Sustainability Chapter 6 Sustainability: using natural resources at a rate that does not deplete them

What impacts are humans having on the biosphere (Earth)?  Deforestation –Results from loss of trees for burning (fuel), building homes, clearing for farmland –Leads to severe erosion (loss of soil) –Permanent changes to ecosystems

 Overfishing –Harvesting fish faster than they can be replaced –Results in collapse of food chains, species extinction

 Pollution –Air pollution affects those with respiratory issues (smog)  Results from car emissions and burning of fossil fuels –Water pollution  Chemicals, waste and sewage enter waterways  Effects aquatic ecosystems and organisms  Limits access to clean drinking water

 Species Extinction –Species loss due to pollution, habitat destruction, poaching  Invasive Species –An introduced species that is not native to a particular area –Causes disruption in ecosystem food chains and habitats

 Waste Production –Thousands of tons of trash dumped into landfills each year –Most is non- biodegradable or contains potentially harmful or toxic chemicals

How do we measure our impact?  Ecological Footprint: the productive area of land needed to support one person in a particular country –Food, housing, crops, grazing, forest area to absorb pollution

Personal Ecological Footprint  Calculate your personal footprint using the worksheet –Average is acres per person in the US  Draw the size of your footprint on a separate sheet of paper (1 acre = 1 cm) –Include your name and size of footprint –Color!  Look at your calculations…what might you do to reduce your footprint? –Write your answer on the back of your drawn footprint