UNIT 5 APES TEST!
industrial agriculture
A form of agriculture that uses large scale mechanization and fossil fuel combustion, enabling farmers to replace horses and oxen with faster and more powerful methods of farming.
Infill & Urban Growth Boundary
Development that fills in vacant lots within existing communities rather than expanding into new land outside the city Urban Growth Boundary: a restriction on development outside a designated area
Benefits and Drawbacks of Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation uses perforated hoses to release small amounts of water to plant roots. This system is the most efficient, with only about 5% of water lost to evaporation and runoff. However, this system is expensive and so is not often used.
sustainable agriculture
Farming methods that preserve long-term productivity of land and minimize pollution, typically by rotating soil- restoring crops with cash crops and reducing in-puts of fertilizer and pesticides. Conserve the soil using contour plowing, windbreaks, perennial crops, no-till agriculture, strip cropping, terracing Crop rotation Green manure and limestone Rotational grazing The goal of soil conservation is to prevent soil erosion. Different methods of soil conservation include contour plowing, windbreaks, perennial crops (don't need to be replanted every year, automatically re-grow), terracing, no-till agriculture, and strip cropping. Strategies to improve soil fertility include crop rotation and the addition of green manure and limestone. Rotational grazing is the regular rotation of livestock between different pastures in order to avoid overgrazing in a particular area.
Sustainable Yield
Highest rate at which a renewable resource can be used indefinitely without reducing its available supply
Highway Trust Fund
Highway Trust Fund: a U.S. federal fund that pays for the construction and maintenance of roads and highways
Meat Production Methods
Methods of meat production include concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), also called feedlots, and free-range grazing. Meat production is less efficient than agriculture; it takes approximately 20 times more land to produce the same amount of calories from meat as from plants. Less consumption of meat could reduce CO2, methane, and N2O emissions; conserve water; reduce the use of antibiotics and growth hormones; and improve topsoil.
Mine remediation
Mining Damage Can be Remedied Re-Establish Vegetation: grade land, enrich soil, plant vegetation in keeping with original habitat, monitor Remediate Acid Mine Drainage Add a base, remove tailings, use bioremediation
Environmental Consequences of Mining
No vegetation → soil erosion and vegetation won't want to grow there Can have invasive species Lower albedo → increase temperature Burn fossil fuels → CO2 Stream nearby = end up in that river (turbidity, decreased oxygen) Mining has environmental consequences: soil erosion, desertification, loss of habitat and biodiversity, soil-laden runoff into nearby bodies of water, acid mine drainage, leaks from cyanide heap leaching
Salinization
Salinization: a form of soil degradation that occurs when the small amount of salts in irrigation water becomes highly concentrated on the soil surface through evaporation
Endangered Species Act
(1973) identifies threatened and endangered species in the U.S., and puts their protection ahead of economic considerations; Endangered Species Act: a 1973 U.S. act designed to protect species from extinction
Photosynthesis equation
6CO2 + 6H2O ------> C6H12O6 + 6O2
How is water used
70% for agriculture 20% for industry 10% for residential
pesticide treadmill
A cycle of pesticide development, followed by pest resistance, followed by new pesticide development
Waterlogging
A form of soil degradation that occurs when soil remains under water for prolonged periods.
heat island effect
An urban heat island (UHI) is a metropolitan area which is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas; Warmer temps are experienced in urban landscapes due to solar energy retention on constructed surfaces. Principal surfaces include streets, sidewalks, parkings lots and bldgs.
Broad-Spectrum Pesticide, Selective Pesticide, Persistent Pesticide, Non-Persistent Pesticide
Broad-Spectrum Pesticide: a pesticide that kills many different types of pests Selective Pesticide: a pesticide that targets a narrow range of organisms (aka narrow-spectrum pesticide) Persistent Pesticide: a pesticide that remains in the environment for a long time Non Persistent Pesticide: a pesticide that breaks down rapidly, usually in weeks or months
Describe methods for mitigating problems related to urban runoff.
