LandSection 3 Rural Land Management The main categories of rural land – farmland –rangeland –forest land –national and state parks, and wilderness Condition of rural land important because it provides ecological services

LandSection 3 Farmlands Used to grow crops and fruit –U.S. >100 million hectares of prime farmland –urban development threatens some productive farmland Farmland Protection Program, 1996 –protect farmland from development

LandSection 3 Rangelands Supports different vegetation types, not used for farming or timber production –can be arid or relatively wet Most common human use- grazing of livestock

LandSection 3 Common livestock: cattle, sheep, and goats –provide meat, milk, wool, and hides –native wildlife also graze here Essential for maintaining the world’s food supply. Population growth may require a 40 percent increase

LandSection 3 Problems on the Range Overgrazing –depletion of vegetation due to the continuous feeding of too many animals –changes plant community, less desirable replace more-desirable species Severe overgrazing –all the vegetation eaten, soil erodes

LandSection 3 Maintaining the Range Most public land managed by the federal government The Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 –to reverse harm, improve land management practices –main tool: limit herd size

LandSection 3 Improving degraded rangeland Kill invasive plants, plant native vegetation, fence off areas Provide many small water holes so that the vegetation around a single water hole is not overgrazed

LandSection 3 Forest Lands Provide paper, furniture, lumber and plywood for our homes Provide food, chemicals –Ex: syrup and turpentine Important for removal of CO 2 from the air

LandSection 3 Harvesting Trees 1,800 cm 3 of wood/ person / day –U.S. uses about 3.5 times world amount Developing countries: firewood main source of fuel

LandSection 3 Three categories Virgin forests: forests that have never been cut. Native forests: forests that are planted and managed Tree farms: areas where trees are planted in rows and harvested like other crops

LandSection 3 Clear-cutting Process of removing all of the trees from an area of land –destroys wildlife habitat and causes soil erosion Selective cutting Process of cutting and removing only middle-aged or mature trees - more expensive than clear-cutting - usually much less destructive - practiced on smaller areas owned by individuals

LandSection 3 Harvesting Trees

LandSection 3 Deforestation Process of clearing forests convert the land into farmland, and to make space for roads, homes, factories, and office buildings –reduces wildlife habitat –soil erosion usually results if the area is not quickly planted with a cover crop rate of deforestation is especially high in tropical rain forests

LandSection 3 Reforestation Reestablishment and development of trees in a forest land. Some places this is happening faster than trees are being cut down

LandSection 3 Some governments require reforestation after timber has been harvested from public land. More than 90 percent of all timber comes unmanaged lands

LandSection 3 Parks and Preserves First national park, Yellowstone, created 1870 –U.S. currently has about 50 national parks

LandSection 3 Most public lands not as protected as national parks –leased to private companies for logging, mining, and ranching. –maintained for hunting, fishing, wild-life refuges, or to protect endangered species Biosphere Program: include people in the management plan of the reserves

LandSection 3 Wilderness Region that is not cultivated and not inhabited by humans U.S. Wilderness Act, 1964, designated wilderness areas –474 regions covering 32 million acres –open to hiking, fishing, and camping. –no roads, structures and or motorized equipment allowed

LandSection 3 Benefits of Protected Areas Provide the only place where unspoiled forests, deserts, or prairies remain. Serve as outdoor classrooms and research labs Provide recreation, such as hiking and camping, for many people

LandSection 3 Threats to Protects Areas Litter and traffic jams now plague many of our national parks. Rangelands, mining and logging sites, oil and gas operations, power plants, and urban areas are often close enough to affect the parks. Climate change, air and water pollution also problems

LandSection 3 Protecting wilderness Limit number of people permitted in an area at any given time Some areas are completely closed to people Volunteers help pick up trash, build trails, control invading or exotic species, educate the visiting public