Deforestation and Forest Management Study

Rangeland

Land used for grazing that is not intensively managed

Ruminants

Animals with multiple stomachs that digest cellulose

Overgrazing

Grazing beyond the land's carrying capacity

Decreasers

Preferred grazing plants that decline first under overgrazing

Desertification

Land degradation caused by overuse and erosion

Deferred rotation grazing

Rotating grazing areas to allow plant recovery

Types of U.S. public lands

Multiple-use lands, moderately restricted-use lands, restricted-use lands, and state parks

National Forest Lands purpose

Managed for multiple use including recreation and commercial resource extraction

Wildlife Refuge purpose

Protect habitats and breeding areas while allowing limited use with permits

National Parks management

Restricted use; only nondestructive recreation allowed

Preserve definition

Protected land with no roads and only nondestructive recreation

Eminent Domain

The government's right to take private land for public use while paying fair market value

Old-growth forests

Uncut or minimally disturbed forests with high biodiversity and complex structure

Remaining old-growth forests in the U.S.

About 2-5%

Snags

Standing dead trees that provide important wildlife habitat

Second-growth forests

Forests that regrow after being cut or disturbed

Forest canopy

The top layer of a forest

Even-aged management

Forest management where all trees are the same age and size

Selective cutting

Removal of small groups of mature trees to allow natural regeneration

Advantage of selective cutting

Less soil erosion and habitat disruption

Shelterwood cutting

Removing mature trees in stages to encourage seedling growth

Seed-tree cutting

Removing most trees but leaving some to regenerate the forest

Clear-cutting

Removing all trees and replanting with a single species

Beauty strips

Thin buffers of uncut trees left to reduce visual impact

Surface fire

Burns undergrowth and leaf litter without harming mature trees

Crown fire

Burns the forest canopy

Ground fire

Burns underground organic matter and tree roots

Prescribed burning

Controlled fires used to reduce fuel buildup

Fire alley

A cleared strip of land used to stop the spread of fire

Primary location of deforestation

Developing tropical countries

Deforestation effect on climate

Releases CO2 and reduces carbon absorption

Sustainable yield

Harvesting resources no faster than they can regenerate

Restoration ecology

The scientific study of restoring damaged ecosystems

Biodiversity hotspots

Areas with high biodiversity under severe threat

Conservation easement

Agreements or payments to protect land from development

Riparian zone

Vegetated land along streams that stabilizes soil and water flow

Cattle impact on riparian zones

Trampling vegetation and compacting soil

Cutting method that yields the most wood

Clear-cutting

Best reserve shape for species protection

Circular or compact shape

Fast-growing plant used for tree-free paper

Kenaf

Uneven-aged management

Maintaining trees of various species, ages, and sizes for natural regeneration

Primary goal of national parks

To preserve natural ecosystems while allowing nondestructive recreation

Nondestructive recreation

Activities like hiking, camping, and sightseeing that do not damage ecosystems

Importance of national parks for biodiversity

They protect habitats and species from development and exploitation

Difference between national parks and national forests

National parks restrict resource extraction while national forests allow multiple uses

Agency that manages national parks

National Park Service (NPS)

Agency that manages national forests

U.S. Forest Service

Negative effects of roads and tourism

Increased habitat fragmentation, noise pollution, and wildlife stress

Habitat fragmentation

Breaking large habitats into smaller, isolated patches

Problem with overcrowding in parks

Pollution, erosion, wildlife disturbance, and infrastructure strain

Importance of wildlife monitoring

Tracks population health and prevents species decline

Carrying capacity

The maximum population an ecosystem can sustainably support

Importance of predators in parks

They regulate prey populations and maintain ecosystem balance

Concessionaire

A private company allowed to operate services inside a park

Why concessionaires should lease not own

Maintains public ownership and conservation priorities

Regulatory taking

Government regulations that limit land use and reduce property value

Role of natural fires in ecosystems

Recycle nutrients and maintain healthy forest structure

Prescribed burning

Controlled fires used to reduce fuel buildup and prevent severe wildfires

Sustainable park management

Managing parks to meet current needs without harming future ecosystems

Ecosystem management

Managing land to maintain ecological processes rather than one species

Importance of long-term protection

Ecosystems take decades or centuries to recover from damage

Ways to improve national park management

Conduct wildlife surveys and limit private ownership inside parks

Biggest conflict in park management

Balancing conservation with public access and recreation

Why parks are public goods

They are owned by the public and meant for shared benefit