Methods to increase water infiltration include replacing traditional pavement with permeable pavement, planting trees, increased use of public transportation, and building up, not out.
energy subsidy in agriculture
The energy input per calorie of food produced Solar energy, fossil fuels, human energy Ideally use few energy inputs per calorie of food produced Fossil Fuels: produce fertilizers, pesticides, operate tractors, pump water for irrigation, harvest food, transport Average food item travels 1240 miles from the farm to your plate Spend more energy transporting food than we get from the food SINGLE CROP FARMS ARE MORE EFFICIENT Energy Subsidy: the fossil fuel energy and human energy input per calorie of food produced
Soil Salinization Correlation
The more salt in the soil, the less seeds will germinate There is usually a point where none will germinate - about 1%NaCl
Sustainability
The use of Earth's renewable and nonrenewable natural resources in ways that do not constrain resource use in the future. Living on Earth in a way that allows humans to use its resources without depriving future generations of those resources. Sometimes humans over exploit the natural resources Removing trees to build homes Overfishing and deforestation
Aquifers
a body of permeable rock that can contain or transmit groundwater. Aquifers can be severely depleted if overused for agricultural irrigation, as has happened to the Ogallala Aquifer in the central United States
Open-Pit mining Strip Mining Mountaintop Removal Mining Subsurface Mining
a mining technique that uses a large visible pit or hole in the ground "Strip mining" is the practice of mining a seam of mineral, by first removing a long strip of overlying soil and rock (the overburden); Type of surface mining that uses explosives, massive power shovels, and large machines called draglines to remove the top of a mountain and expose seams of coal underneath a mountain. Extraction of a metal ore or fuel resource such as coal from a deep underground deposit. (dangerous)
Refining
an industrial process that removes impurities from a substance Surface Mining & Subsurface Mining (dangerous)
saltwater intrusion
an infiltration of salt water in an area where groundwater pressure has been reduced from extensive drilling of wells
soil salinization
in arid regions, irrigation water evaporates, leaving salts behind Salinization occurs when the salts in groundwater remain in the soil after the water evaporates. Over time, salinization can make soil toxic to plants.
Mining
the act of extracting ores or coal etc from the earth Must dig deeper to find ore if you use up all the ore at the top But that can lead to pollution and waste Surface mining removes large areas of rock on the top This can lead to erosion (big buzzword!!!!)
Resource Conservation Ethic
the belief that people should maximize the use of resources, based on the greatest good for everyone
aquaculture (aquafarming) - benefits & drawbacks
use of river segments or artificial bodies of water such as ponds for the raising and harvesting of food products including fish, shellfish, and seaweed Uses natural environment and can be salt or freshwater Very efficient, small areas and little fuel Problems though... Contaminate wastewater, fish escape and can breed with wild fish, and high populations lead to more disease (where have we seen this before...?) Aquaculture has expanded because it is highly efficient, requires only small areas of water, and requires little fuel. Aquaculture can contaminate wastewater, and fish that escape may compete or breed with wild fish. The density of fish in aquaculture can lead to increases in disease incidences, which can be transmitted to wild fish.
What agricultural practices damage the environment?
Agricultural practices that can cause environmental damage include tilling, slash-and-burn farming, and the use of fertilizers
shifting agriculture & soil compaction
An agricultural method in which land is cleared and used for a few years until the soil is depleted of nutrients. Soil Compaction: a process where repeated trampling by humans, machinery, or animals causes a compaction of soil and a reduction in pore space
Monocropping
An agricultural method that utilizes large plantings of a single species or variety Monocropping: large planting of a single species or variety Wheat and cotton Allows for large expanses of land to be planted and harvested on the same schedule Can lead to environmental degradation Soil Erosion Attack by Pests Removes Habitat for Predators that Might Otherwise Control Pests
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - benefits & drawbacks
An agricultural practice that uses a variety of techniques designed to minimize pesticide inputs Integrated pest management (IPM) is a combination of methods used to effectively control pest species while minimizing the disruption to the environment. These methods include biological, physical, and limited chemical methods such as biocontrol, intercropping, crop rotation, and natural predators of the pests. The use of integrated pest management (IPM) reduces the risk that pesticides pose to wildlife, water supplies, and human health. Integrated pest management (IPM) minimizes disruptions to the environment and threats to human health but can be complex and expensive.
