1. Chapter 14 Land
Use and Management

2. Discussion prompt: Farmland is vanishing
Between 1984 to 1992, 210,000 acres of farmland in California were converted to suburbs and cities.
This is happening all over the world.
How could this affect you?

3. Rural vs. Urban
Urban – an area with 2,500 or more people and a governing body.
Rural – an area containing few people and open land.
Look at Table 1 on p Why is rural land important to maintain?

4. Where we live Pre 1850 USA Industrial Revolution
People lived in rural areas
Industrial Revolution
Fewer people needed on a farm
Transportation allowed movement of food and goods
People moved to cities
Developing nations are following this trend.

5. Rural-Urban Connection
Ecosystem services
Clean water
Fertile land
Trees
Wood and paper
Oxygen we breathe
Remember your eco-footprint. How much rural land is required for you to survive?

6. Urban land use
People live where they can work. For many people, this means living in cities.
If human population continues to grow, what do you think will happen to cities?

7. Land-use planning Determining in advance how land will be used.
Malls, sewers, electrical lines, roads, etc…
Complex and controversial
Environmental concerns are considered
Public can comment on these plans

8. Open Space Scenic and Recreational Enjoyment Greenbelts
Parks, gardens, bicycle and hiking trails
Greenbelts
Open spaces left in their natural condition
Read the last paragraph on p What are three benefits of open spaces in urban areas?

9. Types of land Farmland - land used to grow crops and fruit
Rangelands – supports vegetation like grass, but not farmed
Forest lands – land with trees
Parks and preserves – natural areas protected from development

10. Urbanization Movement of people from rural to urban areas.
Slow growth makes life easier
Roads
Public transportation
Green spaces

11. The Urban Crisis Infrastructure – all things built for public use
What is included in Powder Springs’ infrastructure? In Atlanta’s?
Rapid growth can outpace infrastructure

12. Urban sprawl Rapid expansion of a city into a countryside.
What is needed to support a suburb?

13. Heat islands Cities generate more heat than vegetation.
Rain falls in a city
Carried into storm drains
Does not evaporate in the city
Will this cool or heat the city?

14. Marginal Lands Poorly suited for building
Coastlines, cliffs, mountains.
Difficult to build, expensive to insure
Why might cities expand to marginal lands?

15. Transportation
Why are American cities difficult to navigate without a car?
What are the benefits of mass transit?

16. Ecosystem services Type of land Ecosystem services Farmland Rangeland
Forest land
Parks and preserves

17. Land Management
And Conservation

18. Farmlands Threat of paving, building
1996 – Farmland Protection Program

19. Rangeland Supports plants, but not farmed Used for grazing
Cows, goats, sheep
Meat, milk, hides
As human pop. grows, so does need for rangeland

20. Rangeland - Problems Overgrazing eating too many plants
native plants get replaced
erosion – loss of topsoil

21. Rangeland - Preserving
limiting herd sizes
killing invasive species
replanting native vegetation
multiple water-holes (spread out herd)

22. Forest lands Products – paper, furniture, building lumber, oxygen
Three categories
virgin forest – never been cut
native forest – planted & managed
tree farm – crops

23. Cutting Trees clear cut – remove all trees
selective cutting – only cut older trees
Deforestation – removing trees w/out replacing them
Reforestation – replanting or allowed to grow naturally

24. Parks and Preserves 1st national park – Yellowstone
Biosphere reserves – include people in conservation plan
Public lands (gov’t owned)
logging, mining, ranching
hunting, fishing, wildlife protection

25. Wilderness Protected from exploitation
OK - hiking, boating, fishing, research
Not OK – building, motorized vehicles
Preserves nature
Provides an escape
Managed by volunteers