Section 3:  Land Management and Conservation

Key Terms:

• overgrazing
• deforestation
  
• reforestation
  
• ​wilderness
  

Main Ideas:

• Farmland is used to raise crops and livestock.
• Rangeland is land used primarily for grazing livestock.  Rangeland is easily degraded by overgrazing.
  
• Trees are harvested for many purposes.  Deforestation can cause soil erosion and may threaten forest plants and animals with extinction.
  
• National lands are used for many purposes, including lumber, mining, and recreation.  Wilderness is national land that is protected from all exploitation for the benefit of future generations.