Central Case: Battling over the last big trees

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

PowerPoint® Slides prepared by Jay Withgott and Heidi Marcum

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings

Ch 12Resource Management, Forestry, Land Use, and Protected AreasPart 2: Environmental Issues and the Search for Solutions


• In 1993, protestors blocked loggers from cutting ancient trees on Vancouver Island, British Columbia- Most of Canada’s old-growth temperate rainforest is already

gone- 20% of the jobs depends on the timber industry

Central Case: Battling over the last big trees

Both sides struck a deal allowing environmentally friendly practices and encouraging ecotourism


Resources are vital to us

• Resource management = the practice of harvesting potentially renewable resources in ways that do not deplete them- influenced by political, economic, and social

factors


Natural resources are vital to us

• We need resources- Soils: agriculture, natural

communities- Water: drinking, agriculture,

wildlife- Wildlife and fisheries: game,

nongame, and marine species- Rangeland: livestock- Minerals: mined

nonrenewable resources


Maximum sustainable yield • Maximum sustainable yield = aims to achieve the

maximum amount of resource extraction • Populations grow most rapidly at an intermediate size

Reducing populations so drastically affects other species and can change the entire ecosystem


Ecosystem-based management

• Ecosystem-based management = managing the harvesting of resources to minimize impact on the ecosystems and ecological processes- Ecosystems are complex, and our understanding of

how they operate is limited


Adaptive management evolves and improves

• Adaptive management = systematically testing different management approaches and aiming to improve methods - Monitoring results and adjusting methods as needed - A fusion of science and management- Time-consuming and complicated

• The 1994 Northwest Forest Plan resolved disputes between loggers and preservationists over the remaining old-growth temperate rainforests in the continental U.S.- Allowed limited logging - Protected species and ecosystems - Science-guided management in Oregon, Washington, and

California


Forest Management• Forests cover over 30% of Earth’s land surface

- Provide habitat, maintain soil, air, and water quality, and play key roles in biogeochemical cycles

- Provide wood for fuel, construction, paper production

• Earth Day Around The World


Ecological value of forests• One of the richest ecosystems for biodiversity

- Stabilizes soil and prevents erosion- Slows runoff, lessens flooding, purifies water- Stores carbon, releases oxygen, moderates climate


Economic value of forests• Benefits: fuel, shelter,

transportation, paper • Logging Locations:

- Boreal Forests: Canada, Russia

- Rainforests: Brazil, Indonesia

- Conifer Forests/Pine Plantations: U.S.

In 2005, over 1/3 all forests were designated for timber production


Demand for wood leads to deforestation• Deforestation = the clearing and

loss of forests - Alters landscapes and

ecosystems- Degrades soil- Causes species decline and

extinction- Ruins civilizations- Adds carbon dioxide to the air

Developing countries boost their economies and get land for their growing populations by logging forests


Deforestation in America and Canada

• Deforestation propelled the westward expansion and growth of America and Canada - Eastern deciduous forests

were the first to be logged for farms and to build cities (i.e., Chicago)

- Timber companies moved south to the Ozarks and west to the Rockies


Loggers moved westward, searching for large trees

• Primary forest = natural forest uncut by people- Little remained by the 20th century

• Second-growth trees = grown to partial maturity after old-growth timber has been cut


“Timber famine” fears spurred forest protection

• National forest system = a system of forest reserves and public lands- To grow trees, produce timber, protect watersheds, and ensure

future timber supplies- Resulted from depletion of U.S. forests and fear of a “timber

famine”- 77 million ha (191 million acres); 8% of the U.S. land area

• The U.S. Forest Service was established in 1905 - Manage forests for the greatest good of the greatest number

in the long run, including logging


Federal agencies own land in the U.S.


Plantation forestry• The timber industry focuses on timber plantations

- Fast-growing species - Monocultures- Even-aged trees = all trees are the same age

• Trees are cut at the end of the rotation time and replanted- crops, not functional forests


Harvesting timber: clear-cutting- All trees in the area are

cut- Most cost-efficient- Greatest impact on forest

ecosystems- May mimic some natural

forms of disturbance- Destroy entire

communities- Soil erosion- The Lorax

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6650219631867189375


Harvesting: other methods

• Seed-tree cutting = a small number of seed-producing trees are left standing to reseed the area

• Shelterwood cutting = a small number of trees are left to provide shelter for the seedlings

• Selection systems = only select trees are cut- Single tree selection = widely spaced trees are cut- Group tree selection = small patches of trees are cut

