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.