Environmental Science

1
Environmental Science

• Chapter 8
• Land Use
• Notes 2

2
Chapter 8 LandHow we Use Land

• Harvesting trees
• Paper, furniture, homes, etc.
• Also to gain area for farming
• US uses over 3.5 times as much as the rest of the
  world
• Deforestation
• Clearing trees from an area without replacing
  them
• Rain Forests
• Reforestation
• Replace trees that are dead or removed

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Chapter 8 LandHow we Use Land

• Examples of Deforestation
• Clear-cutting
• Removes all trees
• Destroys wildlife habitat
• Increases soil erosion
• Selective cutting
• Only take old/mature trees
• Least impact on environment
• Removes trees in clumps
• Roads used for logging are the main source of
  soil erosion

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Chapter 8 LandHow we Use Land

• Ranching
• Land used for grazing
• Shrubs and grasses
• Adaptable plants (native V. invasive)
• Overgrazing
• Desertification

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Chapter 8 LandHow we Use Land

• Ranching
• Maintenance
• Public rangelands improvement act of 1978
• 2 main points
• Maintenance and improvement
• Limiting herd size
• Fencing off overgrazed, many water holes

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Chapter 8 LandHow we Use Land

• Mining
• Mineralsolid element or compound (Ag,Au,NaCl)
• Useful Minerals mineral resources (Fe, Cu, Al)
• Found in Ores
• Open Pit Mining (Quarries)
• Machinery digs big holes
• Strip mining
• Bulldozes strips away layers

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Chapter 8 LandHow we Use Land

• Mining Reclamation
• Restoring land that has been mined
• Public mining sites must be reclaimed
• Recycling reduces the need for mining
• State and federal agencies create policies that
  regulate mining
• Fines get issues by state agencies if protocol
  isnt followed.

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Chapter 8 LandHow we Use Land

• Public Land
• US Citizens are the owners of public lands
• National Parks (Yellowstone)
• Preserve scenery, wildlife habitats, provide
  ecological services
• About 55 natl parks in the US
• Endangered Species Act
• Protecting habitats