The Tragedy of the Commons (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Flashcards
0Still learning
Know0
Define tragedy of the commons.
Was this flashcard helpful?
Cards in this collection (14)
Define tragedy of the commons.
The tragedy of the commons is the overuse and depletion of a shared resource by individuals in a community.
Why do individuals overuse a shared resource in the tragedy of the commons?
Individuals act in their own self-interest, using as much as possible to maximize personal gain rather than considering the common good.
Using a shared resource for personal gain rather than the common good reflects an view.
Using a shared resource for personal gain rather than the common good reflects an anthropocentric view.
What is the long-term consequence of the tragedy of the commons?
The resource becomes degraded or completely exhausted, making it unavailable for future use and harming everyone.
True or False?
The tragedy of the commons only applies to the overharvesting of a natural resource.
False.
It also applies to the contamination and degradation of ecosystems by humans, such as plastic pollution in ocean gyres.
Define overexploitation.
Overexploitation is when humans use natural resources faster than they can be replenished, causing resource depletion.
How can the tragedy of the commons weaken ecosystem resilience?
It causes the loss of habitats, species and genetic diversity, which weakens ecosystem resilience and threatens biodiversity.
What caused the decline of cod stocks on the Grand Banks, Canada?
Cod stocks declined due to intensive fishing by local and international fleets using advanced fishing technologies, with no effective regulation.
True or False?
Cod stocks on the Grand Banks have fully recovered since moratoriums on cod fishing.
False.
Cod stocks are recovering slowly and are still a long way below historical levels.
How do ocean plastics enter the food chain?
Plastics break down into microplastics, which enter the food chain.
How can governments prevent the tragedy of the commons?
Governments can impose quotas or restrictions on resource use, such as fishing limits or carbon taxes.
Assigning ownership of a resource to encourage responsible management is called .
Assigning ownership of a resource to encourage responsible management is called privatization.
How can local communities prevent the tragedy of the commons?
Local communities can self-regulate shared resources through collective agreements.
Which program gives financial incentives to limit carbon emissions?
Cap-and-trade programs provide financial incentives to limit carbon emissions.
Sign up to unlock flashcards
or