5.12 sg
Chapter 12: Biodiversity - Preserving Landscapes
Page 1
Introduction to the concept of biodiversity and its importance.
Page 2: World Forests and Grasslands
Forests cover 29% of the world’s land surface.
Grasslands also cover about 29% of the land.
Provides resources:
Lumber and paper pulp
Livestock grazing
Environmental Services:
Regulating climate
Controlling water runoff
Purifying water and air
Providing wildlife habitat
Aesthetic Services: Enhances beauty and recreational opportunities.
Page 3: Major Forest Types
Categories of forests include:
Tropical closed forest
Subtropical closed forest
Temperate closed forest
Boreal closed forest
Tropical open and fragmented forests
Subtropical, Temperate, and Boreal open and fragmented forests.
Other wooded lands in the various climate zones.
Page 4: Status of Primary Forests
One third of all forests are Primary Forests.
Loss of forest:
Six million hectares cleared or heavily damaged yearly.
90% of countries with these forests face unsustainable logging.
50% of forest harvests are for firewood.
Page 5: Forest Harvest Methods
Major methods used in forest harvesting:
Clearcutting
Shelterwood
Group selection
Single tree selection.
Page 6: Forest Destruction in Brazil
A historical overview of forest changes in Brazil from 1975 to 2015.
Page 7: Forests Provide Products
Wood and Paper:
Developed countries supply <50% of industrial wood and consume >80%.
Paper pulp constitutes 1/5 of all wood consumption.
Fuel uses account for 1/2 of global wood consumption.
One quarter of the world's forests managed for wood production, often in monoculture.
Page 8: Causes for Deforestation
Conversion to Agriculture:
Leads to 2/3 of destruction in Africa
Includes cattle ranching and soy farming in Latin America.
Commercial Logging:
Road construction for timber access allows intrusion by farmers and miners.
Fires:
350 million hectares destroyed yearly, many intentionally set for land clearing.
Page 9: Palm Oil and Endangered Species
Rainforests converted to palm oil monocultures, the most widely used vegetable oil.
Its rapid growth and profitability highlighted in a 2014 UN Climate Summit pledge from Indonesia and top producers to stop deforesting for palm oil.
Page 10: Forest Area Designated for Conservation
Some places undergoing reforestation efforts.
Approximately 12% of the world’s forests are protected.
Page 11: Forest Protection Initiatives
Chipko Andolan Movement in India: Women hug trees to peacefully protest logging.
Debt for Nature Swaps: Conservation entities buy national debt, cancellation in exchange for protecting vital ecosystems.
Page 12: Threats to Temperate Forests
Forest management and logging policies remain controversial despite constant total area in North America.
Protection of endangered species initiated in large temperate rainforests, yet adjacent logging still fragments habitats.
Road construction in wilderness raises erosion and access issues for extractive activities.
Page 13: Other Threats to Temperate Forests
Climate change, insects, and wildfires threaten forests; an uptick in temperature risks increased drought, pest vulnerability, and fire risk.
Page 14: Fire Management Strategies
The U.S. has enforced aggressive fire control for 70 years; many ecosystems require fire for health.
The long-term fire suppression has caused debris accumulation leading to larger and worse fires.
40% of federal lands face severe fire risk; urban migrations lead to increased human-wildfire proximity.
Page 15: Prescribed Burns
Use of controlled fires to manage forest health as an important ecological management tool.
Page 16: Ecosystem Management Approach
Integrates ecological, economic, and social goals in a holistic approach.
Focuses on larger landscapes over time, sustainability, and biological diversity maintenance.
Page 17: Wildfire Events in 2020
Overview of significant wildfires in California and Oregon, affecting various regions.
Page 18: Grassland Issues
Conversion of grasslands to urban or agricultural use common.
Grazing can be sustainable, but overgrazing contributes to desertification.
Socioeconomic aspects of federal grazing fees.
Page 19: New Grazing Techniques
Traditional grazing leads to less desirable species dominance.
Rotational grazing spreads grazing pressure to promote healthier grassland ecosystems.
Page 20: Rangeland Soil Degradation Overview
Statistics on soil degradation due to overgrazing and other factors by region.
Page 21: Intensive Rotational Grazing
Utilizes movable fencing to evenly graze and fertilize land, aiding ecological restoration.
Page 22: Protected Areas
11.6% of Earth's land is conserved across various categories, including ecological reserves and national parks.
Page 23: Growth of Protected Areas
Historical growth of terrestrial and marine protected areas over time.
Page 24: Threats to Preserves
Common threats include overgrazing, dam constructions, and unsustainable mining/logging activities.
Page 25: Yellowstone National Park
Visitors and tourism's impact on national preserves highlighted through popular sites like Yellowstone.
Page 26: World Conservation Strategy Objectives
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) focuses on ecological processes, preserving genetic diversity, and sustainable ecosystem utilization.
Page 27: Marine Ecosystem Protection Needs
Emphasis on managing declining ocean fish stocks and threats to coral reefs.
Importance of establishing marine reserves, particularly highlighted by Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
Page 29: Conservation and Economic Development
Exploring the connection between ecological preservation and human needs through ecotourism and local biodiversity knowledge sharing.
Page 30: Model Biosphere Reserve Concept
Structured reserve categorizing core, buffer and multiple-use areas to balance development with ecosystem protection.
Page 31: Nature Preserves - Size and Design
Importance of larger reserves for biodiversity and ecosystem health.
The SLOSS (Single Large or Several Small) debate regarding reserve design.
Page 33: Landscape Ecology Overview
Examines how spatial patterns influence ecological processes, including wildlife movement and community health.