Unit 4 - Environmental Conservation

60

Forests, woodlands, pastures, and rangelands

together occupy almost __ percent of global land

cover.

ecologial services

regulating climate, controlling water runoff,

providing wildlife habitat, purifying air and water,

and supporting rainfall.

10

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization defines “forest” as

any area where trees cover more than __ percent of the land.

old-grown forests

are those that cover a large enough area

and have been undisturbed by human activities long enough

that trees can live out a natural life cycle.

1/5 paper

__ of all wood

consumption is to

produce __

fuel 1/2

___ wood accounts for __

of global wood

consumption

Indonesia

has highest rate of deforestation and 3rd highest of greenhuse gas emissions

monoculture forestry

Intensive planting of a single specie. An efficient wood production approach, but one that encourages pests and disease infestations and conflicts with wildlife habitat or recreation uses. produces

valuable timber and

pulpwood but has little

biodiversity.

closed-canopy

Forests in which tree crowns cover most of the ground

strip cutting

All the trees in a narrow corridor are harvested.

clear cutting

Every tree in a given area is cut, regardless of size.

aggriculture

What activity accounts for the greatest loss of forests annually? 

selective cutting

Only a small percentage of the mature trees are harvested in rotation.

shelterwood harvesting

Mature trees are removed in a series of two or more cuts.

18

Clearing and burning forests is responsible for what percentage of all  the carbon released by human activity annually

14

About __% of all world forests are in some form of

protected status

Costa Rica

____ has one of the best plans for forest

guardianship in the world

ecosystem management

attempts to

integrate sustainable ecological, economic, and

social goals in a unified, systems approach.

grasslands

After forests, ___ are among the biomes

most heavily used by humans

3

Worldwide the rate of grassland disturbance each

year is __ times that of tropical forest.

25

Grasslands account for __% of the

land surface area on Earth

pastoralists

people who live by herding animals

desertification

When land is abused by overgrazing—especially in

arid areas– once-fertile land can be converted to

desert in a process called

overgrazing

leads to damage to vegetation and soil,

including loss of native forage species and erosion

cattle overgrazing

Wildlife conservation groups regard ____ as the most ubiquitous form of

ecosystem degradation and the greatest threat to

endangered species in the southwestern U.S.

rotational grazing

confining animals to a small

area for a short time (often only a day or two) before

shifting them to a new location—simulates the

effects of wild herds.

grasslands forests

Restoring fire can be as beneficial to __ as it

is to __.

utilitarian, aesthetic

While most forests and grasslands serve useful or

___ purposes, most societies also set aside

natural areas for ___ or recreational purposes.

17

Currently, nearly __% of the land area of the earth is

protected in some sort of park, preserve, or wildlife

management area.

1. Ecological Reserves and Wilderness Areas

2. National Parks

3. National Monuments and Archaeological Sites

4. Habitat and Wildlife Management Areas

5. Cultural landscapes and Recreation Areas

five categories of restricted areas from most to least

Brazil

has the largest total protected area

5

Only about __% of near-shore marine biomes are

protected.

ecotourism

is

tourism that is

ecologically and

socially sustainable

Man and Biosphere (MAB), biosphere

UNESCO’s ___ program encourages

the designation of ___ reserves.

corridors

However, smaller

reserves can be

connected by _____

which allow movement

between reserves

60

Forests cover nearly __% of global land area