Perceptions of Ecologically Sustainable Forest

Running head: HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT 1
Human Geography Assignment
Name of Student
Institution of Affiliation

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT 2
Question One
1) Perceptions of ecologically sustainable forest and community safety. 5 marks
Several risks coincide with living in the rural-urban fringe. These prompt residents to be
cautious of the possible dangers that can occur following the drying of the lands. In sustaining
the forest and communities there are three major perspectives. The first being nature as a
potential hazard, which has prompted a lot of fear of fire following the past experiences on such
disasters events. Thus, subsequent instrumentation and orchestration of controlled burn of the
forest to prevent it from getting out of hand. With large forest fires getting bad responses from
the residents due to the fear that they are likely to grow in fetch to the extent that controlling the
burns might be impossible (Solomon, 2016).
Nature as an instrumental value serves as perception in regards to the urban forest. In line
with social belief, nature is artistically important to society as it gives the ground upon which
human can develop their sense of home and identity. However, with these assortments, there
appears to exist several challenges when it comes to attaining sustainable fire mitigation. As
people do have strong connections with their landscapes and tourist attraction ventures that come
with forest nature (Bratu, 2016).
The third perception is that nature does possess great intrinsic value in them that makes
their power immeasurable and more developing property. With this perspective, people do try at
all cost to maintain harmonious understanding with their nature to create balance with the
environment (Goemans & Ballamingie, 2012)

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT 3
2) The authors describe an evolution of geographic thought around the human
perception of natural hazards that accounts for our changing ideas about society’s
vulnerability. Briefly outline the key points in this discussion. Which approach in Module 5
evaluates human adjustment to the natural environment? (5 marks)
The article states that for the North American population to curtail their vulnerability
levels to natural hazards, there is a need for a stable and advance structure development
continuously. In contrast, this would not insinuate that those living away from the urban centers
are immune to powers that are associated with nature. People try to reside in desirable forest
areas that increase their property values but susceptible to cases of forest fires hazard (Slovic,
Kunreuther, & White, 2016). With all these potential hazards, many still desire to reside in this
exposed area with grater natural hazards risk capacity. Usually ‘evaluation approach’ tries to
explore how humans change and react to natural environment factors. With the Approach human
being tend to developed defense mechanisms to help protect themselves from natural hazards
that pose harm to them as well as their properties (Berry, Deaton, & Steinberg, 2016).
In some instances, the developed defense mechanisms are not that effective in defending
them and their properties triggering the neutral events into deadly hazards. However, it is
necessary to recognize that, even if human being sees earthquakes, volcanic eruption, and other
potential hazards they still not migrate rather live with these hazards.
3) If your job was to plan urban-rural-natural land use in Kelowna and the
surrounding areas, how do you think your understanding of these different perceptions
would help you in developing different approaches with which to educate people on fire
risk and management? Identify and briefly discuss three ways that you could educate
people (keeping in mind their different perceptions) on what they can do to protect their

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT 4
property and community from wildfire. Your answer should be approximately 500 words
(two double-spaced pages). (10 marks)
In educating people about urban-rural-natural landslide use it important to put into
consideration the three perceptions that are involved in the urban forest. Usually, people do
subscribe to different view-points on issues, as all will never look happy with others' opinions if
not well convinced (Abrams, Nielsen-Pincus, Paveglio, & Moseley, 2016). Therefore, there is a
need for convincing the general public on the impotent of fire risk management considering the
effects associated with their occurrence. Not all would understand the magnitudes of the impacts
prompted by a failure to follow the procedures properly.
Considering nature as a hazard, it is necessary to have it in mind that those who hold to
this perspective do believe nature is worth fearing and that fire mitigation might contrary lead to
a wild forest fire. This has no truth that it would happen, in return calling for awareness creation
on people through education to help control cases of potential forest burn. In absence of
controlled burns, the forest quickly dries up and in case of the hot season, these are extremely
flammable and might result in massive fires in the forest (Jean, Pinno, & Nielsen, 2020). The best
way out is to issues quick commercial aid initiated by Parks Canada, and awareness creation on
the importance of controlled burns. Following this, people are getting oriented in a way that is
conversant to them.
With the second approach where nature is taken as a valuable instrument, that can be
used to the advantage of residence. Nature can be transformed into a home with distinct cultures
and identities of their own. This creates a sense of personal touch to the environment following
the modifications that further result in difficulties in people's migration in an event of a fire.

