ESS Case Studies + Topic Overview) Topic 5 - Land

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the case studies, soil science, and sustainability sections to aid exam preparation.

Amazon Rainforest Deforestation (Brazil)

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon driven by cattle ranching and soy cultivation, causing soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and Indigenous rights violations (Yanomami, Kayapo).

Slash-and-Burn Agriculture

Clearing land by burning vegetation to create agricultural plots; leads to nutrient loss and rapid soil degradation in tropical regions.

Cattle Ranching

Major driver of Amazon deforestation; conversion of forest to pasture for beef production, often with low soil productivity after degradation.

Soy Cultivation

Export crop contributing to deforestation; monoculture farming that rapidly depletes soil and expands land clearing.

Yanomami

Indigenous people in the Amazon region affected by deforestation; key rights and displacement issues.

Kayapo

Indigenous group affected by Amazon land-use changes; involvement in land rights and conservation debates.

Oxisols

Nutrient-poor, heavily leached tropical soils; fertility collapses after deforestation within a few years.

Deforestation Rate (Amazon)

Approx. 10,000 km² lost annually (yearly variability).

REDD+

International framework offering financial incentives to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

SNUC

Brazil’s National System of Conservation Units; framework for protected areas and conservation governance.

IBAMA

Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources; enforces environmental laws and protections.

The Dust Bowl

1930s Great Plains drought and soil-erosion disaster in the USA caused by overplowing and wind erosion of Mollisols.

Mollisols

Deep, organic-rich soils typical of grasslands; highly fertile but susceptible to erosion if not protected.

Contour Plowing

Plowing along the contour lines of the land to reduce runoff and wind erosion.

Terracing

Creating step-like embankments on slopes to slow erosion and conserve moisture.

Windbreaks

Shelterbelts (rows of trees) planted to reduce wind speed and soil wind erosion.

Soil Conservation Service (NRCS)

U.S. agency established to promote soil conservation and implement erosion-control practices.

Great Green Wall

Sahel-wide initiative to plant thousands of kilometers of trees to combat desertification and improve resilience.

FMNR (Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration)

Niger-based technique using regrowth from existing trees to restore woodlands and soil fertility.

Sahel Desertification

Desertification across the Sahel in Sub-Saharan Africa due to multiple drivers, including overgrazing, climate variability, population growth, and deforestation.

Great Green Wall Progress

Multi-country effort with partial milestones; around 15% completion by 2020 in some reports.

Niger FMNR Success

Noted example where farmer-led regrowth and management improved soils and yields.

Desertification Rate (Sahel)

Approximately 48,000 km² lost per year with about 50 million people affected.

Maasai Displacement

Forced relocations of Maasai communities in Kenya/Tanzania due to conservation needs and tourism development.

Fortress Conservation

Conservation model that emphasizes protecting wildlife by exclusion, often displacing Indigenous and local communities.

Communal Land Ownership

Land held and managed collectively by Maasai clans or communities under traditional tenure.

Seasonal Migration

Movement of pastoralists with seasons and rainfall to access grazing resources.

Co-management

Joint governance of land and conservation between communities and authorities.

Maasai Territory Loss

Approximately 60% of traditional Maasai grazing lands removed due to protected areas and development.

Tourism Revenue (Maasai)

Wildlife and tourism earnings (e.g., Tanzania) that can total around $1.2 billion annually but may not be equitably shared with communities.

UN Declaration on Indigenous Rights (2007)

International standard recognizing Indigenous rights; often cited in Maasai displacement debates.

Forced Evictions (Maasai)

Government or security-driven removals from traditional lands in pursuit of parks or development.

Overgrazing

Livestock pressure exceeding land carrying capacity, accelerating soil degradation and desertification.

Population Growth & Pressure

Rising populations increasing land conversion, resource demand, and vulnerability to degradation.

Climate Variability

Droughts and fluctuating rainfall that worsen land degradation in semi-arid regions.

Desertification vs Climate Change

Desertification in the Sahel results from interacting human practices and climate variability, not climate change alone.

Seed Bank

Soil stores viable seeds that enable plant regrowth after disturbances.

Mycorrhizae

Fungi forming symbiotic relationships with roots that enhance nutrient uptake and soil fertility.

Agroforestry

Integration of trees with crops/livestock to improve soil health, biodiversity, and resilience.

No-Till Agriculture

Farming method that minimizes soil disturbance to reduce erosion and improve soil structure.

O Horizon

Top organic soil layer rich in decomposing plant and animal material.

A Horizon

Topsoil; fertile layer combining minerals and decomposed organic matter.

B Horizon

Subsoil where minerals leached from above accumulate; often denser and lighter in color.

C Horizon

Parent material; partially weathered rock that forms the basis of the soil profile.

R Horizon

Bedrock; solid rock beneath the soil profile.

Soil Inputs

Water and Dead Organic Matter entering the soil; includes irrigation and plant litter.

Decomposition

Breakdown of organic matter by organisms, driving nutrient cycling and soil formation.

Carbon Cycle in Soil

Soil microbes decompose matter releasing CO2; some carbon stored as soil organic matter; wetlands store substantial carbon (about 30% of land-based carbon).

Nitrogen Cycle in Soil

Decomposition releases ammonium or nitrate available to plants; essential for growth.

Soil Erosion

Loss of soil due to wind and water; a major pathway of land degradation.

Wetlands Carbon Storage

Wetlands store about 30% of land-based carbon; drainage releases CO2 and methane.

Soil Texture

Relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay that determine soil's physical properties and water holding capacity.