chapter 10Review
In this chapter we have looked at issues involving human use of land. The tragedy of the commons suggests that common-
Tragedy of the commons Externality Maximum sustainable yield (MSY) Resource conservation ethic Multiple-use lands Rangeland Forest Clear-cutting Selective cutting Ecologically sustainable forestry Tree plantation Prescribed burn National wildlife refuge National wilderness area National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental impact statement (EIS) Environmental mitigation plan Endangered Species Act Suburb Exurb Urban sprawl Urban blight Highway Trust Fund Induced demand Zoning Multi-use zoning Smart growth Stakeholder Sense of place Transit-oriented development (TOD) Infill Urban growth boundary Eminent domain | A fire deliberately set under controlled conditions in order to reduce the accumulation of dead biomass on a forest floor. A planning tool used to separate industry and business from residential neighborhoods. A person or organization with an interest in a particular place or issue. The cost or benefit of a good or service that is not included in the purchase price of that good or service. The belief that people should maximize use of resources, based on the greatest good for everyone. The phenomenon in which an increase in the supply of a good causes demand to grow. A zoning classification that allows retail and high-density residential development to coexist in the same area. A 1969 U.S. federal act that mandates an environmental assessment of all projects involving federal money or federal permits. The method of harvesting trees that involves the removal of single trees or a relatively small number of trees from among many in a forest. An area similar to a suburb, but unconnected to any central city or densely populated area. A U.S. classification used to designate lands that may be used for recreation, grazing, timber harvesting, and mineral extraction. An approach to removing trees from forests in ways that do not unduly affect the viability of other trees. A method of harvesting trees that involves removing all or almost all of the trees within an area. The degradation of the built and social environments of the city that often accompanies and accelerates migration to the suburbs. A restriction on development outside a designated area. A 1973 U.S. act designed to protect species from extinction. A document outlining the scope and purpose of a development project, describing the environmental context, suggesting alternative approaches to the project, and analyzing the environmental impact of each alternative. An area set aside with the intent of preserving a large tract of intact ecosystem or a landscape. A federal public land managed for the primary purpose of protecting wildlife. A plan that outlines how a developer will address concerns raised by a project’s impact on the environment. The maximum amount of a renewable resource that can be harvested without compromising the future availability of that resource. Development that fills in vacant lots within existing communities. The tendency of a shared, limited resource to become depleted because people act from self-interest for short-term gain. A dry open grassland. Land dominated by trees and other woody vegetation and sometimes used for commercial logging. Urbanized areas that spread into rural areas, removing clear boundaries between the two. The feeling that an area has a distinct and meaningful character. A U.S. federal fund that pays for the construction and maintenance of roads and highways. A large area typically planted with a single rapidly growing tree species. An area surrounding a metropolitan center, with a comparatively low population density. A principle that grants government the power to acquire a property at fair market value even if the owner does not wish to sell it. Development that attempts to focus dense residential and retail development around stops for public transportation, a component of smart growth. A set of principles for community planning that focuses on strategies to encourage the development of sustainable, healthy communities. |
Module 29 Land Use Concepts and Classification
Explain how human land use affects the environment.
Individuals have no incentive to conserve common resources when they do not bear the cost of using those resources. A cost or benefit not included in the price of a good is an externality. The lack of incentive to conserve common resources leads to the overuse of these resources, which may be degraded if their use is not regulated. The maximum sustainable yield (MSY) is the largest amount of a renewable resource that can be harvested indefinitely. Harvesting at the MSY keeps the resource population at about one-
Describe the various categories of public land used globally and in the United States.
In the United States, public land is managed for multiple uses, including grazing, timber harvesting, recreation, and wildlife conservation. The Bureau of Land Management manages rangeland, which is used for grazing. The United States Forest Service manages national forests, which are used for timber harvesting, recreation, and other uses.
Module 30 Land Management Practices
Explain specific land management practices for rangelands and forests.
Rangelands are grazed by cattle and sheep and need to be managed to prevent overgrazing. Timber can be harvested by clear-
Describe contemporary problems in residential land use and some potential solutions.
Causes of urban sprawl include the development of the automobile, construction of highways, less expensive land at the urban fringe, and urban blight. Government institutions and policies, such as the federal Highway Trust Fund, zoning, and subsidized mortgages, have also contributed to the problem. The result of urban sprawl is automobile dependence, traffic congestion, and social isolation, including less involvement in community affairs. Smart growth is one possible response to urban sprawl. It advocates more compact, mixed-