• All methods disturb habitat- Change forest structure and composition- Increase erosion, siltation, runoff, flooding, landslides


Public forests can be managed for many things

• Increased public awareness- For recreation, wildlife and ecosystem integrity,

instead of logging- Critics protested federal subsidies of logging

companies• Multiple use policy = national forests were to be

managed for recreation, habitat, minerals and other uses- In reality, timber production is the primary use

The Forest Service loses $100 million/yr by selling timber below cost


Harvesting forests


The National Forest Management Act (1976)

• plans for renewable resource management for every national forest

• Guidelines:- both economic and environmental factors- species diversity- research and monitoring- sustainable harvests only- soils and wetlands- Assessing all impacts before logging to protect resources


New forestry management is under attack

• Calls for timber cuts that mimic natural disturbances- Harvesting methods are based on ecosystem approaches

• The Bush administration has rolled back these regulations- Freed managers from requirements of the Act- Loosened environmental protections- Repealed President Clinton’s roadless rule, which protected

31% of national forests from road building- California, Oregon, and New Mexico have sued the government

to reinstate the roadless rule


Fire policy also stirs controversy

• For over 100 years, the Forest Service suppressed all fires- But many ecosystems depend on

fires- Fire suppression allows woody

accumulation, which produces kindling for future fires

- Which are much worse• Housing development near forests and

climate change will increase fire risk


Prescribed fires are misunderstood

• Prescribed (controlled) burns = burning areas of forests under carefully controlled conditions- Effective- May get out of control- Impeded by public misunderstanding and political

interference• Healthy Forests Restoration Act (2003) = promotes

removal of small trees, underbrush and dead trees- Passed in response to forest fires


Salvage logging

• Removal of dead trees following a natural disturbance• Seems logical, but is really destructive

- Snags (standing dead trees) provide nesting cavities for countless animals

- Removing timber from recently burned areas increases erosion and soil damage

- Promotes future fires- Increases commercial logging in national forests- Decreases oversight and public participation


Sustainable forestry is gaining ground• Sustainable forestry certification = only products produced

sustainably can be certified- International Organization for Standardization (ISO),

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) have different standards- Consumers look for logos to buy sustainably produced

timber- Companies such as Home Depot sell sustainable wood

- Encourages better logging practices- http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=3389657n&t

ag=mncol;lst;7

- http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/10/01/science/100000001071584/the-forest-for-the-trees.html?ref=earth

- The Truax

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=3389657n&tag=mncol;lst;7

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=3389657n&tag=mncol;lst;7

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/10/01/science/100000001071584/the-forest-for-the-trees.html?ref=earth

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/10/01/science/100000001071584/the-forest-for-the-trees.html?ref=earth


Lorax vs. Truax- What is clear cutting; selective cutting? - What are six products made from wood ? List other materials

that can be used to make each of these products. - What is the ecological impact of a product made from

wood? - What is the ecological impact of a product made from

plastic? - What kind of pollution is caused by the manufacturing of

wood products? - What kind of pollution is caused by the manufacturing of

plastic products? - What does ecologically sustainable mean? Give three

examples.


Agricultural land use

• Agriculture covers 38% of the Earths’ terrestrial surface- 26% supports pasture, 12% supports crops

• Subsidies- Proponents-farmers need this insurance against bad

years- Critics-farmers should buy their own insurance


Wetlands have been drained for farming

• Wetlands farmland• Governments encouraged

wetland draining- Promote settlement and

farming- Transferred land to states- Stimulated draining

• < half the wetlands remain


• Test on Wednesday 12/21• Grass Lab due 1/6


Extra Credit Opportunity!!!

• 4 pieces of 2 x 4 to represent industrial facilities• 2 pieces of 2 x 3 to represent transportation facilities• 1 piece of 1 x 6 to represent a medical facility• 17 pieces of 2 x2 to represent businesses and city

buildings• (police and fire departments, libraries, schools, shops,• restaurants)• 2 pieces of 1 x 4 to represent water supply and sewage• 46 pieces of 1 x 2 to represent houses or apartments• 1 32 x 32 grid upon which to place pieces


Perspectives on wetlands are changing

• Many people have a new view of wetlands- Not worthless swamps, but valuable ecosystems- Demanded regulations to safeguard remaining

wetlands- But, because of loopholes, wetlands are still being lost

• Conservation Reserve Program (1985) subsidized farmers to take highly erodable land out of production- Turn it into wildlife habitat


