Unit 5 - Module 29 - 30 Flashcards
The tendency of a shared, limited resource to become depleted because people act from self-interest for short-term gain.
Tragedy of the commons
The cost or benefit of a good or service that is not included in the purchase price of that good or service.
Externality
The maximum amount of a renewable resource that can be harvested without compromising the future availability of that resource.
Maximum sustainable yield (MSY)
What 3 concepts to environmental scientists use to understand land use and management issues?
- Tragedy of the commons
- Externalities
- Maximum sustainable yield
What is it called when the use of common land is not regulated in some way—by the users or by a government agency leading to the land can easily be degraded to the point at which it can no longer support that use.
The tragedy of the commons
Why are environmental scientists concerned about negative externalities?
Because of the environmental damage for which no one bears the cost.
What are the negative externalities of your transportation to and from school?
Some negative externalities of transportation to school are air pollution, traffic congestion, and noise pollution.
Why do you think students leave their trash behind at lunch?
Because they don’t care about other people needing to use the area that they leave the trash in.
If the maintenance staff was not there to pick up after them, do you think it would change their behavior?
Yes, because eventually the trash will pile up and there will be no where to eat if they don’t pick up after themselves.
- Why do you think students leave their trash behind at lunch?
- If the maintenance staff was not there to pick up after them, do you think it would change their behavior?
How does the above 2 question relate to the tragedy of commons?
This relates to the tragedy of the commons because students are acting from self interest by leaving the trash. By leaving the trash they are creating less space for others to eat.
How long does it take to determine whether a yield is truly sustainable?
Even when we calculate MSY, it can take months or years.
In theory, harvesting the MSY _________ sustainable. In reality its is very _______ to calculate MSY.
Should be, Difficult
Maximum sustainable yield _____ case to case
varies
What would happen if every time we had a pod of seeds ready to harvest, that we harvested and ate them?
If we constantly harvested and ate seeds without saving any to plant, it would deplete the seed supply, disrupt plant reproduction, and eventually lead to food shortages. This could also harm ecosystems and biodiversity, as seeds are essential for sustaining plant and animal populations.
What is it called when, every population has a point at which a maximum number of individuals can be harvested sustainably. That point is often reached when the population size is about one-half the carrying capacity.
Maximum sustainable yield
_______ areas are distributed around the world.
Protected land and marine
_________ are managed for scientific, educational, and recreational use, and sometimes for their beauty or unique landforms.
National parks
_______ are designated for the sustained use of biological, mineral, and recreational resources.
Managed resource protected areas
______ are actively managed to maintain biological communities.
Habitat/Species Management Areas
______ are set aside to protect species and ecosystems.
Strict Nature Reserves and Wilderness Areas
_____ permit nondestructive use of natural resources while allowing for tourism and recreation.
Protected Landscapes and Seascapes
______ are designated to protect unique sites of special natural or cultural interests.
National Monuments
How much of the land is publicly owned, in the United States?
42%
How much of the United states land is owned by the federal government?
25%
