APES Unit 5 PPT
Unit 5 - Land & Water Use
5.1 - Tragedy of the Commons
Learning Objectives
Explain the tragedy of the commons: individuals prioritize personal gain over common resources leading to depletion.
Suggested Skill: Concept Explanation (Explain environmental concepts and processes).
Key Concepts
Tragedy of the Commons: A situation where individuals exploit shared resources, leading to degradation.
Essential Knowledge (EIN-2.A):
The concept revolves around shared resources like groundwater and fisheries being overused.
Examples of Tragedy of the Commons
Overuse of groundwater
Water and air pollution
Overfishing
Overgrazing
Causes of the Tragedy
Lack of ownership leads to no immediate responsibility.
Assumption that others will exploit resources if not used personally.
No repercussions for overuse or pollution.
Problems Resulting from Mismanagement
Overfishing consequences: fishery collapse, loss of income, and starvation.
Air pollution leading to health issues: bronchitis and asthma.
Pesticide runoff contaminating drinking water.
Solutions to the Tragedy of the Commons
Implement private land ownership or government control.
Introduce fees or taxes for resource usage (e.g., permits for grazing/logging).
Enforce laws like Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages land by collecting grazing fees and restoring overgrazed areas.
5.2 - Clearcutting
Learning Objectives
Describe the effects of clearcutting on forests.
Key Concepts
Clearcutting provides economic benefits but leads to environmental degradation, including:
Soil erosion
Increases in soil and water temperatures leading to flooding.
Forests play a role in pollutant absorption and carbon storage.
Removing trees releases CO2, contributing to climate change.
Direct Effects of Clearcutting
Soil erosion due to loss of root structure.
Increased turbidity in streams due to sedimentation.
Loss of tree shade affecting local habitat temperatures.
Biodiversity Impacts
Replaces biodiverse forests with monoculture plantations.
Lowers species resilience and habitat diversity.
Forest Benefits
Air pollution filtering
CO2 storage and O2 release
Provides habitats for diverse organisms.
Deforestation Consequences
Reduction in air filtering and carbon storage.
CO2 release from both decomposition and slash-and-burn agriculture.
5.3 - The Green Revolution
Learning Objectives
Describe changes in agricultural strategies to increase production.
Key Concepts
The Green Revolution led to:
Mechanized farming
Use of GMOs, fertilizers, and irrigation.
Positive outcomes include increased food production.
Negative consequences: soil erosion and biodiversity loss.
Mechanization Impact
Increases farming efficiency but raises fossil fuel dependency.
Heavy machinery leads to soil compaction.
Importance of High-Yield Crops
Hybrid and genetically modified varieties improve yields, especially in famine-prone areas.
Synthetic Fertilizers
Transition from organic to synthetic fertilizers enhances soil nutrients but causes eutrophication in waters.
Pesticides Usage
Increases crop yields but risks contamination to non-target species (e.g., bees).
5.4 - Impact of Agricultural Practices
Learning Objectives
Describe agricultural practices causing environmental damage.
Key Concepts
Soil erosion, pesticide runoff, and monocrop farming lead to habitat destruction, biodiversity loss, and increased pollutants in air/water.
5.5 - Irrigation
Learning Objectives
Describe different methods of irrigation and their environmental impacts.
Key Concepts
Spray, furrow, and flood irrigation vary in efficiency and environmental consequence:
Spray irrigation reduces evaporation loss, but is costlier.
Furrow irrigation is inexpensive but can lead to waterlogging.
Flood irrigation can be inefficient and cause runoff issues.
Groundwater Concerns
Overuse can deplete aquifers and cause salinization affecting plant roots.
5.7 - Meat Production Methods
Learning Objectives
Identify and describe methods of meat production.
Key Concepts
Free-range vs CAFO methods:
CAFOs are efficient but generate waste affecting water bodies.
Free-range farming has less environmental impact but is costly.
5.8 - Impacts of Overfishing
Learning Objectives
Describe causes and problems related to overfishing.
Key Concepts
Fishery collapse occurs due to unsustainable practices, leading to economic impacts and biodiversity loss.
Responses include regulatory meaning of Total Allowable Catch and Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs).
5.10 - Urbanization
Learning Objectives
Describe urbanization impacts on the environment.
Key Concepts
Urban sprawl leads to resource depletion, carbon emissions, and impervious surfaces causing flooding.
Solutions include urban growth boundaries and public transportation for sustainable city planning.