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ENV CHAPTER 14-1: HOW WE USE LAND
We use land for a lot of things – farming, mining, building cities and roads, recreationLand cover = what’s on a particular piece of land. 6 primary land-use categories:1. rangeland – grazing2. forest land – wood, wildlife, and other resources3. cropland – plants for food and fiber4. parks and preserves – recreation and preserving ecosystems5. wetlands, mountains, deserts, other – difficult to use6. urban – houses, businesses, industry, roads urban land = covered mainly with buildings and roadsrural land = contains few people and large areas of open space until 1850 most people lived in rural areasthat changed with the industrial revolution – people moved into the cities for jobsresult: urban areas grew and spread over more land whether people live in cities or country, they depend on resources produced in rural areas- soil, water, wood, oxygen, etc. ecosystem services = the resources produced by natural and artificial ecosystems- purification of air and water- preservation of soil- regulation of climate- cycling of nutrients the area of rural land needed to support one person depends on many factors, like climate, standard of living, and how efficiently resources are used.- The average US citizen uses 12 hectaresENV CHAPTER 14-2: URBAN LAND USE
Urban area = area with more than 2500 people and a governing body Urbanization = the movement of people from rural areas to cities.People usually make the move for jobs, schools, etc. Urban areas that have grown slowly:- have become pleasant places to live- roads and transportation have been built to handle growth – traffic flows- buildings, roads, parking lots are mixed with green spaces and recreational areas- these areas provide ecosystem services Urban areas that grow rapidly:- fast growing population overwhelms the infrastructure – leads to traffic, substandard housing, polluted air and water- infrastructure = built to provide public services- urban crisis = global urban growth problem – the needs of the population become greater than the resources available urban sprawl = rapid expansion of a city into the surrounding countryside – suburbs(which was land previously used for food production and open space) many cities were first built where there was little room for expansionas a result, suburbs are often built on marginal land (land not great for building) Impacts of urbanization- heat islands = increased temperature in a cityo the city generates and traps heato it can affect local weather patterns- urban sprawl creates problemso covers land once used for food productiono destroys ecosystemso causes erosion by developing marginal lands Urban PlanningLand-use planning = determining in advance how land will be used (houses, buildings, factories, protected, etc.)Developers, environmentalists, citizens, business people, and public officials get togetherTries to determine the best location for things Geographic information system (GIS) = computerized system for storing, manipulating, and viewing geographic data – a tool to help in planning Goals of good city planning:Develop efficient, clean mass transitIncorporate open spaces – land set aside for recreation and scenery – they also provide important ecological services and environmental benefits to urban areas- support trees and plants that absorb CO2- produce oxygen- filter pollutants- help cool the cityENV CHAPTER 14-3: LAND MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION
Main categories of rural land (place with sparse population):farmland, rangeland, forest, national and state parks, and wilderness.Rural land is important b/c of the ecological services it provides. Farmland = used to grow crops and fruitIn danger – being paved over or developedProtections – US farmland protection program – to preserve farmland and increase crop production Rangelands = land with plants not used for farming or timber productionProblems – overgrazing (more animals than the land can support). Results in changes in the plant community and erosionSolutions – grazing fewer animals, leaving parts untouched so it can recover, getting rid of invasive plants, planting more native plants Forest lands = harvested for wood (lumber, paper), removes CO2 from the airWe use so much wood – each person cutting down a 90 ft tree every year – save trees- virgin – never been touched- native – planted and managed- tree farms – trees grown in rows and harvestedtrees are harvested 2 ways- clear cutting – removing all trees from an area of land – causes erosion- selective cutting – cutting only middle age and mature treesdeforestation – clearing trees without replacing them- mostly forests are cleared for farming, wood, or development- causes reduction in wildlife and soil erosion. - Highest rate is in the tropical rainforestreforestation – replanting or allowing trees to grow back naturally Parks and preserves = land set aside for the public to use(Yellowstone was the first in the US)wilderness – area where the land and ecosystem it supports are protected from all exploitationbenefits – protect species from extinction, preserve habitats, support recreation, research, and outdoor educationthreats – overcrowding, close enough to urban areas that they are affectedGoogle Sites
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