Animal Waste & Emissions
Animal Waste & Emissions (cows emit methane which adds to climate change) Waste becomes Water Waste Increase in turbidity Decrease in aquatic primary productivity Decrease in albedo Increase in water temperature Decrease in dissolved oxygen (DO) levels Increase in organic matter/nutrient load Increase in decomposition by aerobic bacteria Decrease in DO levels Eutrophication (Topic 8.5) --> Some animal waste has fecal coliforms such as E. Coli which can end up in drinking water
organic agriculture
Approach to farming and ranching that avoids the use of herbicides, pesticides, growth hormones, and other similar synthetic inputs. Organic Agriculture: Work with the natural systems Keep organic matter and nutrients in the soil Avoid synthetic pesticides and fertilizers Maintain soil by increasing soil mass, biological activity and beneficial chemical properties Reduce the adverse environmental effects of agriculture
Describe natural resource extraction through mining
As the more accessible ores are mined to depletion, mining operations are forced to access lower grade ores. Accessing these ores requires increased use of resources that can cause increased waste and pollution. Surface mining is the removal of large portions of soil and rock, called overburden, in order to access the ore underneath. An example is strip mining, which removes the vegetation from an area, making the area more susceptible to erosion.
CAFO-produced meat Pros and Cons
CAFO-produced meat pros and cons 1. Pros: More-efficient means of production Uses less land per head of livestock than other methods 2. Cons: Large, concentrated areas of animal waste Possible water contamination Possibility of infectious pathogen released into waterways Antibiotic/growth hormone use
Describe the effect of clear cutting forests
Clearcutting can be economically advantageous but leads to soil erosion, increased soil and stream temperatures, and flooding. Forests contain trees that absorb pollutants and store carbon dioxide. The cutting and burning of trees releases carbon dioxide and contributes to climate change.
Benefits and Drawbacks of CAFOs
Concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFOs) are used as a way to quickly get livestock ready for slaughter. They tend to be crowded, and animals are fed grains or feed that are not as suitable as grass. Additionally, feedlots generate a large amount of organic waste, which can contaminate ground and surface water. The use of feedlots are less expensive than other methods, which can keep costs to consumers down.
What are the 4 types of irrigation methods?
Drip A small hose is buried or laid along the soil Water then drips onto the plants in a specific location PRO: super efficient! About 5% of water lost to evaporation and runoff CON: expensive so not often used Spray Water is pumped from a well and sent through multiple nozzles to spray the crops >25% water lost to evaporation and runoff PRO: relatively efficient CON: expensive and takes energy to run Flood Farmer floods the entire field with water so that it soaks evenly PRO: only 20% water loss CON: disruptive toward plant growth and lead to waterlogging Furrow Oldest irrigation technique A farmer digs trenches along the crop rows and fills them with water PRO: easy and cheap! CON: 35% or more water lost from evaporation/runoff
Explain the variables measured in an ecological footprint.
Ecological footprints compare resource demands and waste production required for an individual or a society.
economies of scale
Economies of Scale: the observation that average costs of production fall as output increases
eminent domain
Eminent Domain: a principle that grants the government the power to acquire a property at a fair market value even if the owner does not wish to sell it
Environmental Impact Statement & Environmental Mitigation Plan
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): a document outlining the scope and purpose of a development project, describing the environmental context, suggesting alternative approaches to the project, and analyzing the environmental impact of each alternative Environmental Mitigation Plan: a plan that outlines how a developer will address concerns raised by a project's impact on the environment
Externality
Externality: the cost or benefit of a good or service that is not included in the purchase price of that good or service or otherwise accounted for
Fertilizers (organic/synthetic)
Fertilizers: replace lost organic matter and nutrients Organic: animal manure and decomposed waste Synthetic: inorganic and produced commercially
Overfishing
Fishery - a commercially harvestable population of fish within a particular ecological reason Many resources can get depleted by humans including food resources Overfishing can lead to an impact on the sustainability of the food source Overfishing has led to the extreme scarcity of some fish species, which can lessen biodiversity in aquatic systems and harm people who depend on fishing for food and commerce.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Flood Irrigation
Flood irrigation involves flooding an agricultural field with water. This system sees about 20% of the water lost to evaporation and runoff. This can also lead to waterlogging of the soil.
