Wapusk National ParkWapusk National Park Just southeast of Churchill Just southeast of Churchill MBMB
Wild and remote landscape Wild and remote landscape One of world’s largest One of world’s largest polar bear maternity polar bear maternity denning areasdenning areas
Supports wide variety of Supports wide variety of wildlifewildlife
Current stressors include Current stressors include climate change, long-range climate change, long-range transport of contaminants, transport of contaminants, and overabundant snow geeseand overabundant snow geese
Land UseLand Use Terrestrial land base of the Earth Terrestrial land base of the Earth is 148,940,000 square kilometersis 148,940,000 square kilometers
Canada’s total land area 9,984,670 Canada’s total land area 9,984,670 square kilometers (6%)square kilometers (6%)
11% of land in Canada is owned 11% of land in Canada is owned privatelyprivately
89% is crown land (provincial or 89% is crown land (provincial or federal government)federal government)
Responsibility generally falls Responsibility generally falls under provincial governmentunder provincial government
Agriculture in CanadaAgriculture in Canada One of the largest producers in One of the largest producers in the worldthe world
Exports over $24 billion worth Exports over $24 billion worth of agricultural productsof agricultural products
Five largest sectors are grains Five largest sectors are grains and oilseeds, livestock, dairy, and oilseeds, livestock, dairy, horticulture, poultry and eggshorticulture, poultry and eggs
5% of grain farms are reported 5% of grain farms are reported as organicas organic
Principle Types of Principle Types of AgricultureAgriculture
Industrialized Agriculture: Industrialized Agriculture: modern methods, large input of modern methods, large input of capital and energy and less capital and energy and less land and labor than traditional land and labor than traditional methodsmethods
Subsistence Agriculture: Subsistence Agriculture: traditional methods, depend on traditional methods, depend on labor and large amounts of land labor and large amounts of land
Industrialized Industrialized AgricultureAgriculture
Modern agricultural Modern agricultural methodsmethods
Developed countriesDeveloped countries InputsInputs
CapitalCapital EnergyEnergy ChemicalsChemicals
High yieldsHigh yields
Subsistence AgricultureSubsistence Agriculture
Traditional agricultural Traditional agricultural methodsmethods
Developing countriesDeveloping countries Food for familyFood for family InputsInputs
LaborLabor LandLand
Shifting CultivationShifting Cultivation
Subsistence agricultureSubsistence agriculture Grow crops, then leave land aloneGrow crops, then leave land alone Slash-and-burn agricultureSlash-and-burn agriculture
Clear forestClear forest Grow cropsGrow crops Soil loses productivity quicklySoil loses productivity quickly
Supports small populationsSupports small populations
Nomadic HerdingNomadic Herding Subsistence agricultureSubsistence agriculture Land not suitable for cropsLand not suitable for crops Livestock continually moveLivestock continually move Why?Why?
IntercroppingIntercropping
Subsistence agricultureSubsistence agriculture Variety of crops in same fieldVariety of crops in same field PolyculturePolyculture Plants mature at different Plants mature at different timestimes
Different crops harvested Different crops harvested throughout the yearthroughout the year
Agricultural ChallengesAgricultural Challenges
Loss of prime farmlandLoss of prime farmland Loss of domesticated Loss of domesticated varietiesvarieties
Improving yieldsImproving yields Curbing environmental Curbing environmental impactsimpacts
Loss of Agricultural Loss of Agricultural LandLand
Land loss to urbanization and Land loss to urbanization and suburban sprawlsuburban sprawl
Loss of Domestic Loss of Domestic VarietiesVarieties
Farmers using fewer varieties of Farmers using fewer varieties of plants and animalsplants and animals
Modern methodsModern methods UniformityUniformity Maximum productionMaximum production
Loss of genetic diversityLoss of genetic diversity Save germplasmSave germplasm
TissuesTissues May need laterMay need later
Increasing Crop YieldsIncreasing Crop Yields
Food production has increasedFood production has increased Green revolutionGreen revolution
Mid-20Mid-20thth century century Modern methodsModern methods High-yield varietiesHigh-yield varieties ChemicalsChemicals
High-Yield VarietiesHigh-Yield Varieties Done with breeding and biotechnologyDone with breeding and biotechnology
Green RevolutionGreen Revolution BenefitsBenefits
Mexico increased wheat productionMexico increased wheat production Indonesia self-sufficient in riceIndonesia self-sufficient in rice
ProblemsProblems Developing countries dependent on Developing countries dependent on chemicals, machinerychemicals, machinery
High energy costsHigh energy costs Too many chemicalsToo many chemicals
Increasing Crop YieldsIncreasing Crop Yields
Demand for grains will increaseDemand for grains will increase Can’t increase amount of landCan’t increase amount of land Yields can only increase so Yields can only increase so muchmuch
Genetic engineering could helpGenetic engineering could help Developing countries will need Developing countries will need better farming methodsbetter farming methods
Increasing Livestock Increasing Livestock YieldsYields
HormonesHormones Promote faster growthPromote faster growth European Union limits imports European Union limits imports of hormone-treated beef: why?of hormone-treated beef: why?
