5.1 to 5.5 APES

Tragedy of the Commons

When people overuse and destroy shared resources because they only care about short-term benefits.

Commons

Shared natural resources like air, oceans, forests, and fish populations.

Overfishing

Catching too many fish, leading to population decline.

Deforestation

Cutting down too many trees, destroying habitats and increasing CO₂.

Overpopulation

When too many people use up resources too fast.

Poaching

Illegally hunting animals, causing some species to go extinct.

Clear-Cutting

Cutting down all trees in one area at the same time.

Edge Effect

The changes in conditions along the boundary of a forest when trees are removed.

Tree Canopy

The top layer of a forest that provides shade and protection for animals and plants below.

Runoff

Rainwater that carries soil and pollution into rivers and lakes.

Soil Erosion

When wind and water remove soil, making it hard for plants to grow.

Selective Cutting

Only cutting certain trees, instead of clearing an entire area.

First Agricultural Revolution

When people learned to farm and domesticate animals thousands of years ago.

Second Agricultural Revolution

Happened during the Industrial Revolution (1700s–1900s), when machines made farming easier.

Seed Drill

A machine that plants seeds in neat rows, increasing efficiency.

Third Agricultural Revolution

The modern era of mechanized farming, GMOs, and synthetic pesticides.

Green Revolution

New technology in farming (fertilizers, pesticides, and high-yield crops) that increased food production.

GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)

Plants or animals with DNA changes to make them grow faster or resist pests.

High-Yield Crops

Crops that produce more food per plant, helping to feed more people.

Pesticides

Chemicals that kill bugs and pests but can harm the environment.

Fertilizers

Substances that add nutrients to soil to help plants grow.

Agricultural Productivity

Producing more food with fewer resources.

Desertification

When farmland turns into desert due to overuse, drought, or deforestation.

Overgrazing

When animals eat too much grass, damaging the land.

Organic Fertilizer

Natural materials (like manure, compost) used to fertilize crops.

Inorganic Fertilizer

Man-made chemicals added to soil to help plants grow.

Genetic Engineering

Changing the DNA of plants and animals to improve their traits.

Rangelands

Open lands used for grazing animals like cattle and sheep.

Slash-and-Burn Agriculture

Cutting and burning forests to clear land for farming.

Salinization

Too much salt in soil, making it hard for plants to grow.

Irrigation

Artificially adding water to crops when rain isn't enough.

Drip Irrigation

Slowly dripping water directly to plant roots to reduce waste.

Flood Irrigation

Covering fields with water to soak the soil (wastes a lot of water).

Furrow Irrigation

Digging small channels next to crops and filling them with water.

Spray Irrigation

Using sprinklers to spray water over crops (loses water to evaporation).

Waterlogging

Too much water in the soil, drowning plant roots.

Ditch Irrigation

Water flows through dug-out trenches to reach crops.

Groundwater Depletion

Using up too much underground water faster than it can refill.

Sustainable Irrigation

Using water efficiently so it lasts longer for future farming.

Aquifers

Underground layers of rock that store water for drinking and farming.