Copy of Unit 5_ Land and Water Use
Chapter 1: Module 2 - Human Well-Being and Sustainability
Human well-being relies on sustainable practices.
Sustainability:
Living in a manner that allows resource use without depleting them for future generations.
Sustainable Development:
Balancing current well-being with resource management for future benefits.
Page 2: Sustainable Practices
Environmental systems must be maintained to ensure recovery.
Renewable resources shouldn't be consumed quicker than their natural regeneration.
Nonrenewable resources must be utilized conservatively.
Biophilia:
The innate love of life and living systems.
Chapter 7: Module 23 - Common Goals of Sustainable Development
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Findings:
Ecosystem sustainability is jeopardized if resource consumption continues as is.
Alterations to ecosystems improving human well-being can worsen poverty for some.
Implementing sustainable methods can enhance living standards for many.
Page 4: The Ecological Footprint
Ecological Footprint:
A measurement of individual consumption expressed as an area of land.
Various factors are involved in calculating ecological footprints.
Page 5 - Distribution of Minerals and Their Consequences
Minerals and rocks are limited resources with varied availability.
Page 6: Abundance of Ores and Metals
Crustal Abundance:
Average concentration of elements in Earth's crust.
Ore:
Mineral concentration from which valuable materials are extracted.
Metal:
Elements that conduct electricity and heat, fulfilling essential roles.
Reserve:
Economically recoverable resource quantities.
Page 7: Elemental Composition of Earth’s Crust
Most Abundant Elements:
Oxygen > Silicon > Aluminum > Iron.
Page 8: Metal Reserves
Metal | U.S. Reserves Remaining (Years) | Global Reserves Remaining (Years) |
|---|---|---|
Iron (Fe) | 120 | 40 |
Aluminum (Al) | 330 | 2 |
Copper (Cu) | 65 | 40 |
Lead (Pb) | 20 | 40 |
Zinc (Zn) | 30 | 25 |
Gold (Au) | 30 | 20 |
Nickel (Ni) | 75 | 0 |
Cobalt (Co) | 50 | 0 |
Manganese (Mn) | 70 | 0 |
Chromium (Cr) | 85 | 0 |
Page 9: Mining Techniques
Surface Mining:
Large soil and rock removal (overburden) to access ore.
Types:
Strip mining, open-pit mining, mountaintop removal, placer mining.
Page 10: Surface Mining Techniques
Strip Mining:
Removes strips of soil and rock to uncover ore.
Open-Pit Mining:
Involves a large visible pit or hole.
Page 11: Mountaintop Removal
Mountaintop Removal:
The entire top of a mountain is blasted off to access resources.
Page 12: Placer Mining
Placer Mining:
Searching for minerals in river sediments.
Page 13: Mining Spoils
Mining Spoils:
Waste materials (tailings) generated during mining processes.
Page 14: Subsurface Mining Techniques
Subsurface Mining:
For resources deep underground, e.g., coal, diamonds, gold.
Increasing reliance due to depleting easily accessible reserves.
Page 15: Environmental Impacts of Mining
Faced with soil and rock disturbances, mining can compromise habitats, pollute groundwater, and release harmful particles.
Page 16: Types of Mining Operations and Their Effects**
Type of Operation | Effects on Air | Effects on Water | Effects on Soil | Effects on Biodiversity | Effects on Humans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Surface Mining | Significant dust | Contamination from tailings | Most soil removal; reclamation possible | Habitat alteration/destruction | Minimal effects; air & water quality can suffer |
Subsurface Mining | Minimal dust but emissions | Acid mine drainage; contamination from tailings | N/A | N/A | Occupational hazards; disease risks |
Chapter 10: Module 29 - Land Use Concepts
Birnbaum land use changes affect the environment.
Key Concepts:
Tragedy of the commons, externalities, maximum sustainable yield.
Page 19: Tragedy of the Commons
Definition:
Shared resources can become depleted due to individual self-interest.
Page 20: Consequences
Unregulated common land risks degradation to unsustainable use levels.
Page 21: Externalities
Externality:
Unaccounted costs/benefits associated with goods/services impacting the environment.
Page 22: Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY)
Definition:
The highest quantity of a renewable resource that can be safely harvested.
Variations based on population sizes and environmental factors.
Page 24: Public Lands in the U.S.
Land Use:
A mix of public and private tailored for multiple purposes.
Page 25: Federal Land Management Agencies
Over 95% of federal lands managed by:
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
National Park Service (NPS)
Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
Module 30: Land Management Practices
Covers varying management techniques for different land uses, i.e., rangelands, forests, and parks.
Page 28: Rangelands
Rangeland:
Open grasslands; overgrazing leads to erosion risks.
Page 29: Forests
Forest Description:
Dominated by trees; commercial timber mostly private.
Harvesting Methods:
Clear-cutting: total tree removal; selective cutting: partial tree removal.
Page 30: Clear-Cutting Impact
Economically beneficial but increases soil erosion and alters ecosystems.
Page 31: Ecologically Sustainable Forestry
Aiming to maintain ecological viability during timber removal.
Strategies include reforestation, IPM, and controlled burns.
Page 34: The Role of Fire in Ecosystems
Fire recycles nutrients; prescribed burns help prevent larger wildfires.
Page 36: National Wildlife Areas
Areas focused on ecological protection and recreation.
Page 37: Regulation of Federal Land Use
Legislation: NEPA, EIS, Environmental Mitigation Plan, Endangered Species Act.
Residential Land Use Trends
Suburb: Areas surrounding metropolitan centers.
Exurb: Areas similar to suburbs but unaffiliated with central cities.
Growing population shift towards suburban living since 1950.
Page 40: Urbanization Impacts
Urban sprawl leads to potential environmental strain and resource depletion.
Page 41: Avoiding Urban Blight
Urban blight challenges urban health as populations migrate.
Urban Planning Strategies
Zoning: Planning to separate residential and industrial areas.
Smart Growth Principles:
Mixed land-use development.
Varied housing opportunities.
Walkable neighborhoods.
Collaboration in development.
Pages 47-48: Reducing Urban Runoff
Approaches include permeable surfaces, stormwater ponds, and tree planting.
Chapter 11: Modern Large-Scale Farming Methods
Industrial Agriculture: Use of mechanization and standardization.
Energy Subsidy: Fossil fuel and labor input per calorie produced.
Pages 52-53: The Green Revolution
Advances in agricultural practices spurred food production improvement.
Pages 54-57: Irrigation Strategies
Various irrigation methods have differing efficiencies and environmental consequences.
Page 64: Genetic Engineering in Agriculture
Benefits: Increased yield, food quality, decreased pesticide usage.
Concerns: Potential for genetic diversity reduction.
Page 65: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO)
Large livestock production with associated environmental impacts.
Page 78: Aquaculture
Farming of aquatic organisms; brings sustainable alternative but poses ecological risks.
Pages 79-82: Alternatives to Industrial Farming
Focused on traditional methods and sustainable practices to improve agricultural productivity.