AntibioticsAntibiotics Animals grow larger (4 – 5%)Animals grow larger (4 – 5%) Resistant bacteriaResistant bacteria WHO wants them eliminatedWHO wants them eliminated U.S. still usingU.S. still using
Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts Air, water pollutionAir, water pollution Feedlot agriculture is the normFeedlot agriculture is the norm
Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts PesticidesPesticides
ResistanceResistance Farmers use moreFarmers use more Residues on foodResidues on food
Land degradationLand degradation Loss of Loss of productivityproductivity
SalinizationSalinization Habitat Habitat fragmentationfragmentation
Looking Towards The Looking Towards The FutureFuture
Food requirements have been metFood requirements have been met Environmental problems increasingEnvironmental problems increasing More food will be neededMore food will be needed Vicious circle???Vicious circle???
Controlling Controlling Agricultural PestsAgricultural Pests
Pest: interferes with human Pest: interferes with human welfare or activitieswelfare or activities
PesticidesPesticides Help control pestsHelp control pests InsecticidesInsecticides HerbicidesHerbicides FungicidesFungicides RodenticidesRodenticides
Genetic resistanceGenetic resistance 520 insect species resistant520 insect species resistant 84 weed species resistant84 weed species resistant
BioaccumulationBioaccumulation BiomagnificationBiomagnification Affect non-target speciesAffect non-target species New pests may emergeNew pests may emerge Don’t stay putDon’t stay put
Problems With Problems With PesticidesPesticides
Integrated Pest Integrated Pest ManagementManagement
Combination of control methodsCombination of control methods Keep crop loss to economically Keep crop loss to economically tolerable leveltolerable level
Sustainable agricultureSustainable agriculture Management vs. Management vs.
eradicationeradication Education criticalEducation critical On the increaseOn the increase
RangelandsRangelands Grasslands not intensively managedGrasslands not intensively managed Livestock grazingLivestock grazing Grasses, forbs, shrubsGrasses, forbs, shrubs
Vegetation has fibrous root Vegetation has fibrous root systemsystem
GrazingGrazing Can be beneficialCan be beneficial Carefully manageCarefully manage Can increase plant diversityCan increase plant diversity Don’t exceed carrying capacityDon’t exceed carrying capacity
RangelandsRangelands
Rangeland DegradationRangeland Degradation DesertificationDesertification
Progressive degradationProgressive degradation Result of overgrazing and droughtResult of overgrazing and drought On the increaseOn the increase
Canadian RangelandsCanadian Rangelands Only 70 million acres are suitable for Only 70 million acres are suitable for livestock grazing in Canadalivestock grazing in Canada
Under increasing pressure: why?Under increasing pressure: why? Conservation easementsConservation easements
Protect privately owned land from Protect privately owned land from developmentdevelopment
Public rangelandsPublic rangelands Provincial crown landProvincial crown land Agri-Environmental Services BranchAgri-Environmental Services Branch
Public Canadian Public Canadian RangelandsRangelands
AESB manages 915,000 hectares of AESB manages 915,000 hectares of rangelands in Western Canadarangelands in Western Canada
Conduct biodiversity inventoriesConduct biodiversity inventories Management includes seeding, Management includes seeding, controlled burns, fence controlled burns, fence construction, rotational construction, rotational grazing, controlling invasive grazing, controlling invasive weeds, and protecting habitats weeds, and protecting habitats of endangered speciesof endangered species
Three essential service Three essential service programs:programs: Community Pasture ProgramCommunity Pasture Program Cover Crop Protection ProgramCover Crop Protection Program Prairie Shelter Belt ProgramPrairie Shelter Belt Program
Public Canadian Public Canadian RangelandsRangelands
ForestsForests Less than 1/3 Earth’s Less than 1/3 Earth’s areaarea
What do we use forests What do we use forests for?for?
