APES Objectives – Unit 5

Summary

Unit 5, “Land and Water Use,” focuses on how human activities impact terrestrial and aquatic resources. Key topics include the Tragedy of the Commons and the effects of clearcutting on forests. The unit covers the Green Revolution and the environmental damage caused by modern agricultural practices like tilling, slash-and-burn, and the use of fertilizers. It provides a detailed look at various irrigation methods and their drawbacks, such as waterlogging and salinization, and explores different pest control methods. Other topics include the environmental impacts of meat production methods (CAFOs vs. free-range), overfishing, and mining. The unit concludes with discussions on urbanization, ecological footprints, and sustainable practices in agriculture and forestry. This unit is a high-yield topic for the AP Exam, accounting for 10-15% of the content.