food security vs. insecurity
Food Security: a condition in which people have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs for an active and healthy life Food Insecurity: a condition in which people do not have adequate access to food
Free Range Meat Production Pros and Cons
Free Range Meat Production Pros and Cons: 1. Pros: Animals eat natural food sources No preventative antibiotic use Waste spread over a larger area by fewer animals 2. Cons: Possible tragedy of the commons via overgrazing Soil degradation Water pollution Desertification Large land use per animal Higher cost for consumers than other methods
Benefits and Drawbacks of Free Range Grazing
Free range grazing allows animals to graze on grass during their entire lifecycle. Meat from free range animals tends to be free from antibiotics and other chemicals used in feedlots. Organic waste from these animals acts as fertilizer. Free range grazing requires large areas of land and the meat produced is more expensive for consumers.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Furrow Irrigation
Furrow irrigation involves cutting furrows between crop rows and filling them with water. This system is inexpensive, but about 1/3 of the water is lost to evaporation and runoff.
Intercropping, Crop Rotation, Agroforestry, Contour Plowing, No-Till Agriculture, Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ)
Intercropping: an agricultural method in which two or more crop species are planted in the same field at the same time to promote a synergistic interaction Crop Rotation: an agricultural technique in which crop species in a field are rotated from season to season Agroforestry: an agricultural technique in which trees and vegetables are intercropped Contour Plowing: an agricultural technique in which plowing and harvesting are done parallel to the topographic contours of the land No-Till Agriculture: an agricultural method in which farmers do not turn the soil between seasons as a means of reducing topsoil erosion Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ): a fishery management program in which individual fishers are given a total allowable catch of fish in a season that they can either catch or sell
Sustainable Fishing
International cooperation on fishery management Acts and Laws to protect fisheries Individual transferable quotas Aquaculture
cyanide heap leaching
Level entire mountains and then use a highly toxic chemical to separate gold from the waste ore. stacking up ore and putting cyanide on it and that dissolves the material to a waste slurry and then you remove impurities to become target mineral
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO)
Many meat or dairy animals are reared in confined spaces, maximizing the number of animals that can be grown in a small area.
Describe ecological and economic impacts of natural resource extraction through mining.
Mining wastes include the soil and rocks that are moved to gain access to the ore and the waste, called slag and tailings that remain when the minerals have been removed from the ore. Mining helps to provide low cost energy and material necessary to make products. The mining of coal can destroy habitats, contaminate ground water, and release dust particles and methane. As coal reserves get smaller, due to a lack of easily accessible reserves, it becomes necessary to access coal through subsurface mining, which is very expensive.
Urbanization --> Impacts
Movement of people from rural areas to cities Saltwater can enter the water cycle Increase in CO2 Impervious (non porous) surfaces like roads, buildings, sidewalks, parking lots, don't allow water to reach the soil - so flooding happens! Urban sprawl - movement from high density cities to low density suburbs (like where we are!) - why is this a problem? A main benefit of urbanization is mass transit (benefit environment because lowering the number of fossil fuels used per capita/per person and more efficient use of land) Benefits of living in urban city: mass transport, decreased travel to work/home/stores, and decreased per capita use of local resources Urbanization impacts the water cycle because of the high density of human settlements → need for water → alter the flow of water in order to get more water for the people (water diversion) → affects the animals in the dam/location → can cause flooding and less water in some places Urbanization impacts the carbon cycle (cars, factories → greenhouse gases as anthropogenic carbon) → contributes to climate change → increase air pollution
National Wildlife Refuge, National Wilderness Area, National Environmental Policy Act (NERPA)
National Wildlife Refuge: a federal public land managed for the primary purpose of protecting wildlife National Wilderness Area: an area set aside with the intent of preserving a large tract of intact ecosystem or landscape National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): a 1969 U.S. federal act that mandates an environmental assessment of all projects involving federal money or federal permits
Pest Control Methods
One consequence of using common pest-control methods such as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, and insecticides is that organisms can become resistant to them through artificial selection. Pest control decreases crop damage by pest and increases crop yields. Crops can be genetically engineered to increase their resistance to pests and diseases. However, using genetically engineered crops in planting or other ways can lead to loss of genetic diversity of that particular crop
Tailings and Target Mineral
Ore gets all the impurities removed in order to become a target mineral Tailings is the impurities that are removed from the ore to get the target mineral
overburden/spoils
Overburden vs Spoils Overburden: soil or material on top of the ore or material you or trying to get → once you dig it up and put it to the side it is spoils
Overgrazing
Overgrazing occurs when too many animals feed on a particular area of land. Overgrazing causes loss of vegetation, which leads to soil erosion. Overgrazing can cause desertification. Desertification is the degradation of low precipitation regions toward being increasingly arid until they become deserts.
