APES Unit 5.1 Tragedy of the Commons

Practice FRQ

★ The oceans of the world are often referred to as a commons.

Identify one other such commons, explaining how human

activities affect that commons, and propose a solution for

managing that commons.

Mines containing precious metals and minerals can be common resources for humans. Taxing companies who pollute the habitats surrounding the mines can deter anthropogenic habitat destruction.

What are some examples in which humans alter the land for their own benefit? (list 3 minimum)

• Agriculture

• Industry

• Waste Disposal

List the 2 fundamental concepts for land use and land conflict

1. Tragedy of the Commons

2. Externalities

Tragedy of the Commons

The tendency of a shared, limited resource to become depleted if it

is not regulated in some way

• Criteria: Land: Land must be common (public or shared resource)

  • Land must become degraded

  • ex. global fisheries

Describe in COMPLETE SENTENCES how the Tragedy of Commons occurs.

Tragedy of the Commons happens when people do not consider resources as a good can be beneficial when used communally. Thus, people deplete, degrade, and overuse resources for the sole purpose of benefitting themself.

Externalities

negative costs associated with a human action, that aren’t

accounted for in the price (unintended side-effects)

• ex. Overfishing can lead to fishery collapse (population crash) loss of income & starvation

• ex. Air pollution from coal power plants can lead to bronchitis, asthma, increased healthcare costs

Solutions to Tragedy of the Commons

1. Private or Public land ownership

2. Fees or taxes for use: Permit system for logging, grazing, how

3. many crabs can be caught, etc.

4. Taxes, fines, criminal charges: for pollution or shared air/soil/water resources

   1. Clean Water Act

   2. Clean Air Act

   3. Safe Drinking Water Act

Four Main Federal Agencies + Main Target

1. Bureau of Land Management: grazing, mining, timber, harvesting, recreation

2. United States Forest Service: timber, harvesting, grazing, and recreation

3. National Park Service: recreation and conservation

4. Fish and Wildlife Service: wildlife conservation, hunting, and recreation