3.3 - Managing Forest Stress + Kuznet Curve

Question 1

What happens along the theoretical curve on the Kuznet Curve?

Answer 1

Pre industrial —> Industrial:
- harmful technology used
- increased environmental degradation and deterioration
- environmental decay
Industrial —> Post-industrial:
- switch to eco friendly technology occurs
- reduction in environmental degradation
- environmental improvement

Question 2

What is the ecological threshold on the Kuznet Curve/

Answer 2

• the boundary between unsustainable and sustainable environmental degradation

Question 3

What are the two alternate curves on the Kuznet Curve?

Answer 3

• strong rights of people to healthy environment
  
  • strong environmental laws
  • resource exploitation not supported
  • stays below ecological threshold at all times
• weak rights of people to healthy environment
  
  • weak or no environmental laws/enforcement of laws
  • resources use and pollution activities subsidised
  • stays above ecological threshold for a large part of graph

Question 4

How can development be linked with where a country is on the Kuznet Curve?

Answer 4

• increased income allows for allocation of funding of eco friendly initiatives and technology without cutting into essentials
• greater understanding of importance of environment as more people are educated
  
  • may result in people being more motivated to take things into their own hands
  • especially as advancement of country is not dependant on exploitation of environment (usually tertiary based economy)

Question 5

What impact does forest stress have on atmospheric and hydrological processes?

Answer 5

• inputs and outputs of hydrological cycle change
  
  • eg. Trends in precipitation and evaporation due to change in evapotranspiration rates
• soil moisture levels change as well as rates of runoff and streamflow
  
  • results in increased water insecurity as water may not follow normal course

Question 6

What impact does forest stress have on biosphere processes?

Answer 6

• Ocean and terrestrial photosynthesis results the composition of atmosphere
  
  • stored carbon influences soil health and ecosystem productivity
  • means that forest health will decline because of water stress