Land Usage and Management

Land Usage

• We use land for several things:We use land for several things:– Residential- Homes and living spacesResidential- Homes and living spaces– Agricultural- Land that produces food for Agricultural- Land that produces food for

human consumptionhuman consumption– Industrial- Factories and places that make Industrial- Factories and places that make

itemsitems– Commercial- Stores and places that make Commercial- Stores and places that make

moneymoney– Wild Lands-Land that is not used for Wild Lands-Land that is not used for

anything, but allowed to be natural and anything, but allowed to be natural and wild.wild.

Land Usage

• Any time that humans use land, they Any time that humans use land, they change the native ecosystem. change the native ecosystem.

• Forests become grasslands (NYS), Forests become grasslands (NYS), deserts become grasslands (Las deserts become grasslands (Las Vegas)Vegas)

• This can change the biodiversity of This can change the biodiversity of an ecosysteman ecosystem

Desert Rose Golf Club, Las

Vegas

Just outside Las Vegas

Why Do Humans Change the Ecosystems?

• To have a place to To have a place to live (residential)live (residential)

• To grow food To grow food (agricultural) (agricultural)

• To have a place to To have a place to make stuff make stuff (industrial)(industrial)

• To have a place to To have a place to buy stuff buy stuff (commercial)(commercial)

Residential Issues

• Houses take up space! AND people Houses take up space! AND people want lush green grass yards!want lush green grass yards!

• Suburban sprawl-The spread of Suburban sprawl-The spread of housing developments around the housing developments around the outside of citiesoutside of cities– Often built on wetlandsOften built on wetlands– Generate tons of solid waste (waste that Generate tons of solid waste (waste that

is solid)is solid)

Agricultural Issues

• A lot of land is used to grow just one A lot of land is used to grow just one kind of plant (crop)kind of plant (crop)

• Often harsh chemical pesticides and Often harsh chemical pesticides and fertilizers are usedfertilizers are used

• These pesticides can runoff and These pesticides can runoff and containment water suppliescontainment water supplies

Industrial Issues• Industry uses a lot of water…195 billion Industry uses a lot of water…195 billion

gallons of water per day.gallons of water per day.• Industry also has to get rid of its waste Industry also has to get rid of its waste

products. To do this cheaply, they just products. To do this cheaply, they just dump the wastes into the nearest dump the wastes into the nearest stream…stream…– This causes pollution, and is illegal, but its This causes pollution, and is illegal, but its

expensive to get rid of the waste ecologically, expensive to get rid of the waste ecologically, so some companies still pollute.so some companies still pollute.

Superfund• Superfund is a lawSuperfund is a law• It states that when the EPA identifies It states that when the EPA identifies

polluters, they can make those polluters polluters, they can make those polluters clean up the pollutionclean up the pollution

• OR make the polluters pay to have it OR make the polluters pay to have it cleaned up.cleaned up.

• Sometimes, they can’t find or make the Sometimes, they can’t find or make the polluters pay thoughpolluters pay though

• The money for Superfund comes from The money for Superfund comes from taxes on oil and energy companiestaxes on oil and energy companies

Commercial Issues• Commercial properties take up SPACE. Commercial properties take up SPACE. • This is space that organisms can’t use This is space that organisms can’t use

anymore.anymore.• Also, commercial properties produce a lot Also, commercial properties produce a lot

of waste, both water and solid. of waste, both water and solid. • Parking Lots!Parking Lots!

Wild Spaces• Parks are NOT wild! They are gardens, Parks are NOT wild! They are gardens,

where humans sculpture them for their where humans sculpture them for their own uses.own uses.

• True wilderness areas are free from the True wilderness areas are free from the direct influence of humansdirect influence of humans

• The Endangered Species Act of 1972 The Endangered Species Act of 1972 preserves the habitat (land) of preserves the habitat (land) of endangered speciesendangered species