Land Use

Case Study of Easter Island

What caused the “wasted appearance” of the island?As the population grew, what happened to the forests?

They cut down trees for agriculture, for structural materials and to move the statuesWhat conclusions can we draw about our own land use?

Agriculture

Colonial Bread Basket

America’s Bread Basket Now

Questions?

• Why did the Bread Basket move?• Growing country and population• What do these regions have in

common?• Latitude, Elevation and Soil

composition

Soil

Dirt, rock and silt

Dead Things

Soil Profile

Why good soil maters?

• Good soil allows for excellent plant growth• Good soil retains water, which slows down

erosion

• In order for us to get this

• A farmer must like this

Lumber Industry

Moves from the East to the West

• Europe depleted most of its forest prior to the discovery of America• American eastern forests are

severely depleted to create new cities and supply Europe• Lumber industry moves to the Pacific

Northwest

Sound familiar?

Climate Change