Unsustainable Resource Use Quiz

Unsustainable Resource Use

• Tropical forest logging is often unsustainable and illegal, leading to biodiversity loss. Lack of development opportunities in poor countries hinders control.
• European and North American forestry practices often include planned harvests, tree replacements, and mixed forest areas to support biodiversity.
• Hunting and fishing pose significant threats to wildlife populations. Overhunting occurs in developing regions, driven by poverty. Illegal wildlife trade also threatens rare species. Recreational hunting, in well-regulated areas, is less impactful.
• Commercial whaling driven by demand for meat and blubber has nearly led to extinction of several species. Most countries support a ban on commercial whaling, promoting species recovery.
• Overfishing depletes many fisheries, affecting commercially important species like bluefin tuna and North Atlantic cod. Overfishing disrupts marine ecosystems.
• Overfishing is driven by increased demand, destructive fishing methods (like trawling), by-catches, large fishing fleets, large boats and technology, illegal fishing, and unfair fishing agreements targeting developing nations.

Sustainable Resource Management

• Quotas, like those on bluefin tuna, limit harvesting.
• Protected habitats (terrestrial and marine) safeguard species from overexploitation.
• Monitoring and enforcement of laws (quotas, hunting seasons, minimum fish size) improve sustainability.
• Afforestation and habitat restoration projects support biodiversity, creating or recovering habitats.
• Aquaculture provides an alternative, reducing pressure on wild stocks, but needs environmental management.
• Resource substitution promotes using less endangered species, like mackerel instead of rarer fish.