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Chapter 7 - Coggle Diagram
Chapter 7
Ecosystem Capital
Ecosystems as Natural resources
-Natural resource: a feature of natural ecosystems and species that are economic value and that may be exploited
~ also include, air, water, soil, and minerals
~ renewable vs. nonrenewable
-We exploit resources
~ Therefore, we then lose sight of their ecological value
-- E.g. think about the conversion of mangrove shoreline to an aquaculture farm or cleaning of land for rubber tree plantation
-thinking about resources as ecosystem capital instead of economic capital helps us reduce overexploitation
-Consumptive: harvest food, shelter, tools, fuel, and clothing
~ common in developing countries and even in rural US
-Productive: exploitation for economic gain
~ enormous source of revenue
Protecting ecosystems
Conservation and preservation are typically confused but are different
-Conservation: management and regulation of ecosystem use
-Preservation: ensure continuity (of ecosystem or species), regardless of potential utility
Maximum sustainable yield (MSY): highest possible rate of use system can match with own rate of replacement/ maintenance
-- can apply to maintenance of parks, air and water quality, and soils
~ optimal population
~ precautionary principle
~ common-pool resources may be problem -- "Tragedy of the commons"
Consequences of the rights of tenure (property rights)
1.Private ownership
- Communal ownership
- State ownership
- open access
Ecosystem Under Pressure
Particularly marine and forest systems
-Forest ecosystems --> most productive system lands support
~Assessments:
--UN's food and agriculture organization (FAO) --> Global Forest resources assessment (2011)
Six Major findings from Global Forest Resource Assessment
1.Loss in forest cover
2.Deforestation rate 7.3 million HA/yr
3.Used for production of wood
4.13.5% national parks or reserves
5.large role in combatting climate change
6.Pests and forest damage
-Most converted to pastures and grasslands-- Global Forest watch activity
~ Especially in more tropical locations
-How has tree cover changed in past decades?
-What are the land uses in these regions?
-How does this relate to changes in biodiversity?
-Are these impacts in CO2 and climate?
Methods and Management
-Clear-cutting (even)
-Uneven cutting
~selective cutting
~shelter-wood cutting
Sustainable forest management
-forests management as ecosystems, maintain biodiversity
-also meet social, economic, cultural, and spiritual needs of present and future generations
Consequences of deforestation:
-Productivity reduced
-Reduction in nutrients and biomass
biodiversity reduced
Soil erosion increased
Alters hydrology
CO2 sequestration lost
Tropical forests
-Primarily cleared for agriculture
~ row crops or pasture
~foremost cause of deforestation
-New sustainable trends
~sustaibable forest management
~conservation of biodiverse areas
~setting aside reserves for goods
~preservation as national heritage
~ put land in control of indigenous villages
-- certification of wood products for sustainable harvest
Marine Fisheries
-Limits
~52% MSY, 16% overexploited, 8% depleted
~other issues like plastic pollution
Bottom trawling: almost like clear cutting a forest
-- trawl nets float at bottom of ocean to capture fish :
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Whaling industry-depleted since 1980s
1970s- international whaling commission began regulating and banning hunting of certain species to ensure population recovery
-moratorium on hunting (1986)
Ecosystem Restoration
-Restoration ecology: study and means of restoring damaged ecosystems
~ aims to improve land and resource integrity and productivity
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