CORE Natural Resource Management Flashcards
6 cards from real CORE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CORE Natural Resource Management flashcards as text
Under the Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960, which of the following best describes 'multiple use' of national forests?
Answer: Balanced management of renewable resources including recreation, timber, grazing, wildlife, and water
The Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act mandates that national forests be managed for a balance of uses — including outdoor recreation, range, timber, watershed, and wildlife — without impairing productivity.
What is 'non-point source pollution' and why is it a concern for outdoor recreation areas?
Answer: Diffuse runoff from multiple land uses such as agriculture, roads, and recreational areas that degrades water quality
Non-point source pollution comes from dispersed sources across a landscape — including fertilizer runoff, road sediment, and campsite waste — and is difficult to regulate or trace to a single origin.
In a CORE curriculum, what concept explains why biodiversity strengthens ecosystem resilience?
Answer: Greater species diversity provides more functional redundancy so that losing one species does not collapse the system
High biodiversity creates functional redundancy — multiple species filling similar ecological roles — so the ecosystem can absorb disturbances without collapsing when individual species are lost.
What federal law requires environmental impact assessments for major federal actions that may significantly affect the environment?
Answer: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969
NEPA requires federal agencies to assess and disclose the environmental consequences of proposed major actions before proceeding, and to consider alternatives and public input.
What is the difference between conservation and preservation as management philosophies in US natural resource history?
Answer: Conservation advocates wise use and sustainable management; preservation advocates protecting nature from human use entirely
Conservation (associated with Gifford Pinchot) promotes wise, sustainable use of natural resources, while preservation (associated with John Muir) advocates protecting nature from human exploitation.
Which management tool do land managers use to evaluate the condition and trend of a natural resource over time?
Answer: Long-term ecological monitoring and indicator species tracking
Long-term ecological monitoring tracks measurable indicators — such as vegetation cover, water quality, or wildlife populations — to determine whether a resource is improving, stable, or declining under management.