Livestock graze one-fourth of Earth’s land

• Grazing can be sustainable if done carefully and at low intensity

• Bureau of Land Management (BLM) = owns and manages most U.S. rangeland- Nation’s single largest landowner: 106 million ha (261

million acres) across 12 western states- Ranchers can graze cattle on BLM lands for low fees- Low fees encourage overgrazing

Ranchers and environmentalists have joined to preserve ranchland against development and urban sprawl


Management of the American West

• Overexploitation of resources caused great damage to the American West- Poor farming practices, overgrazing,

farming arid lands• John Wesley Powell in the late 1800s called

for agencies to base management on science- Farming Western lands had to account

for arid conditions- His ideas were ignored, contributing to

failures such as the Dust Bowl of the 1930s


Parks and reserves

• Reasons for establishing parks and reserves include:- Monumentalism = preserving areas with enormous,

beautiful or unusual features, such as the Grand Canyon

- Offer recreational value to tourists, hikers, fishers, hunters and others

- Protect areas with utilitarian benefits, such as clean drinking water

- Use sites that are otherwise economically not valuable and are therefore easy to protect

- Preservation of biodiversity


Federal parks and reserves began in the U.S.

• National parks = public lands protected from resource extraction and development- Open to nature appreciation

and recreation- Yellowstone National Park

was established in 1872• The Antiquities Act of 1906

- The president can declare selected public lands as national monuments


The National Park Service (NPS)

• Created in 1916 to administer parks and monuments- 388 sites totaling 32 million ha (72 million acres)- Includes national historic sites, national recreation

areas, national wild and scenic rivers- 273 million visitors in 2006


National Wildlife Refuges

• Begun in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt• 37 million ha (91 million acres) in 541 sites• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers refuges

- Management ranges from preservation to manipulation- Wildlife havens- Allows hunting, fishing, wildlife observation,

photography, education


Wilderness areas

• Wilderness areas = area is off-limits to development of any kind- Open to the public for hiking,

nature study, etc.- Must have minimal impact on

the land- Necessary to ensure that

humans don’t occupy and modify all natural areas

• Established within federal lands- Overseen by the agencies that

administer those areas


Not everyone supports land set-asides

• Restriction of activities in wilderness areas generated opposition to U.S. land protection policies- Some western states want resource extraction and

development• The wise-use movement = a coalition of individuals

and industries that oppose environmental protection- Protecting private property, transferring federal

lands to state or private hands, promoting motorized recreation on public lands

- Farmers, ranchers, loggers, mineral and fossil fuel industries


Wilderness protection has been weakened

• President George W. Bush has weakened wilderness protection- Federal agencies have shifted policies and enforcement- Away from preservation and conservation - Toward recreation and resource extraction


Nonfederal entities also protect land

• Each U.S. state and Canadian province has agencies that manage resources- So do counties and municipalities

• Land trusts = local or regional organizations that purchase land to protect it- The Nature Conservancy is the world’s largest land

trust- Trusts protect 4.1 million ha (10.2 million acres)- Jackson Hole, Wyoming is protected by a land trust


Parks and reserves are increasing internationally

• Many nations have established national parks- Benefit from ecotourism- Protected areas now cover 9.6% of the world’s land area

• Parks do not always receive necessary funding- Paper parks = Areas protected on paper but not in reality- World heritage sites = protected areas that fall under national

sovereignty but are designated or managed by the United Nations

- 830 sites across 184 countries


Transboundary and peace parks

• Transboundary park = an area of protected land overlapping national borders- For example, Waterton-Glacier National Parks in the

U.S. and Canada• Peace parks = transboundary reserves that help ease

tensions by acting as buffers between nations• Biosphere reserves = land with exceptional biodiversity

- Couple preservation with sustainable development


Biosphere reserves have several zones

• This can be a win-win situation for everyone


Habitat fragmentation threatens species• Contiguous habitat is chopped into small

pieces- Species suffer


The SLOSS dilemma

• Which is better to protect species?- A Single Large Or Several Small reserves?- Depends on the species: tigers vs. insects

• Corridors = protected land that allows animals to travel between islands of protected habitat- Animals get more resources- Enables gene flow between populations


Urban Issue: Light Pollution

• http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/11/light-pollution/richardson-photography

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/11/light-pollution/richardson-photography

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/11/light-pollution/richardson-photography


Conclusion

• Resources must be managed sustainably to avoid overexploitation and overharvesting

• Many nations have established federal and regional agencies to manage publicly held land and natural resources

• Resource management policies first emphasized extraction then shifted into sustained yield and multiple use

• Public support for land preservation resulted in parks, wilderness areas and other reserves

Documents

Central Case: Battling over the last big trees