Ecosystem servicesEcosystem services Help regulate Help regulate biogeochemical cyclesbiogeochemical cycles ““Carbon sinks”Carbon sinks” Release ORelease O22
Protect watersheds: Protect watersheds:
how?how? Provide habitatProvide habitat
Forest ManagementForest Management Traditional Traditional managementmanagement Tree plantationsTree plantations
MonoculturesMonoculturesSupport fewer Support fewer organisms: organisms: why?why?
Low-diversity Low-diversity forestsforests
Sustainable forestrySustainable forestry Practices varyPractices vary Environmentally balancedEnvironmentally balanced Maintain mix of treesMaintain mix of trees Long-term conservationLong-term conservation Wildlife corridorsWildlife corridors
Connects areasConnects areasHelp some populationsHelp some populations
Forest ManagementForest Management
Harvesting TreesHarvesting Trees 2005: 3.5 million 2005: 3.5 million cubic feet of wood cubic feet of wood harvestedharvested Some burned Some burned directlydirectly
Charcoal Charcoal productionproduction
Paper and wood Paper and wood productsproducts
Some wood Some wood ecologically ecologically certifiedcertified
Selective CuttingSelective Cutting Mature trees cut individually or in Mature trees cut individually or in small clusterssmall clusters
Forest remains essentially intactForest remains essentially intact
Shelterwood CuttingShelterwood Cutting Removal of all mature trees in Removal of all mature trees in an area over an extended periodan area over an extended period
Seed Tree CuttingSeed Tree Cutting Almost all trees removed from an areaAlmost all trees removed from an area Some left to provide seeds for Some left to provide seeds for regenerationregeneration
Clear-cuttingClear-cutting All trees in an area are cutAll trees in an area are cut Area reseeds naturally or plantedArea reseeds naturally or planted Common and controversialCommon and controversial
DeforestationDeforestation
Clearing large expanses of forestsClearing large expanses of forests Most serious problem facing forests Most serious problem facing forests todaytoday
Why is this occurring?Why is this occurring? Most in Africa and Most in Africa and
South AmericaSouth America
Results of Results of DeforestationDeforestation
Decreased soil fertilityDecreased soil fertility Increased soil erosionIncreased soil erosion DesertificationDesertification Increased extinctionIncreased extinction Regional and global Regional and global climate changes: how?climate changes: how?