pesticide vs. herbicide vs insecticide
Pesticide: a substance, either natural or synthetic, that kills or controls organisms that people consider pests Insecticide: a pesticide that targets species of insects and other invertebrates that consume crops Herbicide: a pesticide that targets plant species that compete with crops
acid mine drainage
Pollution caused when sulfuric acid and dangerous dissolved materials such as lead, arsenic, and cadmium wash from coal and metal mines into nearby lakes and streams. Highly acidic water can dissolve and go into the water (come from mine tailings) Cyanide Heap Leaching → waste slurry can go to water, as well Abandoned tailings DO NOT lead to the excess nutrient load in nearby water
ecosystem services
Provisioning, regulating services, supporting services, and cultural services; provisioning: Goods that humans can use directly (lumber, crops, rubber, furs); regulating: Provide us with more time for climate changes, regulate nutrient and hydrologic cycles; supporting: Pollination of food crops (bees and other insects.) Provide habitats for animals that pollinate crops. Filter pathogens from water; cultural: Beauty of nature. Instrumental when people are willing to pay and others benefit from gaining scientific knowledge. Hard to quantify.
Green Revolution
Rapid diffusion of new agricultural technology, especially new high-yield seeds and fertilizers. The Green Revolution started a shift to new agricultural strategies and practices in order to increase food production, with both positive and negative results. Some of these strategies and methods are mechanization, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), fertilization, irrigation, and the use of pesticides. Mechanization of farming can increase profits and efficiency for farms. It can also increase reliance on fossil fuels.
Benefits of Reducing Meat Production
Reduce CO2, methane (CH4), and N2O emissions Conserve water Reduce the use of antibiotics and growth hormone Improve topsoil Increase food calories available to humans Increase the efficiency of agricultural land and water use Increase the possibility of disease and antibiotic-resistant bacteria Improve soil quality Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Urban Remediation
Remediation: to fix or lessen the issues of urban sprawl → put more vegetation and try to make permeable pavement to let water flow through it and reduce runoff and trying to plan for the future by making things closer to one another Remediate brownfields Urbanization drawbacks can be remediated; new urban planning can take into account drawbacks by designing the city to be more sustainable
Benefits and Drawbacks of Spray Irrigation
Spray irrigation involves pumping ground water into spray nozzles across an agricultural field. This system is more efficient than flood and furrow irrigation, with only 1/4 or less of the water lost to evaporation or runoff. However, spray systems are more expensive than flood and furrow irrigation, and also requires energy to run.
Explain the concept of sustainability
Sustainability refers to humans living on Earth and their use of resources without depletion of the resources for future generations. Environmental indicators that can guide humans to sustainability include biological diversity, food production, average global surface temperatures and CO2 concentrations, human population, and resource depletion. Sustainable yield is the amount of a renewable resource that can be taken without reducing the available supply.
Logging techniques
The five types of tree harvest methods are selective cutting, shelterwood cutting, seed-tree cutting, clear-cutting, and strip cutting.Selective cutting: Intermediate-aged or mature trees in an uneven-aged forest are cut singly or in small groups. Selective cutting reduces crowding, encourages growth of younger trees, maintains an uneven-aged stand of tress of different species, and allows natural regeneration from surrounding trees.Shelterwood cutting: Removes all mature trees in an area in two or three cuttings over a period of time.Seed-tree cutting: When loggers harvest nearly all of a stand's trees in one cutting but leave a few uniformly distributed seed-producing trees to regenerate the stand.Clear-cutting: Removes all trees from an area in a single cutting. *Shelterwood cutting and seed-tree cutting are basically forms of clear-cutting carried out in two or more phases.Strip cutting: A clear-cutting variation that can provide a sustainable timber yield without widespread destruction. Involves clear-cutting a strip of trees along the contour of the land, with the corridor narrow enough to allow natural regeneration within a few years.
