Unit 5: Land and Water Use dives into human management of Earth’s resources—covering agriculture, forestry, mining, fishing, and urban development. It also explores environmental consequences and strategies for sustainable use. You’ll see plenty of real-world examples and data interpretation on the APES exam from this unit.
In this RevisionDojo review, we’ll break down the essential concepts and AP test strategies.
📌 Key Topics in Unit 5
- Agricultural practices & environmental impacts
- Green Revolution and sustainable farming
- Forestry management & deforestation
- Fishing methods and overfishing
- Mining types and impacts
- Urbanization trends
- Water use in agriculture and industry
- Sustainable land management strategies
🌾 Agriculture
Types:
- Traditional subsistence farming
- Industrial agriculture (monocropping, mechanization)
- Shifting cultivation & slash-and-burn
Impacts:
- Soil degradation, erosion, nutrient depletion
- Pesticide resistance & bioaccumulation
- Water overuse & pollution from runoff
Sustainable Practices:
- Crop rotation, intercropping, agroforestry
- Drip irrigation to conserve water
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
🌱 Green Revolution
- Mid-20th century shift to high-yield crops, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation.
- Boosted food production but increased environmental impacts.
- Led to loss of biodiversity and reliance on chemical inputs.
🌲 Forestry
- Clear-cutting vs. selective cutting
- Deforestation → loss of biodiversity, carbon storage, soil stability
- Sustainable forestry → reforestation, certification programs (FSC)
🐟 Fishing
Methods:
- Longlining, trawling, purse seining, drift nets, aquaculture.
- Overfishing → collapse of fish stocks, bycatch issues.
Sustainable Solutions:
- Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
- Quotas and catch limits
⛏ Mining
Types:
- Surface mining, strip mining, mountaintop removal, subsurface mining.
Impacts:
- Habitat destruction, water pollution (acid mine drainage), air pollution, erosion.
🏙 Urbanization
- Leads to habitat loss, heat islands, air/water pollution.
- Smart growth strategies → green spaces, sustainable transport, zoning.
💧 Water Use
- Agriculture is largest consumer (~70%).
- Overdrafting aquifers → land subsidence, reduced freshwater availability.
- Water conservation → drip irrigation, wastewater recycling.
⚠ Environmental Challenges
- Tragedy of the Commons → overuse of shared resources (e.g., fisheries, groundwater).
- Solutions: regulations, quotas, community management.
🧠 APES Exam Tips for Unit 5
- Memorize pros/cons of agriculture methods.
- Understand the Green Revolution’s dual impacts.
- Practice FRQs that require evaluating sustainability of a resource use case.
- Be ready to link human activity to ecosystem changes.
💡 FAQ – Unit 5: Land and Water Use
Q: What is the main cause of soil salinization?
A: Irrigation in arid climates without proper drainage.
Q: Which fishing method has the highest bycatch?
A: Trawl nets and drift nets.
Q: How can mining impacts be reduced?
A: Land reclamation, pollution control measures, and stricter regulations.
Final Word from RevisionDojo:
Unit 5 challenges you to think critically about balancing human needs with environmental sustainability. These topics are some of the most FRQ-heavy on the APES exam, so practice applying concepts to real-world examples.
