Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12
BIODIVERSITY: PRESERVING LANDSCAPES

Chapter Overview
This chapter explains the nature of forests, grasslands and nature preserves. The
importance of these vital ecosystems is stressed and the environmental
conditions that result as a consequence of anthropogenic uses of these lands.
Nature preserves, both terrestrial and aquatic are designated to protect these
ecosystems and their inhabitants. Working in conjunction with the human
inhabitants of an area, biosphere preserves are created. This, in turn, is
beneficial as ecotourism becomes a boost to the local economy.

 Assignments options for Chapter 12

Daily Work/Homework:
Notes or Learn Smart (you must complete one) (due 12/4)
Chapter 12 quiz (due 12/4)
Free Response Question (due 12/2)

Case Study (due 11/30)
Cost/Benefit Analysis of monoculture foresty. (due 12/1)
Song Activity Worksheet (due 12/30)
Conservation/Preservation Worksheet (due 12/1)
Sustainability of Resources Activity (due 12/3)

Peer Evaluation (thursday)
Projects:
National Parks Project
Rubric for the National Parks Project
Environmental Song Project (Last Question on the Song Activity worksheet). 

Challenge: Find an “environmental” song. (25 pts)
Share the lyrics with the class. (25 pts)
Make a similar worksheet for class discussion. Be sure to have the responses for all questions. (25 pts)
Peer ratings of project (25 pts)

Presentations are 12/4



Test is due  Wednesday December 6


Questions for Cornell Notes and PPT
 
1. What are the types and uses and relative proportions of world forests.  

2. Describe the location and state of grazing lands around the world.
 
3. Summarize the types and locations of nature preserves.
 
4. How does preserving forest plant species help regulate the hydrologic cycle and provide clean drinking water?

5. What are three benefits of subsidizing the logging industry? What is the environmental impact each has on the forest?

6. How is GIS being used to protect forests?

7. What is threatening the existence of temperate forests?

8. What are the guiding principles that shape the U. S. Forest Service policies of ecosystem management?
 
9. How does desertification occur?

10. What is the rationale behind rotational grazing?

11. What is the premise for ecotourism?


DOL Questions

Directions for questions 1-5: The lettered choices below correspond to the
descriptions given in questions 1-5. Select the one lettered choice that best fits
each statement. Each choice may be used once, more than once, or not at all.

(A) desertification
(B) overgrazing
(C) deforestation
(D) ecotourism
(E) rotational grazing

1. much of the rangeland in the U.S. is subjected to this Tragedy of the Commons
2. clearing of land by subsistence farmers
3. benefits both humans and environment
4. a process exacerbated by arid climate
5. promotes healthier pastures


6. In temperate forests insect infestations are most likely a result of
____________.
(A) clear cutting
(B) climate change
(C) wildfires
(D) selective cutting
(E) poor forestry practice

7. Criteria for sustainable forestry include all of the following except _______.
(A) conservation of biodiversity
(B) maintain soil and water resources
(C) maintain forest contribution to global carbon cycle
(D) clear cutting practices to provide timber for a growing population
(E) maintain productive capacity of forest ecosystems

Use the following graph for questions 8-10.

 8. How many million hectares of soil are degraded worldwide?
(A) 3000
(B) 2500
(C) 500
(D) 1000
(E) 2000

9. In which continent(s) are the causes of soil degradation due to overgrazing
equal to causes of soil degradation due to other causes?
(A) South America
(B) North and Central America
(C) Africa
(D) Asia
(E) Oceania

10. The two continents with the highest amount of soil degradation due to
overgrazing are Africa and Oceania. What physical geographic features do
they have in common?
(A) Desert and semiarid scrub make up most of the grazing land
(B) Both have extensive mountainous regions used for grazing
(C) Taiga biomes dominate the landscape
(D) Both continents have tropical moist land used for grazing
(E) The inhabitants of the continents are nomadic in nature


Free-Response Question:

Directions: Answer all parts of the following question. Where explanation or
discussion is required, support your answers with relevant information and/or
specific examples. When a calculation is required, be sure to show how you
arrived at your answer.

1. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees western rangeland. Answer
the following questions pertaining to rangeland.

(a) Identify and describe TWO environmental costs of grazing on western
rangeland.

(b) Why is the BLM land a commons?

(c) Identify and describe TWO remedies to degradation of the rangeland.

(d) Describe one characteristic of the land that would make it more
susceptible to soil degradation.