Includes National Parks Moderately Restricted Use Lands Allows hunting, mining, logging, and grazing Managed by US Fish and Wildlife Includes wildlife refuges Multiple Use Land (least restricted) Allows logging, mining, livestock, farming, etc. Managed by US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Includes national forests and resource lands

National Parks The US has 59 protected national parks managed by the US National Park Service. Yellowstone was the first, established by President Grant in 1872. Most park space is in Alaska. The Antiquities Act (est. in 1906 by Roosevelt) This law gives the President of the United States the authority to create national monuments from public lands to protect significant natural, cultural or scientific features. Managed based on needs. Most threatened by large numbers of park visitors and commercial activities. Restricted-use: only allows visitors and camping

Cool National Parks Top 25 Coolest National Parks Great Smoky Mountains (NC) Yellowstone (WY)

National Monuments Historic landmarks or structures established by presisdents. 120 national monuments Statue of Liberty (NY) Mt. Rushmore (SD)

Wilderness Areas Wild, primitive portions of forests, parks and refuges where commercial activity, motor vehicles and human construction is strictly prohibited. Established in 1964 by the Wilderness Act. Restricted-use NC Wilderness Map

Wildlife Refuges Established in 1909 by Roosevelt to protect wildlife through habitat preservation Initially focused on overhunted bison and threatened waterfowl. Moderately-restricted use: allows managed hunting, fishing, and trapping, with permits. managed by U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service

NC Wildlife Refuges

Wetlands Saturated land with high plant productivity and rich biodiversity. Wetlands are natural water purifiers, removing sediments, toxins and nutrients from flowing water Coastal wetlands stabilize soil erosion, reduce storm surge damage and saltwater intrusion 1/3 of US endangered species spend part of their lives in wetlands. 90% of habitat loss is due to agricultural conversion. Ex. ) Much of Florida’s everglades have been lost due to drainage and conversion.

Wetlands

Mining

Mining Vocab Ore: a concentration of minerals that contain valuable minerals Reserve: the known quantity of a resource that can be recovered Smelting: heat and chemicals decompose ore, leaving resources behind Spoils/Tailings: unwanted waste generated by mining

Types of Surface Mining Strip Mining: removal of strips of soil to expose ore, when close to the surface; generates lots of tailings; coal and sand are commonly mined Open-pit: A large, deep pit is dug; copper is commonly mined Mountaintop Removal: removal of mountaintops using explosives and heavy machinery; contaminates surface water tailings Placer Mining: using running river water to separate sediment from heavier valuables; chemicals and mercury can pollute water; used in gold prospecting, gemstones

Garzweiler Coal Strip Mine in Germany

Kennecott Open Pit Copper Mine in Utah

Placer Gold Mine in Costa Rica

Mining Methods

Subsurface Mining in tunnels below the ground; often for coal, diamonds and gold. Acid drainage combined with mine flooding can alter soil p. H and contaminate water resources More dangerous for miners due to collapse, explosions, black lung disease and asbestosis

Mining Laws Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 Mandates minimal land disturbance during mining and reclamation after mining is finished. Superfund or Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) designed to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances

Urbanization Urban vs. Rural - local area with 2, 500 or more = Urban - local area under 2, 500 = Rural

US Metropolitan Areas

Values of Urban Settings POSITIVES: - better working & housing conditions - better sanitation, water quality, health care - decreased fertility, slower growth rate - urban concentration relieves stress on wildlife areas - ex. 47% of people live on 2% of Earth’s land NEGATIVES: - strain on services and infrastructure (roads, etc) - higher unemployment, poverty - urban sprawl along edges of cities - increases pollution, ecosystem degradation, soil erosion, flooding

Trends in Urbanization Around a hundred years ago, migration trended from rural to urban areas Then around 50 years ago, urban dwellers began to spread to suburban communities migration from Northeast to Southwest # large cities increasing - 1900 = 19 cities with 1 million people - 2002 = 400 cities with 1 million people more urbanization in developing than developed nations increase in urban poverty

Urban Growth Trends

Urban Sprawl Cities spread into rural areas Caused by: A want for increased standard of living (more space, cheaper land, fewer taxes) Impacts: Increased habitat destruction Increased automobile use and commute (not as walkable) Increased flooding and water pollution Decreased by: Zoning “Growth boundaries” as in Portland, Oregon

Typical Suburban Development

Slightly Better Suburban Development (Cluster Housing)

Eco. Cities Smart Growth Planning - sustainable planning for future growth - slows urban sprawl - focuses on environmental issues INCLUDES: 1) building commercial areas near neighborhoods - encourages walking & biking 2) allowing enough population for mass transit - more efficient with more people 3) allowing space for parks & natural areas

Eco. Cities Common themes: Walkable/Bikable Efficient public transit Built vertically Residents as stakeholders and decision makers Use renewable energy Reduce energy needs (insulated buildings, green roofs, recycling programs, urban gardens) Efficient use of existing space (renovate buildings/urban gardens) Manage water resources/use permeable pavement Preserve natural beauty Create attractive and unique communities

Major highways Greenbelt Urban center Satellite towns Smart Growth

Examples of Sustainability Vertical Farming Bullett Center Green Office Building 10 Sustainable Cities

Highway Systems Promotes personal independence with about 160, 000 miles of roadway. Highway Trust Fund of 1956 Pays for the construction and maintenance of highways using a federal gas tax (about 50 cents/gal for gas and 55 cents/gal for diesel) Creates a positive feedback loop …more driving=more highways Suggestions to improve both economy and environment include a “user pays” approach to decrease harmful car use

Land Conservation Preservation: to keep intact; may require protective laws and stewardship. Remediation: correcting a fault Ex. ) clean–up after Exxon-Valdez and Deepwater Horizon oil spills Restoration: to restore to former good condition Ex. ) dam removal to allow native water flow Mitigation: to lessen or moderate intensity Ex. ) installing reflectors to distract deer can decrease automobile collisions