Land Use: Forests, Rangelands, Parks and Wilderness

1. Land Use: Forests, Rangelands, Parks and Wilderness

2. World Land Use

3. Types of Protected Lands in U.S. • Multiple-use lands • National Forest (U.S.F.S.) • sustainable yield • multiple use • used for logging, mining, grazing, farming, oil, recreation, hunting and conservation • National Resource lands (BLM) • mostly in west and Alaska • multiple use • used for mineral and oil extraction/ grazing

4. Types of Protected Lands • Moderately Restricted-Use Lands • National wildlife Refuges (USFWS) • 508 refuges • 24% designated as wilderness • protect habitats • oil, farming, hunting, mineral extraction are allowed as long as D of I says OK

5. Types of Protected Lands • Restricted-Use lands • National Park System (NPS) • 54 National Parks and 316 recreation areas, battlefields, memorials, etc. • Preserve and interpret the country’s historic and cultural heritage and protect wilderness areas • Parks:can be used for camping, hiking, fishing and boating • Rec areas: also mining and oil • 49% of National Park system is wilderness

6. Types of Protected Lands • Restricted-Use lands • National Wilderness Preservation System (NPS, USFWS, USFS) • 474 roadless areas in National Parks, wildlife refuges and national forests • Are preserved untouched for everyone to enjoy later • used for hiking, fishing, camping, non-motorized boating, hunting, horseback riding • roads, grazing, mining, buildings are prohibited

7. Locations of Parks, Preserves, Forests and Refuges

8. Forest Management • Most of the world’s forests are managed for paper and wood production • Paper production uses short rotation • Old-growth wood for furniture requires long rotation

9. Types of Forest Management • Even-aged management • forest is cut down, and regrowth trees are maintained at the same size and age • monoculture • industrial forestry • high industrial productivity low biodiversity

10. Types of Forest Management • Uneven-aged management • variety of tree species are maintained at different sizes and ages • fosters natural regeneration • high diversity • long term production of high quality timber • Strategy decision is based upon return timetable of money required

11. Tree Harvesting

12. If you were a trying to cut the trees in a forest, what strategy would you employ?

13. Strategy 1: Selective Cutting intermediate-aged or old trees are cut maintains uneven-aged stand industry people say it is not profitable can be destructive because many trees can be killed by removing a few large ones

14. Strategy 2: Shelterwood Cutting mature trees are removed in 2-3 cuts leaving even aged stand natural looking forest that can be used for recreation can be a good habitat for wildlife

15. Strategy 3: Seed-tree Cutting harvests most of a stand’s trees in one cutting leaves a few remaining trees to re-seed the site after new trees are established, remaining adults are taken allows several species good for wildlife and recreation

16. Strategy 4: Clear-cutting all trees are removed at once site is artificially re-seeded requires less money, skill high return eliminates recreational and wildlife use

17. Strategy 5: Strip cutting a strip of trees is removed that is narrow enough to be naturally re-seeded the next year, a new strip is cut; etc. forest is clear-cut over a decade or so will much less damage

18. Strategy 5: Whole-tree harvesting the entire tree, including roots are brought to plants and chopped into wood chips most destructive methods, because it removes all plants material and most associated organisms removes nutrients from soil

19. How are fires important in forest management?

20. Fires • Pros • many plant species require fires for seedling generation • destruction of old trees, providing light gaps, encourages growth of young trees • regrowth provides food for herbivores

21. Fires • Cons • can be destructive to huge plots of land and animal plant species • can threaten structures • can accelerate erosion

22. Fire Policy • Prevention, Prescribed burns, Suppression • Historically, all fires have been suppressed • this caused the build-up of dead plant material • when fires erupted they were severe • all pros were killed • Since 1972 most natural fires have been allowed to burn • natural process of regeneration • Yellowstone fires is causing people to think about reversing the policy

23. Threats to forests • Pathogens and insects • Air pollution and Climate Change • Harvesting • wood • although per capita wood use is less, population is growing faster than decrease • regulations greatly support logging • but, forests are generally healthier than they have been

24. Managing Rangelands • Definition • lands that provide foraging material for grazing animals • usually in areas to dry for irrigation • 42% is used for grazing livestock • 34% of U.S. land is rangeland • 84% of mammals species • 74% of bird species • Threats • overgrazing, destruction to riparian habitats • huge subsidies • read about coyotes and sheep

25. Managing National Parks • Established in the U.S. in 1912, most in West • Threats • not enough money to maintain them • many are too small to support large species • increased people visiting parks (500mil by 2010) • non-native species brought in • human activities on adjacent lands • air pollution • To do: • use all fees for management • refocus attention on preserving habitat • read about everglades

26. Managing Other Wilderness Areas • Definition • areas that are undisturbed by humans activities • should be at least 1,500 square miles • so that it is not affected by pollution, drilling, forestry and urban development • 34% of the earth’s surface • 30% of them are forests • only 20% are protected

27. Wilderness Areas

28. Solutions: Biosphere reserves • Core area - no disturbance • buffer zone - managed activities • transition zone - sustainable forestry and conservation

29. Establishing Reserves