Chapter 1 – Environment, Sustainability, and Science

Chapter 1 Outline Environmental Trends What is Sustainability? Ecosystems Concept –Factors and processes that make up the environment Four Principles of Ecosystem Organization and Function Sustainable Human Interactions with Ecosystems The Nature of Science –A process and way of thinking –A body of knowledge The Emerging Field of Sustainability Science

1.1 Environment and Sustainability The environment –Physical, chemical, and biological factors Environmental science –Studies all aspects of the environment –Ecology One of the disciplines in environmental science Studies abundance and distribution of organisms

1.1 Environment and Sustainability Sustainable actions –Idea has changed over time Environmental resources seen as endless 150 years ago Now resources are limited and need management

1.1 Environment and Sustainability Managing resources –Resources dwindled, behaviors changed Scientific studies increased –New knowledge led to management Forestry–replanted Fisheries–catch limits, stocking lakes

1.1 Environment and Sustainability Conflict for resources –1950s: 152 million people in the United States –Housing boom in United States created demand for timber from national forests –Forests also maintained watersheds, wildlife and recreational uses

1.1 Environment and Sustainability Policies addressed conflicts about use –Commercial interests, clean water, conservation of species often in conflict –Goal: maintain human well-being Basic needs (food, shelter) Good health Social stability Personal freedom

1.1 Environment and Sustainability Sustainability–maintaining the ability to accommodate three important sources of change –The world is changing Environments are under constant change –We are changing Technology changes our needs for ecosystems services –We are changing the world Human impacts alter the environment

1.1 Environment and Sustainability Sustainability –Meeting the needs of the present in an equitable and fair fashion without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

1.2 Ecosystems Ecosystems –All the organisms, and their physical and chemical environments –Biota–living organisms Plants, animals, bacteria, etc. –Abiotic–nonliving elements of the environment Water, temperature, minerals, etc.

1.2 Ecosystems Ecosystems are integrated systems –Integrated system of living and nonliving parts and processes Bacteria convert nitrogen so plants may use –Energy and matter must flow in and out of the system Water cycle, carbon cycle, etc.

1.2 Ecosystems Ecosystems defined at scales –Rotting log vs. forests vs. continent Ecosystems described and studied in absence of humans –Systems behave differently with humans

1.2 Ecosystems Ecosystems provide humans with many services –Provisioning services –Regulating services –Cultural services –Supporting services

Ecosystem Services Provisioning: food, water, fiber, etc. Regulating: climate, water flows, disease Cultural: aesthetic beauty, recreation Supporting: soil formation, pollination, nutrient cycles Human Well-Being Basic materials for a good life Health Good social relations Security Freedom of choice and action Change Drivers Land use Species introductions and removals Technology: dams, roads, cities Altered inputs: pollution, irrigation Resource consumption Climate change Natural processes: fire, volcanoes, evolution

1.2 Ecosystems Provisioning services –Supply us with resources Food, water, air –Humans can modify to increase services Changing grassland to cornfields –Corn provides for humans –Field now supports fewer species

1.2 Ecosystems Regulating services –Controls important conditions/services Climate Flow of water Absorption of pollutants

1.2 Ecosystems Cultural services –Spiritual and recreational benefits Hiking, other outdoor activities Ecotourism Holy sites

1.2 Ecosystems Supporting services –Basic ecosystem processes Nutrient cycles Soil formation Pollination

1.3 Principles of Ecosystem Function Matter and energy are neither created nor destroyed Ecosystems are open to gains and losses of energy and matter Ecosystem processes are self-regulated Ecosystem change is essential and inevitable

1.3 Principles of Ecosystem Function Energy and matter can be neither created nor destroyed –Something cannot be created from nothing Law of energy and mass conservation –Everything goes somewhere

1.3 Principles of Ecosystem Function Ecosystems are open Matter and energy flow influence function –Interactions and context of ecosystems important Surrounding ecosystems may influence others

1.3 Principles of Ecosystem Function Processes regulated by biotic and abiotic factors –Dynamic homeostasis Systems adjust to reduce change from normal –Negative feedback System reverses a directional change –Positive feedback System reinforces change

1.3 Principles of Ecosystem Function Change, inevitable and essential –Ecosystems constantly change Response to external/internal actions Seasonal –Temperature, moisture Disturbances –Storms, floods, fires

1.4 Acting Sustainably Well-being of present and future humans dependent on acting sustainably –Understanding of ecosystems essential –Actions must not disrupt functions of ecosystems

1.4 Acting Sustainably Managing resources Sustainable actions must conform to law of mass and energy conservation –Use of nonrenewables violates that law Nonrenewable–if the amount of the resource in an ecosystem declines with any level of use

1.4 Acting Sustainably Understanding boundaries –Boundaries cannot be arbitrary State lines –Boundaries must be functional River including watershed Maintain balance and integration –Actions must incorporate complexity of ecosystems

1.4 Acting Sustainably Embracing change –Must not ignore change or interfere with capacity to change –Avoid changing tempo of natural change –Copy nature –Look for thresholds of change

1.5 Uncertainty, Science, and Systems Thinking Sources of uncertainty –Ignorance We do not know enough –Complexity We do not understand how the parts work together

Reducing uncertainty with science –Scientific thinking: systematic questioning –Hypothesis–testable explanations Falsifiable–could be proven wrong –Replication and peer review –After consensus–still can be proven wrong New technology Interpretation 1.5 Uncertainty, Science, and Systems Thinking

Systems thinking –Recognizes the connections of parts in system –More important to know how system works –Individual parts important, system function more so 1.5 Uncertainty, Science, and Systems Thinking

Sustainability science –Studies ecosystem–social systems connection –Long-term trends –Ecosystem–social system stability 1.6 Sustainability science

Thresholds of change –Ecosystems can take range of change –Beyond range, system changes to new structure Human incentives –Incentives were local –Globalization has made incentives difficult to see 1.6 Sustainability science

Monitoring progress –Indicators needed for monitoring ecosystems –Protocols for actions to take at thresholds needed Integrating learning and action –Environmental science is interdisciplinary –Effective communication needed 1.6 Sustainability science