LandUse

Urbanization: 

Urbanization Urban areas are ones in which people live clustered together They still need stretches of uninhabited land Cities and towns only cover <2% of the earth’s surface

Cities Need Country: 

Cities Need Country Urbanites can not live off the land that they occupy Ex: London requires a land area 58 times its size for timber and food alone. Cities need areas to provide ecosystem services Clean water and area, nutrient cycling and water treatment Ex:1989 NYC chose to buy pristine forest rather than build a filtration plant Cities need uninhabited areas for stress relief and recreation Urbanites like to play outside Ethical Obligations

Thünen’s Plan: 

Thünen’s Plan

Cities are Growing: 

Cities are Growing

Urban Sprawl: 

Urban Sprawl

Urban Sprawl: 

Urban Sprawl

Deforestation- the clearing and loss of forest: 

Deforestation- the clearing and loss of forest Wood is used in building, paper, etc. Land is cleared to be developed and used for agriculture Forests are some of the richest ecosystems on earth and cutting down trees destroys that Timber companies replant with just one species. Greatly reduces biodiversity

U.S. Deforestation : 

U.S. Deforestation

Types of Timber Harvesting: 

Types of Timber Harvesting

Not Just Our Problem: 

Not Just Our Problem

Fragmentation: 

Fragmentation

Forest Fires: 

Forest Fires

Agriculture: 

Agriculture

Parks and Preserves: 

Parks and Preserves

Parks and Preserves: 

Parks and Preserves People have long used parks as places for the public to preserve and enjoy natural settings. Only in the past 130 years have we begun to think about preserving wild places for the sake of wildlife and scenic beauty Purposes of Parks Havens for plants and animals Sacred places for humans

Park Problems: 

Park Problems Islands of nature surrounded by destructive land uses and growing human populations. Have become very crowded golf courses, laundries, video arcades, bars, grocery stores and other facilities, dune buggies, dirt bikes and off road vehicles Ex: Yellowstone gets 1,000 snowmobiles on a typical winter weekend. Mining and oil interests continue to push for permission to dig and drill in the parks Inholdings (private lands) within the parks.

Biosphere Reserves: 

Biosphere Reserves