Deforestation: Boreal Deforestation: Boreal ForestsForests
Alaska, Canada, Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, Scandinavia, Northern RussiaNorthern Russia
Extensive by late Extensive by late 1980s1980s
Used for wood, wood Used for wood, wood fiberfiber
Annual loss = area Annual loss = area twice as large as twice as large as Brazil’s rain Brazil’s rain forestsforests
Tropical Rain ForestsTropical Rain Forests Central & South America, Africa, SE AsiaCentral & South America, Africa, SE Asia
Deforestation: Deforestation: Tropical Rain ForestsTropical Rain Forests
Subsistence agricultureSubsistence agriculture Farmers follow roadsFarmers follow roads Slash-and-burnSlash-and-burn Later used for ranchingLater used for ranching
Commercial loggingCommercial logging Cattle ranchingCattle ranching Dam buildingDam building MiningMining
Deforestation: Deforestation: Tropical Dry ForestsTropical Dry Forests
India, Kenya, India, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Egypt, BrazilBrazil
FuelwoodFuelwood Charcoal productionCharcoal production
Very wastefulVery wasteful 4 tons wood 4 tons wood run run smelter for 5 smelter for 5 minutesminutes
Important MineralsImportant Minerals Sulfides: contain sulphurSulfides: contain sulphur Oxides: contain oxygenOxides: contain oxygen MetalsMetals
Malleable, lustrous, Malleable, lustrous, conductorsconductors
Iron, aluminum, copperIron, aluminum, copper Nonmetallic mineralsNonmetallic minerals OreOre
Rock with valuable mineralRock with valuable mineral
EconomyEconomy
Enabled highly developed nations to Enabled highly developed nations to become industrializedbecome industrialized
In 2006:In 2006: Canada’s mineral and mining Canada’s mineral and mining products accounted for over 17% products accounted for over 17% the nations total domestic exportsthe nations total domestic exports
$40 billion toward the gross $40 billion toward the gross domestic productdomestic product
369,000 jobs369,000 jobs
Extracting MineralsExtracting Minerals
Locate depositLocate deposit Analyze mineral compositionAnalyze mineral composition Mine for minerals: many Mine for minerals: many different waysdifferent ways
Process mineralProcess mineral Make productMake product
Surface MiningSurface Mining Near the surfaceNear the surface Less expensiveLess expensive Overburden removedOverburden removed Open-pitOpen-pit
Dig quarryDig quarry Iron, copper, Iron, copper, gravel gravel
Strip miningStrip mining Dig trench to extract mineralDig trench to extract mineral Dig parallel trenchDig parallel trench Cover old trench with new Cover old trench with new overburdenoverburden
Spoil bankSpoil bank
Surface MiningSurface Mining
Subsurface MiningSubsurface Mining Minerals deep in groundMinerals deep in ground Less land disturbanceLess land disturbance More expensiveMore expensive More hazardousMore hazardous Shaft mineShaft mine
Direct Direct
vertical shaftvertical shaft CoalCoal
Slope mineSlope mine Slanting passageSlanting passage Ore hauled in carsOre hauled in cars
Subsurface MiningSubsurface Mining
Mining & The Mining & The EnvironmentEnvironment
Disturbs landDisturbs land Land prone to erosion Land prone to erosion further further damagedamage
Uses a lot of waterUses a lot of water Contaminated streamsContaminated streams Acid-mine drainageAcid-mine drainage
Impacts of RefiningImpacts of Refining
About 80% of mined ore made of About 80% of mined ore made of impuritiesimpurities
TailingsTailings Waste left Waste left
behindbehind Left in pilesLeft in piles ToxicToxic
Restoration of Mining Restoration of Mining LandsLands
When mine no longer profitableWhen mine no longer profitable Prevents further degradationPrevents further degradation Filling in and grading the areaFilling in and grading the area Planting vegetationPlanting vegetation Large communityLarge community
restoration took placerestoration took place
in Sudbury, Ontario in in Sudbury, Ontario in
the early 1970’sthe early 1970’s
Soil: What Is It?Soil: What Is It?
More than just dirt!More than just dirt! Uppermost layer of Uppermost layer of Earth’s crustEarth’s crust
Mineral and organic Mineral and organic mattermatter
Living organismsLiving organisms We depend on it: We depend on it: how?how?