Methods of irrigation
The largest human use of freshwater is for irrigation (70%). Types of irrigation include drip irrigation, flood irrigation, furrow irrigation, drip irrigation, and spray irrigation.
urban sprawl
The process of urban areas expanding outwards, usually in the form of suburbs, and developing over fertile agricultural land.
deforestation
The removal of trees faster than forests can replace themselves. ISSUES CAUSED BY DEFORESTATION: - increased soil erosion - increased greenhouse gases (climate change) - more flooding → Killing the habitats and animals in the forest → Burning forests for resources (ex. Palm Oil) →World's rainforests can completely disappear within 100 years → 24% of greenhouse gas emissions → climate change → Release carbon into atmosphere → 2 Billion people rely on forests for shelter/food → Increasing from urban sprawl → Deforestation is an economic game, but hurts many while benefitting few → Main Causes: industrial uses, agriculture, Livestock → Deforestation happens at many different spectrums: from small-scale (only a few trees) to large-scale (massive cut down) → Deforestation does not just affect the climate and the wildlife but it also hurts the people that depend on the forests for their shelter/food
Transit-oriented development (TOD)
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD): development that attempts to focus dense residential and retail development around stops for public transportation, a component of smart growth
Urban sprawl and urban blight
Urban sprawl -migration of people from urban areas to remote areas -negative effects include urban blight Urban blight -less functioning areas of large cities degrade as a result of urban decline Urban Sprawl: urbanized areas that spread into rural areas, removing clear boundaries between the two Urban Blight: the degradation of the built and social environments of the city that often accompanies and accelerates migration to the suburbs
Describe the effects of urbanization on the environment.
Urbanization can lead to depletion of resources and saltwater intrusion in the hydrologic cycle. Urbanization, through the burning of fossil fuels and landfills, affects the carbon cycle by increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Impervious surfaces are human-made structures—such as roads, buildings, sidewalks, and parking lots—that do not allow water to reach the soil, leading to flooding. Urban sprawl is the change in population distribution from high population density areas to low density suburbs that spread into rural lands, leading to potential environmental problems.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Waterlogging
Waterlogging occurs when too much water is left to sit in the soil, which raises the water table of groundwater and inhibits plants' ability to absorb oxygen through their roots.
What is a susidy?
a sum of money granted by the government or a public body to assist an industry or business so that the price of a commodity or service may remain low or competitive.
how to practice sustainable forestry?
create protected/conserved areas controlled burning/deforestation reduced human impact/attractions in natural land Reforestation, buying wood from sustainable forestry, reusing wood (aquaponics) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Prescribed burn - set on fire on purpose - why would you do that?
GMOs
crops that carry new traits that have been inserted through advanced genetic engineering methods Benefits: increased crop yield and quality, changes in pesticide use, increased profits Concerns: safety for human consumption, effects on biodiversity, regulation
Food Inc.
examines corporate farming in the United States, concluding that agribusiness produces food that is unhealthy, in a way that is environmentally harmful and abusive of both animals and employees Cheaper food is more accessible to low income and POC Meat production (you will learn more about tonight) is less sustainable, takes more resources, and can have serious moral implications regarding human and animal health/rights Why aren't there more organic and non-GMO options? What is a subsidy? Why are so many farmers growing one type of corn? --> many processed foods contain some byproduct of corn
Tragedy of the Commons
situation in which people acting individually and in their own interest use up commonly available but limited resources, creating disaster for the entire community - The tragedy of the commons suggests that individuals will use shared resources in their own self-interest rather than in keeping with the common good, thereby depleting the resources. → The concept of Tragedy of the Commons is that people often do things for their own self-benefit and they often think that although it may hurt others a bit, it can help themselves much more, so they weigh the benefits over the costs. When everyone starts to think this way, that ruins the resource that they were all working towards and ends up hurting everyone which leads to the "tragedy." A solution to this tragedy is greater communication over a shared resource. Through communicating more, people can determine how to work together or how to divide and conquer in order to maintain the resources that they have. This can be applied to many different issues all over the world in which the main solution is simple: just work together.
