CEP Conservation & Sustainability 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal law established the National Wilderness Preservation System in the United States?
- National Environmental Policy Act (1969)
- Wilderness Act (1964) (Correct answer)
- Endangered Species Act (1973)
- Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (1965)
Correct answer: Wilderness Act (1964)
The Wilderness Act of 1964 created the National Wilderness Preservation System, protecting lands where human impact is minimal.
Question 2: In sustainable site planning, which stormwater management strategy most directly mimics natural hydrology?
- Installing concrete detention basins
- Increasing impervious surface area
- Using bioswales and rain gardens (Correct answer)
- Routing runoff directly to municipal sewers
Correct answer: Using bioswales and rain gardens
Bioswales and rain gardens infiltrate and slow stormwater on-site, replicating pre-development hydrological functions.
Question 3: The concept of 'carrying capacity' in environmental planning refers to:
- The maximum load a bridge can support
- The maximum population an ecosystem can sustain indefinitely (Correct answer)
- The volume of waste a landfill can accept
- The number of visitors a park can host per day
Correct answer: The maximum population an ecosystem can sustain indefinitely
Carrying capacity is the maximum population size an environment can support without degradation of its resources.
Question 4: Which greenhouse gas has the highest 100-year global warming potential (GWP) among common pollutants?
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Methane (CH4)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O)
- Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)
SF6 has a 100-year GWP of approximately 23,500, far exceeding CO2, CH4, and N2O.
Question 5: A habitat corridor primarily functions to:
- Provide recreational trails for humans
- Connect fragmented habitat patches to support wildlife movement (Correct answer)
- Delineate property boundaries in conservation easements
- Channel stormwater between wetlands
Correct answer: Connect fragmented habitat patches to support wildlife movement
Habitat corridors link isolated patches of suitable habitat, enabling gene flow and species movement across fragmented landscapes.
Question 6: LEED certification for buildings primarily evaluates sustainability across which categories?
- Energy, water, materials, indoor environment, and site (Correct answer)
- Air quality, noise, light, and thermal comfort only
- Carbon footprint, cost efficiency, and occupant density
- Renewable energy percentage and insulation R-value
Correct answer: Energy, water, materials, indoor environment, and site
LEED evaluates energy efficiency, water use, materials selection, indoor environmental quality, and sustainable site practices.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes 'adaptive management' in natural resource conservation?
- A fixed management plan applied uniformly across ecosystems
- A trial-and-error approach without scientific monitoring
- An iterative management process that incorporates monitoring data to adjust strategies (Correct answer)
- A policy that adapts budget allocations based on political priorities
Correct answer: An iterative management process that incorporates monitoring data to adjust strategies
Adaptive management uses structured learning cycles—plan, implement, monitor, and adjust—to improve conservation outcomes over time.
CEP Conservation & Sustainability 2
Which federal law established the National Wilderness Preservation System in the United States?