Unit 5: Land & Water Use (CFA1 Review)

Which of these is not an example of a commons?

• National forests

• The ocean
• Privately owned farms
• Highways

Hardin's "Tragedy of the Commons" essay addressed the conflicts associated with which environmental challenge?

• Preventing pollution
• Preserving biodiversity
• Curbing overpopulation
• Protecting shared resources

What is the definition of the tragedy of the commons?

• When humans overuse a natural resource

• When the short-term, positive effects go to the individual, while the long-term, negative effects are spread out to the group

• When humans act selfishly, thinking of their own self-interest

• When plants and animals compete for space, resources, and/or food

Which of the following is an example of a solution to the tragedy of the commons?

• Improving literacy among urban populations

• Raising tax rates for large corporations

• Inventing stronger antibiotics

• Passing a law to set limits for fishermen

Clearcutting is

• A timber harvesting practice where all trees larger than 20 feet tall are cut harvested.

• When logging companies plant new saplings in an area bigger than 1 hectare.

• A timber harvesting practice where all of the trees in a given area are harvested at the same time.

• When forestry services clear out the underbrush in a given area.

All the clearcutting facts below are true. Which are benefits or pros of clearcutting?

• Clearcutting generates more consistent and higher rates of return for the logging companies and its investors

• Consumer timber/lumber prices are kept low and predictable when clearcutting is used, since savings are passed on to consumers.

• Clearcutting destroys plant life and animal habitats.

• Clearcutting is aesthetically unappealing.

True or false: Removing trees leads to an increase in soil and stream temperatures due to decreased shading by tree canopies and the loss of trees evapotranspiration which cool the air around the tree.

• True

• False

True or false: Trees help cool the planet by absorbing carbon dioxide as part of the photosynthesis process and by evaporating water into the air.

• True

• False

When would a forester recommend clearcutting as a method?

• When a species of tree that is regrowing needs more sunlight or space

• On steep slopes at risk of erosion

• In tropical rainforests that have rich soil

• In colder forests with long growing seasons

What is plowing?

• mixing and turning over the soil.

• compacting soil for crops

• periods of drought

• periods of large amounts of rainfall