Fishery Collapse
the decline of a fish population by 90% or more
maximum sustainable yield (MSY)
the maximum amount of a renewable resource that can be harvested without compromising the future availability of that resource; The largest yield that can be taken from a resource (such as fish from a fishery) that can sustain the population indefinitely
sustainable forestry
the use and management of forest ecosystems in a way that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to use the forests Some of the methods for mitigating deforestation include reforestation, using and buying wood harvested by ecologically sustainable forestry techniques, and reusing wood. Methods to protect forests from pathogens and insects include integrated pest management (IPM) and the removal of affected trees. Prescribed burn is a method by which forests are set on fire under controlled conditions in order to reduce the occurrence of natural fires. → Fighting to save the habitat is attainable through direct action by humans → Forests provide over 80% of plants and animals in the world → Prevents further loss of biodiversity → By fighting for sustainable forests, it allows for better environmental sustainability by preventing the issues caused by HUMAN CO2 release → There are ways to do sustainable logging by mimicking the normal paths of nature and helping to restore the forest → Each forest sustainability project has a different focus depending on the dynamics of the forest there (actively harvesting, conserve trees)
What do tree sitters do?
→ Direct Action in Environmentalism → Feel Responsible to have a say in what is happening to the environment → The deforestation is a major contributor to climate change → Loss of biodiversity when they are cutting down the trees → Trying to keep the ecosystems and watersheds in tact
How does cutting down trees affect atmospheric carbon? How does burning trees affect atmospheric carbon?
→ It causes for less photosynthesis to occur which releases less oxygen into the atmosphere and leaves more CO2 in the atmosphere. → Burning the trees would cause for all that built up CO2 to be released into the atmosphere and would increase the carbon dioxide.
What are the benefits of trees?
→ Reduce Energy Consumption --> Reduce soil erosion → Increase the value of residential property by around 20% → The shade from the trees help protect humans from exposure to the Sun's UV rays → Symbiosis relationship between plant and tree and soil → Regeneration is allowed through the relationship/networks in the forest → Mother Trees send signals to allow more plants/trees/fungals to survive → They allow for the creation of forests through the networks which overall helps the atmosphere --> Reduce water and air pollution --> help climate change
How do trees benefit humans in terms of water supply and clean water?
→ Trees benefit humans in terms of water supply by slowing rain as it falls to Earth and acting as a natural filter to the Earth.
How can trees provide ecosystem services regarding climate change, air pollution and water pollution:
→ Trees help with climate change by taking in more CO2 through the trunk and take that toxicity out of the atmosphere and try to reduce the speed of climate change. Trees remove lots of air pollutants from the atmosphere and they go through the leaves and are filtered during photosynthesis. Finally, trees reduce runoff by breaking rainfall which allows the water to flow down the trunk and into the earth below the tree and stops the water pollution from going to the ocean.
How do trees save energy in buildings?
→ Trees save energy through cooling buildings during warm times and slowing wind during winter times which reduces the amount of heating and cooling costs.
What is the difference in terms of sustainability when people can work together vs. when they can't work together?
→ When people work together and communicate, it is not really open access which leads to there not being an open access problem. This means that the resources may be partitioned into sections or people may work together so that there is no issue with degrading land and overall each person benefits or hurts themselves. When people work together, the issue of sustainability is much easier to fix as compared to when people cannot work together (such as the issue with greenhouse gas emissions).
What are the problems in terms of sustainability with open access grazing vs. private land grazing?
→ With open access grazing, there is a carrying capacity since if there are too many animals on one land, it could cause for the land to degrade. If one person added an extra animal, it would decrease the value of ALL animals on that land since they now have fewer resources. People often tend to do what is best for themselves economically which can end up hurting the whole system and hurting the resources. In private land grazing, there is no point in adding more animals and degrading the land because that would only hurt yourself. It is easier to sustain private land grazing.
