Chapter 2 Environmental History

Early Hunter-Gather Societies Lived in small nomadic bands of fewer than 50 people ◦Average lifespan: years ◦Population grew slowly Survived by knowing: ◦Which plants and animals to eat or use for medicines ◦Where to find water ◦How availability changed with time ◦How animals migrated Very low environmental impact

Advanced Hunter-Gather Societies Greater environmental impact ◦Advanced tool use and fire to convert forests ◦Extinction of some large animals ◦Altered distribution of plants and animals Impact was localized ◦Small population, slow growth ◦Low resource use per person ◦Migration, allowed nature to repair damage ◦Lack of technology, kept expansion low

Agricultural Revolution Shift from hunter-gather groups to settled agricultural communities ◦Domestication of wild animals ◦Growing plants from roots Slash-and-burn cultivation ◦Cut down trees and vegetation, burn underbrush in small patches ◦Ashes fertilize soil Shifting cultivation ◦Plot used for several years, soil depleted of nutrients ◦Clear new plot, let abandoned patch grow back in for years

Agricultural Revolution Fairly low environmental impact ◦Human muscle power and stone-stick tools allowed only for small plot cultivation ◦Low population and growth ◦Allowed land to restore resources Some consequences ◦Destruction of habitats; extinction ◦Soil erosion, desert formation ◦Production of material goods lead to pollution ◦Conflict; communities fight over property

Industrial Revolution Began in England in mid-1700s, spread to US in the 1800s Rapid expansion in production, trade, distribution of material goods

Industrial Revolution Shifts in ◦Energy: use of renewable wood to nonrenewable fossil fuel (coal, oil, natural gas) ◦Products: local, handmade to large-scale, machine-made goods ◦Population: rural farms to towns/cities with factories or mines  Fuel-powered farming equipment = fewer farmers  More reliable food supply = longer life spans

Advanced Industrial Societies Consequences ◦Mass production of useful products ◦Increase in agricultural productivity ◦Lower infant mortality, longer life expectancy ◦Methods for controlling pollution ◦Resource and environmental problems Do you believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? Explain

Aldo Leopold Who is Aldo Leopold? ◦Master’s degree in forestry from Yale University ◦1933, professor at the University of Wisconsin  Founded game management program  1935: founder of Wilderness Society Land ethics: Humans have a responsibility to preserve wild nature Wrote the famous book A Sand County Almanac

Information/Globalization Revolution Benefits of new shift ◦New technologies allow rapid access to info on a global scale  Scientific info doubles ~every 12 years  General info doubles ~every 2.5 years ◦Increased monitoring of resources ◦Quick response to environmental problems ◦Computer imaging maps of earth/environments

Information/Globalization Revolution Negatives of new shift ◦Information overload ◦Confusion, distraction, hopelessness ◦Increased degradation ◦Decrease in cultural diversity