Ecosystem Management and Human Impact on Land Systems

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81 Terms

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Ecosystem management

A method of caring for the environment that tries to balance ecological health, social needs, and economic activity in a single system.

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Biotic components

Living things (plants, animals, humans, fungi, etc.).

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Abiotic components

Non-living things (soil, water, climate).

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Ecosystem

An interacting group of living and non-living things in a defined area.

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Management

Making choices to meet certain goals (like protecting a park, conserving elk, or allowing logging without ruining the forest).

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Ecological Integrity

Letting nature run its course without human interference; in national parks, this is the top priority.

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Federal Parks

Managed by Parks Canada with the goal of preservation of nature and the guiding principle of ecological integrity.

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Provincial Parks

Managed by provincial government with the goal of conservation with some use and the guiding principle of sustainable use.

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IUCN's Five-Step Approach

A framework that includes defining the geographic area and stakeholders, involving affected parties, understanding ecosystem function, identifying threats, and considering economic context.

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Geographic area and stakeholders

The first step in IUCN's Five-Step Approach, focusing on defining the area and those involved.

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Invasive species

Species that are non-native to an ecosystem and can cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health.

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Species at risk

Species that are threatened or endangered and require protection to prevent extinction.

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Sustainable harvesting

The practice of collecting resources in a way that meets current needs without compromising future availability.

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Ecosystem services

Benefits provided by ecosystems to humans, including water, wood, and tourism.

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Long-term adaptive management

A management approach that involves making flexible plans that can change as more is learned or as ecosystems change.

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Pollution

The introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment.

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Habitat loss

The destruction or alteration of the natural environment where a species lives, often due to human activities.

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Overuse

The excessive use of resources leading to depletion or degradation of the ecosystem.

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Ecological health

The condition of an ecosystem in terms of its ability to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem services.

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Economic context

The relationship between economic activities and the natural environment, including how they impact each other.

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Coordination across space

The management practice of considering ecological connections that cross geographical and political boundaries.

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Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP)

A national park in Manitoba, heavily forested.

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Bovine TB

A disease carried by elk from the park that affects cattle.

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Biosphere Reserve Design

A solution to manage the conflict between elk grazing and farming.

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Core areas

Protected parks within a biosphere reserve.

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Corridors for animal movement

Designated pathways that allow elk to travel safely between RMNP and Duck Mountain.

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Buffer zones

Areas where human use is carefully managed, such as moving cattle during elk migration.

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Biosphere reserves

Areas that allow for multiple uses such as tourism, farming, and conservation within zoned areas.

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Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve

An example of a biosphere reserve that uses all 5 steps of ecosystem management.

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IUCN Red List

An international global list of endangered species.

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Species at Risk Act (SARA)

A Canadian federal law that prevents extinction and creates recovery plans.

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MB Endangered Species Act

A Manitoba provincial law that protects species in Manitoba.

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Extinct

A risk category indicating a species that no longer exists (e.g., Sea Mink).

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Extirpated

A risk category indicating a species that is gone from Canada but still exists elsewhere (e.g., Prairie Chicken).

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Endangered

A risk category indicating a species at high risk of extinction (e.g., Swift Fox).

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Threatened

A risk category indicating a species that could soon become endangered (e.g., Wood Bison).

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Special Concern

A risk category indicating a species not yet endangered but showing signs of trouble (e.g., Sea Otter).

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Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Knowledge used in managing species like Manitoba's woodland caribou.

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RENEW program

A program that includes recovery planning for species at risk.

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Alien Invasive Species (AIS)

Non-native species that outcompete native species due to lack of natural predators or controls.

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Zebra mussels

Invasive species that clog pipes, eat algae, and affect fish.

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Rusty crayfish

Aggressive invasive species that outcompete native species.

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Purple loosestrife

Decorative invasive plant that takes over wetlands.

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Ecosystem Approach: Step A

Define the ecosystem and stakeholders by picking a geographic area to manage and identifying all people and groups who depend on or are affected by that ecosystem.

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Ecosystem Approach: Step B

Understand the ecosystem by studying its structure and function, and monitoring biodiversity, water flow, soil quality, etc.

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Ecosystem Approach: Step C

Consider the economic context by identifying economic activities that rely on the ecosystem, such as tourism, farming, and logging.

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Forests and Ecosystem Services

Forests provide timber and paper, carbon storage, air and water purification, wildlife habitat, and recreation.

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Boreal Forest

The largest forest type in Canada, characterized by cold-adapted trees.

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Temperate Deciduous Forest

A forest type located in eastern Canada.

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Coastal Rainforest

A forest type found in British Columbia, including the Great Bear Rainforest.

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Forest vertical structure

The arrangement of different layers in a forest: canopy, understory, and forest floor.

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Canopy

The upper layer of a forest formed by treetops that capture sunlight.

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Understory

The layer of a forest consisting of shrubs and small trees beneath the canopy.

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Forest floor

The bottom layer of a forest, home to fungi, insects, and decomposers.

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Selective Cutting

A harvesting method where specific trees are cut while leaving the rest, resulting in less damage to biodiversity.

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Clear Cutting

A harvesting method where all trees in a large area are cut down, which is fast and efficient but destroys habitat if not replanted.

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Old-Growth Forest

A very old forest with complex structure and high biodiversity, typically over 100 years old.

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Second-Growth Forest

A forest that regrows after logging or fire, characterized by more uniformity.

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Sustainable Forestry

A practice that plans harvests so forests can regrow, using monitoring and certification, and combining science with Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

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Great Bear Rainforest

A BC example of sustainable forestry, negotiated by Indigenous communities, government, and industry, focusing on zoning, species protection, and long-term ecological health.

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Adaptive Management

A flexible management approach that updates plans based on new knowledge and changing ecosystems.

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Federal National Parks

Parks managed by Parks Canada, focusing on ecological integrity and preserving nature.

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Minimum Viable Population (MVP)

The smallest number of individuals needed in a population to maintain genetic health and avoid extinction.

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Biosphere Reserve

A model for ecosystem management with core zones, corridors, and buffer zones.

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Core Zones

Protected areas where nature is preserved, such as Riding Mountain National Park.

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Corridors

Wildlife paths that connect protected zones and allow safe animal migration.

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Causes of Risk

Factors leading to species risk, including habitat loss, pollution, and climate change.

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SARA (Species at Risk Act, Canada)

Legislation aimed at preventing extinction and requiring recovery plans.

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COSEWIC

A scientific panel that assesses and decides species' status.

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Manitoba Endangered Species Act

Local legislation that protects species at risk.

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Alien invasive species

Organisms that humans introduced to a place where they don't naturally occur.

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Why They Spread

Reasons include no natural predators in the new area, rapid reproduction, and often being introduced through human activity.

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Environmental impacts of invasive species

Harm biodiversity and disrupt food chains.

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Economic impacts of invasive species

Damage crops, fisheries, and hydro infrastructure.

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Health impacts of invasive species

Spread diseases.

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Recreational impacts of invasive species

Reduce enjoyment of outdoor spaces.

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Prevention of invasive species

Includes public education, boat inspections, and sterilization procedures at entry points.

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What is a Forest?

Complex ecosystems made of trees, shrubs, fungi, insects, and animals.

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Vertical structure of a forest

Includes canopy (top layer capturing sunlight), understory/shrubs, and forest floor (mosses, fungi, decomposers).

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Case Study: Tembec in Eastern MB

Tried to mimic natural wildfires in tree cutting patterns, left some trees standing to maintain biodiversity, and used Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK).

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Problem with Tembec's approach

Nutrients usually returned via wildfire ash were missing because trees were hauled out.