LAND USE               Withgott and Brennan, Chapters 12, 10 and 13

Objectives:  Students should be able to

1. describe the history of forest use in the United States
2. discuss the difference between selected forest management methods including timber harvesting and fire suppression
3. describe  different types of agricultural land use including pros and cons of each
4. discuss how cities impact local resources
5. discuss why sprawl occurs as well as its pros and cons
6. discuss different management practices in the US federal park, refuge and wilderness areas
7. discuss the importance of size and shape of wilderness areas to wildlife management
8. discuss the impact that urban areas have on resources
9. discuss aspects that make cities more livable
10. describe the issues illustrated in selected case studies or examples

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

•     Soils
•     Water
•     Wildlife and fisheries
•     Rangeland
•     Minerals
•     Methods:  maximum sustainable yield, ecosystem-based management, adaptive management

FOREST MANAGEMENT

• Ecosystem richness
• Forest products very important to humans:  timber, construction of cities, tree plantations, fuel for industry
• Deforestation and westward expansion of US
• Management of national forests  (fear of timber famine;  Forest Service DVD)

• Formation of US Forest Service under Gifford Pinchot (conservationist; greatest good)
• National Forests:  encouraged private harvest of timber; road building
• Multiple management styles: 

• plantation forestry
• variety of harvesting methods (clear cutting vs. selection system)
• multiple use management (USFS for last 50 years)
• Healthy Forests Act (2004, Bush Admin.)
• Repeal of Clinton Admin Roadless Rule
• Use of fire:  total suppression, controlled burns, salvage logging

• Sustainable Forestry Certification:  Forest Stewardship Council - consumer pressure

AGRICULTURAL LAND USE

• Most common land use: 2/3 pasture, 1/3 cropland (worldwide)
• Unsustainable practices common and often encouraged by subsidies
• Reduction in wetlands
• Livestock grazing:  most grazing on federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management
• Food scarcity
  •     Green Revolution:  what is it and what are the impacts?
  •     Pest control:  pesticides vs. pollinators
  •     Genetically modified foods
• Feedlot agriculture (compare impacts to grazing)
• Aquaculture
• Sustainable agriculture:  What is it?
  • Organic farming
  • Locally grow products

PARKS, RESERVES, WILDLANDS

• National parks (managed by National Park Service)

• protected from resource extraction
• now includes national parks, monuments, historic sites, recreation areas, wild and scenic rivers
• extremely popular

• National Wildlife Refuges (managed by US Fish and Wildlife Service)

• management varies - preservation to adaptive techniques
• Sevilleta and Bosque del Apache as examples

• Wilderness:  Wilderness Act of 1964

• areas can have no development, but recreation is OK

• Size and shape of wildlands and how it impacts biodiversity

URBAN LAND USE

• Need for natural areas
• Resource use by urban area
• Urban growth and urban sprawl:  causes and problems
• What makes a livable city?
  • Planning
  • Zoning
  • Urban growth boundaries
  • Smart growth
  • New urbanism
  • Transportation options
  • Parks and open space

SELECTED CASE STUDIES

• Chicago Area Forest Preserves
• Discussion of Rock Hill and Charlotte Region
• Sevilleta and Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuges
• Vancouver Island, BC
• Agriculture in Oaxaco, Mexico
• Cuban agricultural response to break up of Soviet Union
• Growth management in Portland, OR