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT 5
Also, people with such beliefs are more concerned with their properties instead of putting first
the environmental wellbeing. With nature as an instrument, it is not wrong to conclude that
people have the freedom and right to feel attached to their individual belongings, but the need for
education on the importance of fire mitigation efforts is needed to help sustain their
communities. This is done through a series of seminars and workshops about the topic of forest
fire and its effects on the social setting where people reside (Portier et al., 2016). Third, and the
last perception that views nature as the intrinsic value that holds to it that nature should operate
with less interference in either whatever way. This the most environmentally friendly approach
even though it is considered to be more extremist, considering that human beings need to modify
their environment at the expense of their community by keeping it safe. Seemingly, we are
expected to protect and control the nature that surrounds us following the creations of the man
today. This is majorly done through educating groups of people that hold to this belief by
printing several brochures, flyers, leaflets inform the general public of Kelowna on the
importance of preserving the natural environment (Simms, 2016).
In conclusion, with the help of the three approaches, one can educate the larger public on
the need for conserving nature for it is of greater good to mankind.
Question two
In an essay of approximately 750 words (~3 pages double-spaced), discuss which one of the
six, in your opinion, has the greatest influence on land use decision making. (20 marks)
From the six topics given, in my opinion, the topic with the greatest influence on land use
decision making is the one talking on how ‘the people in power can distorted mental
maps/image’. Since democracy empowers a few representatives of the larger group or population

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT 6
of people on issues, I decided to choose the topic to show clearly how the political class,
celebrities, and sportsmen and women hold or influence the final say on land use decision
makings within the social setup (Ziccardi et al., 2020). Mostly politicians who are elected do
hold onto a lot of power as they are likely to influence the public. In the parliaments or senate
chambers, politicians deliberate on matters of national interest such as land use and pass
legislation that the larger public has to correspond to. And by any chance these people become a
little corrupt, they can cause serious disorder to the world system of doing things. They always
hold onto the power of distorted mental image/map on land use decision making since they are
only fighting for greatness and fame.
In the case of minerals mines in countries such as Congo, Kuwait, Iran, and Kenya
among others greatly influence land use. The mining sites are extremely ugly and hazardous to
the environment. To obtain the minerals, holes, and wells are dug on to the land destroying the
natural land beauty that serves as habitat to the wild animals and plantations (Oliveira, Delerue-
Matos, Pereira, & Morais, 2020). Animals are driven away from their natural habitats to create
space for mining endangering their lives as well causing imbalance into the ecosystem, for
example, the conflicting mine of Congo endangers the wildlife species in the area. Those
working in the mines dug pits and holes that are hazardous to the animals that get stuck into
those wells hence deaths. Regardless of all these, people in power are corrupt such that instead of
fighting to protect our mother nature, they fight to own the mining sites and illegal selling of
products for financial gains. Congo for long has witnessed cases of corruption, proxy wars staged
by different countries within its land risking the ecosystem. Additionally, most politicians from
the third world countries can withstand the distorted images at the expense of Mother Nature in
the name of trying to looking for direct investments into their countries.

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT 7
On contrast, those in power are also capable of portraying positive influence about land
use. This is influenced by their decisions on matters torching onto nature. For example, Prof.
Wangari Mathai from Kenya won a noble peace price following her strong stand on the
preservation of the natural environment. She developed a slogan that challenges people to plant
at list two trees whenever they cut one for prosperity. Likewise, Angela Merkel of Germany was
known for her being an activist for speaking out on matters to do with climate change. The
former chancellor managed to rise into position German Environment Minister in 1994 where
her greatest achievement was enforcing her country into moving away from the use of coal and
oil (Vidal, Adam, Watts, Hickman & Sample, 2008). From her understanding, she continuously
appealed to people on taking matters to do with climate change with a lot of seriousness and
commitments to help conserver the environment. The two women appear contrary to the most
leaders of the world who influence their generation negatively.
For the case of a sport person, even if they don’t have the final say on matters within their
countries, they can still be of great impotence to nature by influencing the public positively.
They tend to use their influence differently from law enforcers since they only use social media
such as Facebook, histogram, twitter accounts to convince people in changing their thoughts and
ideas on matters to do with nature. For instance, some of world greatest Sportsmen and women
such as Bekele, Makelele, Eliud kipchoge, have been ambassadors of the ecosystem as they
move across the world trying to sensitize peoples, authorities against poaching of some of the
world animal species that are endangered such as Lions, Elephants, Rhinos among others that are
predicted to extinct in coming hundred years in no positive measures are put in place to help
conserve them. Also, some of the sportsmen have raised into the leadership position. For

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT 8
instance, George Weah being elected the president of Liberia, showing how influential they can
be in influencing the general public.
In conclusion, considering the masses that are commanded by people in power, it is clear
that they are integral when it comes to influencing land-use decision making. Times this appears
contrary when they have distorted mental images or maps instigating in the natural ecosystem.
Question 3:
For this question, you will need the help of at least ten people. You will only need each
person’s help for about five minutes, so you should be able to persuade friends or people
you know to help you. If you cannot come up with ten people, get as many as you can. They
are going to help you explore the realm of environmental preferences that we discussed in
the unit
Step 4:
Calculate, and present in two tables, the data from above. The first table presents the
results from participants about their most to least desirable places to live (Step 2), (5
marks)
Lois
e
andre
w
joh
n
wyn
ne
rahe
m
sterlli
ng
vig
it
luk
e
mar
k
mathe
w
Tot
al
Greater
Vancou
ver
2 1 1 1 2 1 1 6 1 1 16
Greater
Victoria
2 5 2 2 1 6 3 3 2 4 30
The
Okanaga
n Valley
2 4 2 6 6 6 2 6 1 4 73
The rest
of
Vancou
ver
Island
6 10 4 5 4 3 4 3 4 3 46

