chapter 10 Flashcards
Natural and planted forests
31% of earth’s land
Old-growth Forest:
uncut or regrown forest undisturbed by natural or anthropogenic disturbances for at least 200 years.
Second-growth Forest:
result of secondary ecological succession.
Tree Plantation / Tree Farm / Commercial Forest:
managed forest and contains 1 or 2 species of trees all the same age.
clear cutting
when people cut down all the trees in one area at the same time.has higher volume growth and produces residual products such as branches and tree tops
Regeneration felling
people cut only some trees, not all of them. This gives space and sunlight for new trees to grow,
soil scarification
when the top layer of the soil is scratched or loosened to make it easier for seeds to grow.
shelterwood cutting
often used for pine, spruce its when older trees are left in place with larger gaps between to allow younger trees to grow the older trees and then protect the plants
selective cutting
A selection forest has many different trees. The largest trees are felled and younger trees are left in place and allowed to grow until its time for the next felling cycle 10-15 years
Topsoil erosion
sediment runoff; habitat loss; biodiversity loss; ease of human access increase
carbon sink
A carbon sink is anything that absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases – for example, plants, the ocean and soil.
World Resources Institute (WRI)
indicate that almost half of the earth’s old forest coverage has been eliminated mostly in the last 65 years.
fuelwood crisis
happens when there isn’t enough wood available for people to use as fuel for cooking, heating, or other needs. This happens because too many trees are cut down faster than they can grow back,
surface fires
Surface fires are fires that burn on the forest floor. They mostly burn grass, leaves, and small plants, not the tops of the trees. These fires can move quickly but are usually less intense than big wildfires. Surface fires can actually be helpful sometimes because they clear out dead plants and make space for new ones to grow.
Ground fires
are fires that burn under the surface of the ground, in materials like dead leaves, roots, and peat (decayed plants in the soil).
They burn slowly but can last a long time,
crown fires
intense fires that burn the tops of trees (the “crowns”). These fires spread quickly because the flames jump from tree to tree, especially in dry, windy conditions.
Crown fires are the most dangerous
prescribed or controlled burns
remove flammable dry brush.
Full Cost Pricing
Full-cost pricing means adding up all the costs of making and using something, not just the price you pay at the store. This would lead to higher prices on unsustainably produced timber and wood products.
The National Forest system
protects about 40% of the total
forested area in the US.
NPS
National Park System
rangelands
unfenced natural grasslands
in temperate and tropical climates that
supply forage for grazing and browsing
animals.
Pastures
managed grasslands or fenced
meadows with domesticated grasses or
forage crops like alfalfa and clover for
livestock to consume.
overgrazing
overgrazing occurs when too many
animals graze the area for too long,
exceeding the carrying capacity and
destroying the grass and roots.
rational grazing
is when animals are moved between different sections of land to graze. It keeps the land healthy and ensures there’s enough grass for the animals over time.
Wetland mitigation
banking
is a policy
aimed at the current
goal of the US which is
“zero net loss” of
wetlands.
Florida
everglades
The Everglades is a large, unique wetland area in southern Florida, USA. It’s made up of slow-moving water, swamps, and grassy marshes.is home to many plants and animals, like alligators, panthers, and birds, some of which are found nowhere else.
Megareserves
large protected areas of land designed to conserve wildlife, plants, and ecosystems. help protect and sustain 80% of the country’s
biodiversity.
ecological restoration
is the process of assisting the recovery of ecosystems that have been damaged or destroyed
Reconciliation ecology
is the science of finding ways for humans and nature to coexist in the same spaces. Instead of separating people and wildlife into different areas,
Megacities
Urban areas are increasing in number
and size
hypercities
(more than 10
million people)
megaregions
(more
than 20 million people) are growing
into
natural capital degradation
is the damage or overuse of nature’s resources, like forests, water, and soil, making them less able to support life and provide essentials like food, air, and water.
Pollution
is the introduction of harmful substances or materials into the air, water, or land, making them unsafe for living things.
albedo
the
ability of surfaces
to reflect sunlight
- is lower on
darker surfaces,
meaning more
heat is absorbed
and retained.
temperature inversion
occurs over urban heat
islands where a layer of stable warm air sits atop
cooler air.
urban sprawl
is when cities spread out and grow bigger, taking over more land. This often leads to more houses, roads, and buildings being built in areas that were once farms, forests, or open space.
Smart growth
encourages
environmentally
sustainable
urban
development
with less
dependence on
cars in order to
reduce
ecological
footprint.
Eco-cities
are
people-oriented
urban plans
instead of cities
focused on cars.
