APES Forestry and Mining Vocab

The Tragedy of the Commons

Suggests that individuals will use shared resources in their own self-interest rather than in keeping with the common good, thereby depleting the resource

Solutions to Tragedy of the Commons

1. Government regulations (rules, limits, quotas)

2. Educate & Awareness 

3. Decreasing Population

4. Economic Incentive (fines, fees, subsidies)

5. Privatization

6. Community Management

Forestry

The science and practice of managing forests to meet human needs and protecting the environment

Clearcutting

Cutting down and removing every tree from an area

• Economically Advantageous — provides lumber/timbre, paper, and rubber

Clearcutting Consequences

The cutting and burning of trees release carbon dioxide and contributes to climate change

• Forests contain trees that absorb pollutants and store carbon dioxide

Lack of trees and other plants increases the amount of direct sunlight and heat absorption, causing increased evaporation from the soil

• Dry soil left behind and become desert like

Runoff

Water from precipitation or other sources that flows over land surface — usually drains into a watershed

• Clearcutting increases runoff

Runoff CAN

• Contain pesticides, nutrients (N-P-K from fertilizers), metals, and sediments. (soil particles)

• Cause flooding

• Increase temperature of stream

Sustainable Forestry