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT 9
Kamloo
ps
8 5 2 3 3 5 7 3 8 6 50
The
Fraser
Valley
6 3 8 7 7 4 4 5 6 9 59
The
Sunshin
e Coast
8 5 5 6 8 5 9 8 9 10 60
The
Kootena
ys
8 7 7 5 8 5 9 7 7 7 70
The
central
Interior
8 9 12 12 9 12 8 6 8 10 95
1The
Peace
River
District
12 6 9 10 9 11 10 11 11 9 98
The
Northwe
st
10 10 9 12 12 11 10 10 10 11 105
The
North
11 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 12 12 116

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT 10
The second table presents the results from Step 3, when you asked the respondents to
indicate how well they know each place: (5 marks)
Step 5:
Write answers for each of the following questions:
A. What areas are ranked by the entire group as being the four most preferable regions in
which to live? (Identify these areas clearly.).

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT 11
From my survey, the four most desirable areas to reside in are The Okanagan valley,
Greater Vancouver, Greater Victoria and lastly Vancouver Island. These are prompted by the
fact that these areas are well known to the people undertaking the survey. The listed areas are
those that the participants have been or have heard of enough to have a good sense of what they
look like as well as how it may look when one lives there. From the survey, it is logical to
conclude that people are most people who prefer to be living along with the coastal, temperate
climate as opposed to the areas that are fir north and experiencing severe weather.
Also, the places with a high population’s representations are those that are having a long-
lasting history of tourist attraction, for instance, the Vancouver city. Everyone who took part in
the survey is those who live in Vancouver living them with no choice but to press their home
town as triggered by the sense of place. It is true to say that when one recites in an area for a
wide long period, they develop a strong emotional connection to the region hence taking them as
home (William & Michael, 2016). Considering this explanation it is clear for one to prefer
mostly the places where they are well familiar with, to be their areas of preference when faced
with the opportunity to choose. The people have their entire lives dependent on this city as their
families place friends largely resides there living them with no choice but to prefer being closer
to them. Furthermore, the majority of the people I managed to interview were of the working
class bringing me to the conclusion that even the working conditions in Vancouver city are
preferable compared to the other following their responses.
B. Does the pattern of preferences shown by your respondents surprise you? If so,
how? Why did the pattern surprise you? If not, why not? Would you have expressed the
same preferences? (10 marks)

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT 12
The majority of respondents preferring Vancouver and Victoria areas, and this did not have me
with a lot of surprise following that I had pre-empted such responses since most of my
participants live around those places and are having more intent about the two places. On the
other hand, what did surprise me was the fact that a majority of people preferred to reside in the
interior areas which are not the case with me as an individual. I would prefer the coastal areas
since they experience warm weather that allows you to experience the feeling that comes with
sunbath. Even though when it comes to working conditions, I would proudly prefer Vancouver
as well as Victoria over the coastal areas as driven by my underlying conditions of these areas
that are favorable compared to those of the Northern regions.
C. Is there any relationship between the respondents’ preferences for regions and their
familiarity with those regions? Use a graphic or tabular way to show if there is such a
relationship. (10 marks)

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT 13
In analyzing the above graph, I am prompted to conclude that people do prefer residing in
areas that they have a greater understanding of (Victoria and Vancouver) at the expense of those
areas that they have little knowledge about ( the North).

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT 14
References
Abrams, J., Nielsen-Pincus, M., Paveglio, T., & Moseley, C. (2016). Community wildfire
protection planning in the American West: homogeneity within diversity?. Journal of
Environmental Planning and Management, 59(3), 557-572.
Berry, F., Deaton, L., & Steinberg, M. (2016). Firewise: the value of voluntary action and
standard approaches to reducing wildfire risk. Ariz. St. LJ, 48, 181.
Bratu, I. (2016). Using GIS for sustainable forest management in Rasinari district, Sibiu County,
Romania. International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference: SGEM: Surveying
Geology & mining Ecology Management, 3, 615-622.
Goemans, M., & Ballamingie, P. (2012). Forest as hazard, forest as victim: Community
perspectives and disaster mitigation in the aftermath of Kelowna's 2003 wildfires. The
Canadian Geographer / Le Géographe Canadien, 57(1), 56-71. doi: 10.1111/j.1541-
0064.2012.00447.x
Griffin, L. (2018). Environmental Impacts of Oil Extraction. Retrieved from
https://sciencing.com/list-7459738-environmental-impacts-oil-extraction.html
Jean, S. A., Pinno, B. D., & Nielsen, S. E. (2020). Early Regeneration Dynamics of Pure Black
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Oliveira, M., Delerue-Matos, C., Pereira, M. C., & Morais, S. (2020). Environmental Particulate
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Portugal: A Public Health Concern?. International Journal of Environmental Research
and Public Health, 17(3), 1032.

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT 15
Portier, J., Gauthier, S., Leduc, A., Arseneault, D., & Bergeron, Y. (2016). Fire regime along
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