Soil FormationSoil Formation Formed from parent materialFormed from parent material Biological, chemical and Biological, chemical and physical weathering processesphysical weathering processes
Continuous processContinuous process Topography plays a role: how?Topography plays a role: how? Takes a long timeTakes a long time
Soil CompositionSoil Composition Four main partsFour main parts Mineral particlesMineral particles
Main componentMain component From parent materialFrom parent material Provides anchorage and mineralsProvides anchorage and minerals
Organic matterOrganic matter Living or formerly living matterLiving or formerly living matter HumusHumus
AirAir WaterWater
Soil ProfileSoil Profile Look at horizons: layersLook at horizons: layers O horizon: surface layerO horizon: surface layer A horizon: topsoilA horizon: topsoil
Deep in grassland soilsDeep in grassland soils Thinner in forest, tropical Thinner in forest, tropical soilssoils
B horizon: subsoilB horizon: subsoil C horizon: parent materialC horizon: parent material Materials leach through the layersMaterials leach through the layers
Soil OrganismsSoil Organisms
Soil is alive!Soil is alive! Plant roots, insects, Plant roots, insects, earthworms, moles, etc…earthworms, moles, etc…
Bacteria most numerousBacteria most numerous Fungi, algae, protozoaFungi, algae, protozoa Provide ecosystem services: Provide ecosystem services: examples?examples?
DecompositionDecomposition Nutrient cyclingNutrient cycling Pathway of Pathway of nutrient minerals nutrient minerals or elementsor elements
Sign of balanced Sign of balanced ecosystemecosystem
Soil ProblemsSoil Problems
Our activities cause many problemsOur activities cause many problems Soil erosionSoil erosion Mineral depletionMineral depletion Soil pollutionSoil pollution
Sustainable soil useSustainable soil use Wise use of soil resourcesWise use of soil resources Keep soil productive for the Keep soil productive for the futurefuture
Soil ErosionSoil Erosion Movement of soilMovement of soil Natural processNatural process Accelerated todayAccelerated today Water, windWater, wind Major effectsMajor effects
Loss of soil fertility Loss of soil fertility
Soil cannot retain as much Soil cannot retain as much waterwater
Runoff into bodies of waterRunoff into bodies of water
Poor soil managementPoor soil management Agriculture, road Agriculture, road
building, loggingbuilding, logging Plant cover limits Plant cover limits
erosionerosion
Soil ErosionSoil Erosion
Soil PollutionSoil Pollution Physical or chemical change in soilPhysical or chemical change in soil Adversely affects health of organismsAdversely affects health of organisms Some from fertilizers, pesticidesSome from fertilizers, pesticides Salinization Salinization
Result of irrigationResult of irrigation Can render soil Can render soil
uselessuseless
Parks and Protected Parks and Protected AreasAreas
National parks are managed by National parks are managed by Parks CanadaParks Canada
Established in 1911Established in 1911 There were 42 National Parks and There were 42 National Parks and Park Reserves in Canada in 2010Park Reserves in Canada in 2010
National Parks cover 225,000 National Parks cover 225,000 square kilometers, approximately square kilometers, approximately 2% of total land mass2% of total land mass
National Marine Conservation Areas National Marine Conservation Areas
National ParksNational Parks Primary goal is to protect the Primary goal is to protect the natural landscapes that occur in natural landscapes that occur in Canada’s 39 natural regionsCanada’s 39 natural regions
Protected under federal Protected under federal legislation, the Canada National legislation, the Canada National Parks ActParks Act
Managed primarily to protect and Managed primarily to protect and restore their ecological integrityrestore their ecological integrity
Ecosystem management approachEcosystem management approach
National ParksNational Parks 1989 the endangered spaces 1989 the endangered spaces campaign was launched by Canadian campaign was launched by Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and World Wildlife Fund of (CPAWS) and World Wildlife Fund of CanadaCanada
National MarineNational Marine
Conservation Areas Conservation Areas
are managed forare managed for
sustainable use. sustainable use.
