Success criteria Assess how the management of an ecosystem can provide resources in a sustainable way

Sustainable Management of Resources Timber production in a temperate country Sustainable: similar quantities of timber can be harvested year on year Trees not planted too close together Prevent young trees from being grazed Plant fast growing plant Clear felling not done as causes soil erosion Selective felling Strip felling Coppicing/pollarding

Sustainable Management Managing natural resources Maintaining biodiversity Financial secure supply of wood Using timber production in a temperate country as an example, explain how ecosystems can be managed in a sustainable way. In your answer, you should make clear how the management is sustainable.[7]

Managing small scale timber production Coppicing Harvesting wood but keeping the tree alive Cut trunk of deciduous tree close to the ground New stems grow from cut surface Used for e.g. firewood, fencing, furniture Done on rotational basis, some trees left (standards) to supply larger pieces of timber. Good for biodiversity Pollarding Like coppicing but trunk cut higher up

Managing large scale timber production Modern forestry is based on the following principles: Replanting after harvesting Maintain biodiversity Local people benefit Balancing wood production and conservation: Control pests and pathogens Particular plant species Position trees optimum distance apart Clear felling is not rarely practiced in UK as it can result in reduced mineral levels, soil erosion and subsequent pollution of rivers.

Markscheme 1 economic definition of sustainable; e.g. similar quantities of timber can be harvested year on year 2 grants for planting forests / management schemes; 3 planting to ensure sustainable harvest rate; max 3 marks for planting strategy: 4 trees not planted too closely together; 5 support young trees to prevent damage e.g. from grazing animals; 6 species planted that are suitable for prevailing conditions / native spp; 7 softwood sp. / conifers / named conifer / fast growing sp. planted; 8 deciduous broadleaved species around edges for aesthetic reasons; 9 creates different habitats / named habitat / protected habitats/ some fallen trees left to rot; max 3 marks for felling/cropping strategy: 10 ref. to clear felling having negative effects e.g. soil erosion; 11 only mature trees removed / selective felling / individual trees; 12 some clearings / rides / glades in woodland / strip felling; 13 control of, pests / diseases / fire prevention; 14 ref to coppicing / pollarding; 15 (deciduous trees) regrow from base/ idea of rotation/ cycle; 16 standards / large trees not coppiced, as encourages biodiversity;7

Success criteria Distinguish between the terms conservation and preservation Explain that conservation is a dynamic process involving management and reclamation Discuss economic, social and ethical reasons for conservation of biological resources

Key Terms Conservation Maintenance of biodiversity, including diversity between species, genetic diversity within species, and maintenance of a variety of habitats and ecosystems Preservation Protecting ‘untouched’ areas of land eg Antarctica

Why is conservation important In the UK very few habitats truly natural Most conservation is focussed on maintaining biodiversity (number of species, genetic diversity within species and maintenance of a range of habitats and ecosystems) Our ever increasing human population can threaten biodiversity by: Over-exploitation for food eg north seas cod and commerce eg pearls from oysters Habitat disruption and fragmentation from more intensive agricultural practices, increased pollution and building Introduced species (deliberate or accidental)

Discuss economic, social and ethical reasons for conservation of biological resources SocialEthicalEconomic

SocialEthicalEconomic Ecosystem services (forests absorb CO 2 ) Enrichment (nice to look at) Culturally valuable Indicator species provide warning of ecosystem breakdown Moral & ethical responsibility for 1.5 million named organisms (estimate of total put it at million in total) Every species is valuable in it’s own right Sustainable use Treasure trove (potential food, drugs, genes) Traded on a local and global scale If resources are lost there will be less trade in the future Governments subsidise & encourage over exploitation

What does conservation involve? Consideration of social and economic costs to the local community Effective education and liaison with the community Establishing protected areas eg National parks, green belt and SSSI Legal protection, ex-situ conservation

Management strategies Strategies adopted depends upon the specific characteristics of the ecosystem and the species involved. But could include Raising carrying capacity by providing extra food Developing dispersal corridors Restrict dispersal eg fencing Control predators and poachers Vaccinate against disease Prevent pollution, restrict succession

Galapagos Islands Effects of human activities on the animal and plant populations Habitat disturbance, fragmentation Use of resources Increased pollution Over exploitation Giant tortoises taken for food Over fishing for exotic species Introduced species e.g. goats, cats, insects Out compete native species e.g. goats outcompete tortoises Eat native species Bring diseases

Homework question Outline, with examples, the effects of human activities on the animal and plant populations in the Galapagos Islands [8]

Answers Habitat Disturbance Demands on utilities due to increased human population Oil spill in 2001 affected marine and coastal environments Increased pollution and waste Fragmentation of forests Over-exploitation of resources Species harvested faster than they were being replaced e.g. whales, giant tortoises, sea cucumbers Introduced Species Deliberate introductions of non-native species e.g. goats, cats Accidental introductions e.g. rats, insects Outcompete native species Bring disease E.g. red quinine tree is aggressively invasive species E.g. goat eats unique native purslane species, outcompetes tortoises