APES CH 10

Endangered Species Act

(1973) identifies threatened and endangered species in the U.S., and puts their protection ahead of economic considerations

prescribed burn

A fire deliberately set under controlled conditions in order to reduce the accumulation of dead biomass on a forest floor

Environmental Mitigation Plan

A plan that outlines how a developer will address concerns raised by a project's impact on the environment.

urban growth boundaries

A regional boundary, set in an attempt to control urban sprawl by mandating that the area inside the boundary be used for higher density urban development and the area outside to be used for lower density development. Used by local governments as a guide to zoning and land use decisions

Environmental Impact Statement

A report required by federal law that assesses the possible effect of a project on the environment if the project is subsidized in whole or part by federal funds.

smart growth

A set of principles for community planning that focuses on strategies to encourage the development of sustainable, healthy communities

national wilderness area

An area set aside with the intent of preserving a large tract of intact ecosystem or a landscape.

Exurban

An area similar to a suburb, but unconnected to any central city or densely populated area

restoration

Bringing something back to a former condition. Ecological restoration involves active manipulation of nature to re-create conditions that existed before human disturbance.

Tragedy of the Commons

Depletion or degradation of a potentially renewable resource to which people have free and unmanaged access. An example is the depletion of commercially desirable fish species in the open ocean beyond areas controlled by coastal countries.

transit oriented development

Development that attempts to focus dense residential and retail development around stops for public transportation, a component of smart growth.

infill

Development that fills in vacant lots within existing communities

stakeholders

Individuals or groups who have an interest in and are affected by the actions of an organization

preservation

Maintenance of a resource in its present condition, with as little human impact as possible.

remediation

Process of cleaning up a contaminated site by physical, chemical or biological means. Typically applied to contaminated groundwater and soil.

multiple use lands

Public land that may be used for recreation, grazing, timber harvesting and mineral extraction

Urban blight

The degradation of the built and social environments of the city that often accompanies and accelerates migration to the suburbs

maximum sustainable yield

The maximum amount of a renewable resource that can be harvested without compromising the future availability of that resource

induced demand

The phenomenon in which increase in the supply of a good causes demand to grow.

mitigation

The policy of constructing or creating man-made habitats, such as wetlands, to replace those lost to development

national wildlife refuges

U.S. federal public lands managed for primary purpose of protecting wildlife

vector

a carrier (usually an arthropod/insect) that transfers an infective agent from one host to another.

multi use zoning

a zoning classification that allows retail and high-density residential development to coexist in the same area

Bureau of Land Management

agency in the Department of the interior that oversees lands used for grazing, mining, timber harvesting, and recreation

Highway Trust Fund

begun by the Highway Revenue Act and funded by a federal gasoline tax, which pays for the construction and maintenance of roads and highways

endemic

belonging to a particular area; inherent

Suburban

characteristic of the suburbs, the mainly residential areas surrounding large cities

clear-cutting

cutting down whole forests when removing timber

zoning

dividing an area into zones or sections reserved for different purposes such as residence and business and manufacturing etc

tree plantations

large areas planted with a single rapidly growing tree species; never develop into mature forests due to planting/harvesting cycle

Fish and Wildlife Service

oversees lands for wildlife conservation, hunting, and recreation

US Forest Service

oversees lands used for timber harvesting, grazing, and recreation

National Park Service

oversees national park lands used for recreation and conservation

selective cutting

the removal of select trees in an area; this leaves the majority of the habitat in place and has less of an impact on the ecosystem.

eminent domain

the right of government to take private property for public use

urban sprawl

the unplanned and uncontrolled spreading of cities into surrounding regions

externality

unintended side effect that either benefits or harms a third party not involved in the activity that caused it