Human Effects on the Lithosphere

Human Effects on the Lithosphere

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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