Humans in the Biosphere

The Tragedy of the Commons

Areas used by everyone are no ones responsibility Leads to misuse; loss of resources

Renewable Resources
Resources can regenerate (living) or Resources that can be recycled through biogeochemical cycles Examples
Trees Water

Renewable resources are NOT necessarily UNLIMITED.

Freshwater is a renewable resource, BUT there are events that CAN make it very limited. For example:
Drought Pollution

Nonrenewable Resources
Cannot be replenished by natural processes. Examples:
Fossil fuels

Is a tree population renewable or nonrenewable?

Individual trees are renewable A population of trees may not be, because the ecosystem they were in may change forever once the trees are gone.

Sustainable Development
Using resources without depleting them Providing for human needs without causing long-term damage to the environment Must take into account
Functioning of ecosystems Human economic systems

Sustainable Development Strategy - Example

Using insects instead pesticides to control pests

Land Resources - Soil

Renewable or not?
Renewable if managed properly

Mismanagement of Soil Resources

Soil Erosion
Wearing away of surface soil by water and wind Results when land is plowed, and roots that hold soil in place are removed

Mismanagement of Soil Resources

Desertification
Misuse of soil causes once productive areas to become deserts
Dry climate Farming Overgrazing Drought

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Forest Resources
Ways in which forest resources are used by people
Building Burning

Forest Resources
Ways in which forests provide ecological services
Forests as lungs of the Earth
Absorb CO2 and release O2

Store nutrients Provide habitat and food for organisms Moderate climate Limit soil erosion Protect freshwater supplies

Are Forests Renewable Resources?

Maybe it depends on the forest
Our temperate deciduous forests seem to come back pretty well after cutting, though not always exactly as they were Old Growth Forests are NOT renewable
Ancient trees and ecosystems Will not be replaced by a similar ecosystem if cut
The plants and animals dependent on the anceint trees in the system would die Even if allowed to come back, the ecosystem would never return to its present state.

Old Growth Forest

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