Land Development and Degradation
Why is the land being developed?
The chaparral exists in a highly populated area and surrounds some of the largest cities in the United States. Inevitably, these cities and the smaller communities surrounding them desire to expand. Sadly, this often means encroaching upon and destroying the natural chaparral habitats. Additionally, due to the economic recession of the late 2000s and poor management far more chaparral ecosystems have been destroyed than is necessary for the level of development which has occurred. The land has also been developed and managed to attempt to prevent wild fires. But this has been equally poorly managed and in many cases weeds were introduced to the ecosystem that are even more flammable than the native plants which existed before. One specific example that illustrates many of these problems is the San Marcos decapitation. Once a symbol for the city of San Marcos, the picturesque chaparral covered mountain which stands above it has now been scarred by poor land management, as far more land was cleared to build houses than was necessary. The following image shows the damage.
The chaparral exists in a highly populated area and surrounds some of the largest cities in the United States. Inevitably, these cities and the smaller communities surrounding them desire to expand. Sadly, this often means encroaching upon and destroying the natural chaparral habitats. Additionally, due to the economic recession of the late 2000s and poor management far more chaparral ecosystems have been destroyed than is necessary for the level of development which has occurred. The land has also been developed and managed to attempt to prevent wild fires. But this has been equally poorly managed and in many cases weeds were introduced to the ecosystem that are even more flammable than the native plants which existed before. One specific example that illustrates many of these problems is the San Marcos decapitation. Once a symbol for the city of San Marcos, the picturesque chaparral covered mountain which stands above it has now been scarred by poor land management, as far more land was cleared to build houses than was necessary. The following image shows the damage.
What effect will it have on the ecosystem?
Obviously, this development can have a detrimental effect on the ecosystem. Firstly, if this unabated expansion continues then there simply will be no more chaparral and the indigenous animal and plant populations, such as the Californian Condor and the California sagebrush (huge swathes of which were destroyed at San Marcos), will go extinct. Secondly, if flammable plants continue to be introduced to the ecosystem, there will be too many forest fires that will potentially reduce plant populations and forest sizes.
Obviously, this development can have a detrimental effect on the ecosystem. Firstly, if this unabated expansion continues then there simply will be no more chaparral and the indigenous animal and plant populations, such as the Californian Condor and the California sagebrush (huge swathes of which were destroyed at San Marcos), will go extinct. Secondly, if flammable plants continue to be introduced to the ecosystem, there will be too many forest fires that will potentially reduce plant populations and forest sizes.