Land Resources: Forests and Grasslands

Set of vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts from the lecture on land resources, focusing on forests, grasslands, and mineral resources.

Ecosystem Services

Essential ecological processes that make life on Earth possible, provided by forests.

Boreal Forest (Taiga)

Coniferous forest found at high latitudes, characterized by low temperatures and low annual precipitation.

Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY)

Harvesting as much as is sustainably possible for the greatest economic benefit.

Deforestation

The net loss of trees in a forested area, often resulting in ecological degradation.

Selective Harvesting

Timber-harvesting technique that cuts only the highest value trees and allows others to reseed.

Rotational Grazing

Moving animals from one pasture to another in a predetermined sequence to prevent overgrazing.

Grassland

A biome that is predominately grasses, occurring in areas with low rainfall or fire/herbivore pressure.

Climate Regulation

A significant ecosystem service provided by forests, acting as a major sink for CO2.

Acid Mine Drainage

Water that leaches out acids from exposed rock in mines, damaging ecosystems.

Holistic Planned Grazing

Grazing livestock in a manner that mimics wild grazers, promoting recovery and pasture health.

Reforestation

The process of planting trees in an area where forests have been depleted.

Shelterwood Harvesting

Timber-harvesting technique that cuts all but the best trees, which reseed the plot.

E-waste

Discarded electronic devices that can be recycled to recover valuable metals but contain toxic chemicals.

Ecotourism

Low-impact travel to natural areas that contributes to environmental protection and respects local communities.

Soil Erosion

The removal of topsoil by wind and water, which can exceed the soil’s natural replacement rate.

Carbon Sequestration

The process by which forests absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, helping mitigate climate change.

Grassland Restoration

The process of rehabilitating degraded grasslands to restore their ecological functions.

Wildlife Habitat

Natural environment where wildlife lives and thrives, often supported by healthy forest and grassland ecosystems.