2009 EnvirothonState Competition

FORESTRY

Team Name: ______

Identify the species of tree that the wood came from (2 points each) Wood blocks were labeled

1. ______maple______2. ______cherry______

3. ______yellow poplar______4. ______oak______

5. ______walnut______

All organisms undergo changes as they go through life. These changes are called life cycles.

  1. Draw and label the life cycle of an oak tree. (6 points)

Seed, sprout, sapling, mature oak, dead tree (snag), rotting log

7. Choose 3 stages of the life cycle that you drew in #6. What was the tree’s role in the forest ecosystem at that stage? (6 points)

Seed – new tree, food for animals

Sprout - food for animals, water transpiration, carbon storage, soil stabilization

Sapling - food for animals, water transpiration, carbon storage, soil stabilization

Mature oak - food for animals, water transpiration, carbon storage, soil stabilization

Dead tree – home for animals

Rotting log – nutrients, life for decomposers, green house gas release

  1. List 2 different biotic factors and 2 different abiotic factors that are present in a Kentucky forest ecosystem. (8 points)

Biotic factors: __All plants______All animals______

Abiotic factors: sun light, temperature, rainfall, climate, CO2, H2O, minerals and soil conditions.

Biomes are large regions of the world that have similar characteristics and are usually named for the dominant plant life in that area.

  1. List three terrestrial biomes. (6 points)

Tundra, Boreal Forests, coniferous forest, deciduous forest, grassland, savannah, desert, rainforest

  1. Choose one of the biomes from #9 and predict three changes that would happen to the biotic portion of the biome if there were a dramatic change in temperature (increase or decrease) over a 500-year span. (10 points)

Biomes are determined by temperature and precipitation. Any explanation of how a temperature change would affect living organisms in that biome would be acceptable. For example: Tundra –

  • an increase in temperature would cause the ice to melt thereby causing polar bears to starve since they wait on the ice for seals to come up for air.
  • An increase in temperature could cause a decline in native bird populations. The warmer temperature could allow invasive populations which would normally be deterred by the cold weather to move in.
  • An increase in temperature may induce a longer growing season, thereby increasing caribou herds.

Read A Road Through the Trees and Forest Quotes. Answer the following questions about the importance of biodiversity of protected lands.

  1. What’s the basic problem that started this conflict? (4 points)

People are concerned about the effects of roads and timber-cutting in the wilderness areas of our natural forests.

  1. An issue differs from a problem when people disagree about how to address the problem. What’s the issue in this example? (4 points)

The issue is whether or not to continue building roads in the remaining roadless areas of our national forests.

  1. Parties, or players, are the different individuals or groups with distinct points of view about the issue. Who are the parties in this conflict? (4 points)
  • Dan Glickman, former secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Ag. (USDA)
  • Helen Chenoweth, former Republican Rep from Idaho
  • Clark Chappell, S. Utah Forest Products Assoc.
  • Carl Pope, Sierra Club
  • Mike Dombeck, former chief of the U.S. Forest Service
  • Henson Moore, former president and CEO of American Forest & Paper Assoc.
  • Bill Clinton, former U.S. President
  • Mike Moser Boise Cascade timber company
  • Carla Boucher an attorney for the United Four Wheel Drive Assoc.
  1. What does each party want? (4 points)
  • AF&PA, the United Four Wheel Drive Assoc. and Helen Chenoweth are opposed to limits on roads and timber cutting in national forests
  • Dombeck, Glickman and small Utah timber companies want limits set on road building but sustainable harvesting of trees
  • Clinton wants to fully protect all remaining roadless areas larger than 1,000 acres
  • The Sierra Club wants no timber cutting on national forests at all
  • Boise Cascade is in favor of some level of harvesting
  1. What are the basic beliefs that influence each of the parties’ interests?(4 points)
  • AF&PA, and Helen Chenoweth believe national forests were created to meet U.S. timber needs, provide jobs and provide recreational opportunities
  • the United Four Wheel Drive Assocs. believe that the current protection laws are sufficient.
  • Dombeck, and small Utah timber companies believe that forests should balance timber needs with environmental protection.
  • Clinton and the Sierra Club believe that additional roads and timber cutting would degrade the remaining roadless areas.
  • Boise Cascade believes that timber cutting in the roadless area will benefit both people and the forest.
  1. Values are at the very core of people’s beliefs. In this case study, some groups value the economic and recreation benefits of national forests. Others express a strong value for healthy ecosystems and biodiversity. A couple of the groups value both those things. One group values long-term economic health for their family and community. Why might it be easier to try to change people’s positions in a conflict than to change their values? (4 points)

Values are the most fundamental underlying basis for people’s beliefs and positions; values are very close to the identity of the parties. Therefore, they are not very likely to change, at least not quickly.