Renewable vs. Nonrenewable Resources

What is a renewable resource?

A resource that can be replaced in a short amount of time through natural processes.

Example of a renewable resource

Chickens laying eggs.

What is a nonrenewable resource?

A resource that takes a very long time to replace.

Example of a nonrenewable resource

Iron or other mined minerals.

What is resource management?

Managing resources so they are not depleted.

What is the goal of resource management?

Sustainability.

What does sustainability mean for resource use?

Using resources only as fast as they can be replaced.

Resource management must balance what two things?

Human needs and ecological needs.

How can a renewable resource be harvested sustainably?

By using it at a rate that allows it to naturally replenish.

Why is soil an important renewable resource?

It is made by natural processes and topsoil is vital for growing food and fiber.

Why is fresh water important?

It is supplied through the water cycle and is needed for drinking, agriculture, ecosystems, and wildlife.

How are wildlife resources used by humans?

Hunting, fishing, and harvesting animals for food or sport.

What is poaching?

Illegal hunting of animals.

What is Maximum Sustainable Yield?

Harvesting the maximum amount of resources without compromising future harvests.

At what population level do species grow the fastest?

Just below carrying capacity.

What is ecosystem-based management?

Managing resources while maintaining the entire ecosystem and biodiversity.

What is adaptive management?

Testing different approaches and adjusting them to create the best plan.

What is the ecological value of forests?

Habitat, biodiversity, erosion prevention, water purification, and carbon storage.

What is the economic value of forests?

Timber, fuel, food, and raw materials for medicines.

Difference between ecological and economic value?

Ecological = environmental benefits; Economic = monetary benefits (e.g., habitat vs timber sales).

What are the three timber harvesting methods?

Clear-cutting, shelterwood (seed-tree), and selection system.

What is clear-cutting?

Cutting down all trees in a region.

What type of regrowth does clear-cutting create?

Even-aged forest stands.

One benefit of clear-cutting

Cost efficient.

One major problem with clear-cutting

Soil erosion and habitat destruction.

What is the shelterwood (seed-tree) method?

Leaving some mature trees to provide seeds and shelter for new growth.

What is the selection system?

Cutting only selected trees, leaving the rest.

Main advantage of the selection system

Maintains biodiversity and uneven-aged forests.

What is deforestation?

Removing trees and converting land to another use.

Difference between deforestation and clear-cutting?

Deforestation = permanent removal; Clear-cutting = trees removed but may regrow.

Two environmental impacts of deforestation

Loss of biodiversity and desertification.

How does deforestation affect climate?

Increases CO₂ in the atmosphere.

What is desertification?

Fertile land becoming desert due to poor land use or drought.

Common drivers of deforestation

Agriculture, logging, urban development, and mining.

Solutions to deforestation

Reforestation, sustainable logging, protected areas, agroforestry.

Why did deforestation occur in early U.S. history?

For timber and farmland during expansion.

When was the U.S. National Forest System established?

1905.

Original purpose of national forests

Timber production and watershed protection.

What does the National Forest Management Act (1976) require?

Management plans for each forest.

What does the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (2003) encourage?

Thinning, prescribed burns, and reducing wildfire risk.

What is fire suppression?

Preventing or putting out forest fires.

Negative effects of fire suppression

Fuel buildup, larger fires, disrupted ecosystems.

What are prescribed burns?

Controlled fires to reduce fuel and restore ecosystems.

Benefits of prescribed burns

Reduce wildfire risk and recycle nutrients.

What are fuels in fire science?

Burnable materials like dead plants and debris.

What was Smokey Bear’s message?

“Only YOU can prevent forest fires.”

How did Smokey Bear become famous?

Inspired by a real bear cub rescued from a wildfire.

What is ecological succession?

Gradual ecosystem change over time.

What is primary succession?

Growth starting from bare rock with no soil.

What organisms begin primary succession?

Mosses and lichens.

What is secondary succession?

Growth after disturbance where soil remains.

Examples of plants in secondary succession

Grasses, wildflowers, sedges, and berry bushes.