AP Environmental Science Flashcards: Sustainable Forestry

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Sustainable Forestry, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Environmental Science.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Which forestry certification ensures sustainable practices?

Answer: FSC certification. Third-party verification system for responsible forest management standards.

Flashcard 2: What is deforestation?

Answer: The removal of a forest or stand of trees. Complete forest removal for agriculture, urbanization, or other land uses.

Flashcard 3: What is afforestation?

Answer: Planting trees on land not previously forested. Creates new forests on non-forested land to increase tree cover.

Flashcard 4: What is the effect of clear-cutting on soil quality?

Answer: Decreases soil fertility. Removes nutrient-rich topsoil and disrupts soil organism communities.

Flashcard 5: What is ecosystem resilience?

Answer: The ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances. Measures how well ecosystems bounce back from natural or human disturbances.

Flashcard 6: Which practice involves managing forests for carbon storage?

Answer: Carbon sequestration. Trees absorb and store atmospheric carbon dioxide in biomass and soil.

Flashcard 7: Identify a key principle of sustainable forestry.

Answer: Conserving biodiversity. Protects ecosystem variety and species richness for forest sustainability.

Flashcard 8: What is the relationship between forests and climate change?

Answer: Forests mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon. Trees absorb CO₂ and store carbon, reducing greenhouse gas concentrations.

Flashcard 9: Name a social benefit of sustainable forestry.

Answer: Supports local communities and economies. Provides jobs and income while maintaining cultural forest connections.

Flashcard 10: What is agroforestry?

Answer: Integrating trees and shrubs into agricultural systems. Combines forestry with farming to create diverse, productive land use systems.

Flashcard 11: What is clear-cutting?

Answer: A forestry practice where most or all trees are uniformly cut down. Intensive harvesting method that removes entire forest stands at once.

Flashcard 12: What is the relationship between forests and climate change?

Answer: Forests mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon. Trees absorb CO₂ and store carbon, reducing greenhouse gas concentrations.

Flashcard 13: Name a technique to prevent forest fires.

Answer: Controlled burning. Reduces fuel buildup and prevents catastrophic wildfire damage.

Flashcard 14: Identify a method to reduce soil erosion in forests.

Answer: Maintaining ground cover. Vegetation protects soil from water and wind erosion.

Flashcard 15: What does FSC stand for in sustainable forestry?

Answer: Forest Stewardship Council. International organization that certifies sustainable forest management practices.

Flashcard 16: Which term describes the variety of organisms in a forest?

Answer: Biodiversity. Measures ecosystem health through species richness and abundance.

Flashcard 17: What is clear-cutting?

Answer: A forestry practice where most or all trees are uniformly cut down. Intensive harvesting method that removes entire forest stands at once.

Flashcard 18: What is an ecological benefit of sustainable forestry?

Answer: Preservation of biodiversity. Protects species variety and ecosystem functions for future generations.

Flashcard 19: Identify a benefit of selective cutting.

Answer: Maintains forest structure and biodiversity. Preserves habitat complexity and reduces erosion compared to clear-cutting.

Flashcard 20: What is the main objective of the REDD+ program?

Answer: To reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. International initiative compensating countries for forest conservation efforts.

Flashcard 21: Name a social benefit of sustainable forestry.

Answer: Supports local communities and economies. Provides jobs and income while maintaining cultural forest connections.

Flashcard 22: What is a riparian buffer?

Answer: Vegetated area near a stream to protect water quality. Protects waterways from runoff pollution and maintains stream temperature.

Flashcard 23: Name a tool used in sustainable forest management.

Answer: Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Mapping technology for forest monitoring and management planning.

Flashcard 24: Name a practice that promotes sustainable forestry.

Answer: Reduced impact logging. Minimizes environmental damage during harvesting operations.

Flashcard 25: What is sustainable forestry?

Answer: Management of forests to maintain biodiversity and productivity. Balances environmental protection with economic use for long-term forest health.

Flashcard 26: What is the goal of sustainable timber harvesting?

Answer: To balance ecological health and economic needs. Ensures forest productivity while maintaining ecosystem integrity long-term.

Flashcard 27: What is a forest management plan?

Answer: A document outlining sustainable forestry practices. Strategic blueprint for responsible forest resource management and conservation.

Flashcard 28: Identify a benefit of maintaining forest corridors.

Answer: Facilitates wildlife movement. Connects habitat patches, allowing species migration and gene flow.

Flashcard 29: Which practice involves planting new trees to replace harvested ones?

Answer: Reforestation. Restores forest cover by replanting trees in previously forested areas.

Flashcard 30: What is the main objective of the REDD+ program?

Answer: To reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. International initiative compensating countries for forest conservation efforts.

Flashcard 31: Name a disadvantage of clear-cutting.

Answer: Loss of habitat and biodiversity. Removes entire ecosystems, disrupting wildlife communities and species diversity.

Flashcard 32: What is the role of mycorrhizal fungi in forests?

Answer: Enhances nutrient uptake for trees. Symbiotic relationship improves tree nutrition and forest health.

Flashcard 33: What is agroforestry?

Answer: Integrating trees and shrubs into agricultural systems. Combines forestry with farming to create diverse, productive land use systems.

Flashcard 34: Identify a negative impact of unsustainable forestry.

