Human Effects on the Lithosphere

1. Human Effects on the Lithosphere

2. Types of Land Use • Mining • Deforestation • Agriculture • Overgrazing • Urbanization • Shoreline Development/Stabilization • Mountain Development/Stabilization

4. Mining • Why is it important • Provides minerals (diamonds), metals (gold), fossil fuels (coal, natural gas) • Jobs • What does it do to the environment • Acidic runoff destroys habitats • Air and water pollution • Severe changes to the landscape • Sinkholes

6. What Can Be Done • Reduce consumption • Recycle materials • Improve efficiency of processing • Legislation to control mining and impacts • Better clean-up of active and abandoned mines • Renewable energy

7. Deforestation • Why is it important • Wood for homes, paper, farmland, charcoal, roads • Jobs • What does it do to the environment • Sharp decline in biodiversity • Poor air quality • Land erosion • Affects water cycle

9. What Can Be Done • Legislation to protect forests • Reforestation • Education • Fallowing • Contour and/or terraced planting • Land use policies • ‘Plant a Tree’ campaigns

10. Agriculture • Why is it important • Food • Jobs • What does it do to the environment • Deforestation • Soil erosion • Nutrient depletion • Affects the water cycle • Fertilizer and animal waste runoff

12. What Can Be Done • Crop rotation • Using nitrogen-fixing crops – peanuts, legumes • Contour farming • Planting wind breaks • Tree or shrub lines • Organic farming • Recycling of water and animal waste • Better containment of waste ponds • Legislation controlling farming practices

13. Overgrazing • Why is it important • Food • Raw materials for clothing • Jobs • What does it do to the environment • Soil erosion • Affects the water cycle • Allows for invasion of non-native species

15. What Can Be Done • Rotational grazing • Legislation to better control grazing practices • Soil erosion • Using alternate feed • Raising the right animal for the location

16. Urbanization • Why is it important • Provides a place to live for growing populations • What does it do to the environment • Overcrowding • Increased strain on resources (clean water, etc) • Affects the water cycle • Loss of green areas • Erosion

18. What Can Be Done • Better city planning • Use of resources • Creating urban zones that group housing, schools, shopping, etc. together • Legislation to limit sprawl and enforce building codes • Inclusion of green spaces • Recycling of recources

19. Shoreline Development & Stabilization • Why is it important • Provides housing for coastal populations • Jobs • What does it do to the environment • Disrupts natural ebb and flow of coastal sediments • Increased erosion, need for beach replenishment • impacts biodiversity • Possible issues with debris after storms

21. What Can Be Done • Legislation to enact and enforce building zones and codes • Require structures to be storm and flood proof • Prohibit construction in known flood zones • Set aside protected areas for wildlife and do not develop sensitive habitat • Limit building berms and breaks

22. Mountainside Development & Stabilization • Why is it important • Provide housing to growing populations • Jobs • What does it do to the environment • Can destabilize mountain areas • Erosion • Decreases biodiversity • Can affect sensitive habitat

24. What Can Be Done • Legislation to enact and enforce building zones and codes • Require structures to be able to withstand heavy snow/ice • Prohibit construction in known avalanche or land slide zones • Set aside protected areas for wildlife and do not develop sensitive habitat • Take extra precautions to protect quality of streams and lakes