Provincial ParksProvincial Parks Managed by agencies within the Managed by agencies within the government departmentsgovernment departments
Management plan is prepared for Management plan is prepared for each parkeach park
Face challenges of wildfires, Face challenges of wildfires, wildlife imbalances, disease, wildlife imbalances, disease, and human impactsand human impacts
Each province has legislation Each province has legislation to protect the provincial parksto protect the provincial parks
Conservation in ParksConservation in Parks Maintain ecological integrityMaintain ecological integrity Preserve historical and Preserve historical and commemorative placescommemorative places
Promote conservation ethicPromote conservation ethic Demonstrate conservation Demonstrate conservation principles and approaches principles and approaches from United Nations reportsfrom United Nations reports
The 12 Percent ChallengeThe 12 Percent Challenge
Sustainable AgricultureSustainable Agriculture Maintains soil productivity: Maintains soil productivity: conservation techniquesconservation techniques
Healthy ecological balanceHealthy ecological balance Minimal long-term impactsMinimal long-term impacts Natural fertilizersNatural fertilizers
Less chemicals and antibioticsLess chemicals and antibiotics Water and energy conservationWater and energy conservation Diverse cropsDiverse crops
Sustainable AgricultureSustainable Agriculture
Organic agricultureOrganic agriculture No non-natural chemicalsNo non-natural chemicals No genetic engineeringNo genetic engineering
View the farm as an View the farm as an agroecosystemagroecosystem
Second green revolution!Second green revolution!
Sustainable AgricultureSustainable Agriculture
Genetic EngineeringGenetic Engineering Move genes from one species to Move genes from one species to anotheranother
Could improve agricultureCould improve agriculture
Potential Benefits of GM Potential Benefits of GM CropsCrops
Decrease nutritional deficiencies Decrease nutritional deficiencies worldwide: Golden Riceworldwide: Golden Rice
Decreased use of pesticidesDecreased use of pesticides Heartier plantsHeartier plants Feed the worldFeed the world More productive farm animals More productive farm animals
Better animal vaccines Better animal vaccines
Potential Drawbacks of GM Potential Drawbacks of GM CropsCrops
Cross-Cross-pollination with pollination with native speciesnative species
Widespread crop Widespread crop failure failure
Food allergiesFood allergies Long-term Long-term impacts unknownimpacts unknown
Conservation TillageConservation Tillage Residues from Residues from previous crops previous crops left in soilleft in soil
Reduces erosion Reduces erosion up to 70%up to 70%
Soil has more Soil has more organic materialorganic material
Drawbacks?Drawbacks?
Crop RotationCrop Rotation
Planting a series crops in the Planting a series crops in the same field over a period of same field over a period of yearsyears
Decreases insect damageDecreases insect damage Reduces erosionReduces erosion Rotated crops depend Rotated crops depend
on where you farmon where you farm
TerracingTerracing
Used on Used on very steep very steep slopesslopes
Like Like stairsstairs
Very Very expensive!expensive!
Other MethodsOther Methods Contour plowingContour plowing
Farm with the natural Farm with the natural contours of the landcontours of the land
Strip croppingStrip cropping Strips of differing cropsStrips of differing crops
Soil ReclamationSoil Reclamation
Badly eroded landBadly eroded land Prevent further Prevent further erosionerosionSeed bare groundSeed bare groundPlant shelterbeltsPlant shelterbelts
Restore soil Restore soil fertilityfertilitySoil must recover Soil must recover firstfirst
Restrict farming?Restrict farming?
Canada lagging behind Canada lagging behind In the United States, Food Security In the United States, Food Security Act of 1985Act of 1985 Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
Voluntary programVoluntary program Take land out of production for Take land out of production for 10–15 years10–15 years
Receive subsidyReceive subsidy Reduced soil erosionReduced soil erosion Wildlife habitatWildlife habitat
Soil Conservation PoliciesSoil Conservation Policies
Consider a career as a Consider a career as a remediation specialistremediation specialist
Be involved in the planning of Be involved in the planning of removing contamination from soil, removing contamination from soil, groundwater, and other natural groundwater, and other natural sitessites
Eco Canada Career FocusEco Canada Career Focus
Case Study: Industrial Case Study: Industrial EcosystemsEcosystems
Industrial ecologyIndustrial ecology Efficient use of resourcesEfficient use of resources ““Wastes” are potential Wastes” are potential productsproducts
Mimic natural ecosystemsMimic natural ecosystems Kalundborg, DenmarkKalundborg, Denmark
Link different industriesLink different industries