International Education: Five years, four faculty, 60 undergrads and almost three quarters of a million dollars … Presented by: Dr. Roberta Soltz Invited Speaker – Shippensburg University International Education Week 2009
Ph.D. Biology, 1982 20-year career in water resource management, adjunct faculty biology Currently, flood control project manager in Bloomsburg, PA where Dave serves as President, BU Primary interests: sustainable practices, WRM, biodiversity International, interdisciplinary, interesting
Objective: Train undergraduates how to undertake social science research in China while exploring the impact of China’s rapid economic development on its environment and water resources Award funded at $342,000, (2003 cancelled, SARS). 47 students Award funded at $404,000,
Perspective: History, sociology, economics & environment: US and Chinese counterparts. Student/faculty ratio: 4 to 1 Domestic/international venues: 4 weeks each Outcome: 4 papers, presentations, publications (+) Evolution: Governmental/private activities towards sustainability along southeast coast to beleaguered northwest
There is agreement that we should live within the earth’s means to support us and that sustainable development is possible Volumes of “best-practices” have been published Notwithstanding, there are world-wide crises in water & air quality, desertification & soil loss We have failed individually and institutionally to live in a sustainable manner
Per capita water/land availability 1/3 world average One of the world’s most fragile dry-land ecosystems*: Loess Plateau Focus of Great Northwest Development Strategy (March 1999) * China contains more than twice as much than any other single country and about half of it is already seriously degraded
640,000 km 2 90 million people Average annual income < ½ national average Population politically and economically marginalized Loses 1.6 billion tons of soil/year – one of the most erosive climates in the world 25% particulates in LA can be traced to China
Severe deforestation and erosion on the Loess/Tibetan Plateau…w/ severe water quality problems downstream (sedimentation and flooding) Loss of prime agricultural land Degraded biodiversity
Use of headwaters as wastewater conveyance Poor understanding/appreciation watershed function 2000 years of intense cultivation in lowlands by Salar minority people Pastoral activity by Tibetans on fragile soil at higher elevations
Decreasing diversity of cultivated crops at both high and low elevation Decreasing diversity in biological communities with related erosion natural function of watersheds Incremental loss of farmland downstream Incremental loss of small farms in favor of larger operations owned by individuals or groups of individuals not in touch with the land
Identify and preserve existing, high quality stands of natural vegetation Flood control for agricultural areas downstream Impose reasonable fees for water, pesticides and fertilizer Identify significant watersheds and protect topsoil Rebuild damaged habitats, especially grasslands Promote ecosystem management research and education and train professionals to help solve problems
Baba Dioum 1968 In the end, we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.