Answer: Loss of ecosystem services. Poor practices eliminate benefits like carbon storage and water regulation.

Flashcard 35: What is the impact of deforestation on the carbon cycle?

Answer: Increases atmospheric CO₂ levels. Trees normally absorb CO₂, so removal releases stored carbon to atmosphere.

Flashcard 36: What is an invasive species?

Answer: A non-native species that harms ecosystems. Outcompetes native species and disrupts natural ecosystem balance.

Flashcard 37: Name a disadvantage of clear-cutting.

Answer: Loss of habitat and biodiversity. Removes entire ecosystems, disrupting wildlife communities and species diversity.

Flashcard 38: Name a benefit of agroforestry.

Answer: Increases biodiversity and soil health. Trees improve crop yields through nitrogen fixation and erosion control.

Flashcard 39: Name a practice that promotes sustainable forestry.

Answer: Reduced impact logging. Minimizes environmental damage during harvesting operations.

Flashcard 40: Identify a policy that supports sustainable forestry.

Answer: The Lacey Act. U.S. law prohibiting trade in illegal forest products.

Flashcard 41: Which term describes the variety of organisms in a forest?

Answer: Biodiversity. Measures ecosystem health through species richness and abundance.

Flashcard 42: Identify a method to reduce soil erosion in forests.

Answer: Maintaining ground cover. Vegetation protects soil from water and wind erosion.

Flashcard 43: What is a forest management plan?

Answer: A document outlining sustainable forestry practices. Strategic blueprint for responsible forest resource management and conservation.

Flashcard 44: Which practice helps maintain genetic diversity in forests?

Answer: Selective breeding. Maintains genetic variation to ensure forest adaptation and resilience.

Flashcard 45: What is a keystone species?

Answer: A species that has a disproportionately large impact on its ecosystem. Critical species whose presence maintains entire ecosystem structure and function.

Flashcard 46: What is a keystone species?

Answer: A species that has a disproportionately large impact on its ecosystem. Critical species whose presence maintains entire ecosystem structure and function.

Flashcard 47: What is selective cutting?

Answer: Harvesting only certain trees, preserving ecosystem health. Targeted harvesting maintains forest canopy and reduces environmental impact.

Flashcard 48: What is an invasive species?

Answer: A non-native species that harms ecosystems. Outcompetes native species and disrupts natural ecosystem balance.

Flashcard 49: Which forestry certification ensures sustainable practices?

Answer: FSC certification. Third-party verification system for responsible forest management standards.

Flashcard 50: What is a riparian buffer?

Answer: Vegetated area near a stream to protect water quality. Protects waterways from runoff pollution and maintains stream temperature.

Flashcard 51: Name a technique to prevent forest fires.

Answer: Controlled burning. Reduces fuel buildup and prevents catastrophic wildfire damage.

Flashcard 52: Which practice helps maintain genetic diversity in forests?

Answer: Selective breeding. Maintains genetic variation to ensure forest adaptation and resilience.

Flashcard 53: Identify a major cause of deforestation.

Answer: Agricultural expansion. Primary driver of global forest loss for crop and pasture development.

Flashcard 54: What is an ecological benefit of sustainable forestry?

Answer: Preservation of biodiversity. Protects species variety and ecosystem functions for future generations.

Flashcard 55: What is deforestation?

Answer: The removal of a forest or stand of trees. Complete forest removal for agriculture, urbanization, or other land uses.

Flashcard 56: What is the primary goal of conservation biology?

Answer: To protect and sustain biodiversity. Scientific field focused on preserving species and ecosystem diversity.

Flashcard 57: What is afforestation?

Answer: Planting trees on land not previously forested. Creates new forests on non-forested land to increase tree cover.

Flashcard 58: What is selective cutting?

Answer: Harvesting only certain trees, preserving ecosystem health. Targeted harvesting maintains forest canopy and reduces environmental impact.

Flashcard 59: Identify a policy that supports sustainable forestry.

Answer: The Lacey Act. U.S. law prohibiting trade in illegal forest products.

Flashcard 60: What role do forests play in the water cycle?

Answer: Regulate water flow and quality. Trees intercept precipitation and maintain groundwater through transpiration.

Flashcard 61: Identify a benefit of maintaining forest corridors.

Answer: Facilitates wildlife movement. Connects habitat patches, allowing species migration and gene flow.

Flashcard 62: Name a tool used in sustainable forest management.

Answer: Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Mapping technology for forest monitoring and management planning.

Flashcard 63: Identify a major cause of deforestation.

Answer: Agricultural expansion. Primary driver of global forest loss for crop and pasture development.

Flashcard 64: What does 'multiple-use' forestry mean?

Answer: Managing forests for various purposes like recreation and timber. Balances diverse forest uses including timber, recreation, and conservation.

Flashcard 65: What is the impact of deforestation on the carbon cycle?

Answer: Increases atmospheric CO₂ levels. Trees normally absorb CO₂, so removal releases stored carbon to atmosphere.

Flashcard 66: What is ecosystem resilience?

Answer: The ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances. Measures how well ecosystems bounce back from natural or human disturbances.

Flashcard 67: What is the role of mycorrhizal fungi in forests?

Answer: Enhances nutrient uptake for trees. Symbiotic relationship improves tree nutrition and forest health.