1 Understanding Our Environment

2 Outline Introduction Historical Perspective  Pragmatic Resource Conservation  Moral and Aesthetic Nature Conservation  Modern Environmentalism  Global Conservation Current Conditions A Divided World Sustainable Development

3 Introduction Humans have always inhabited both the natural world and the social world. Environment:  Circumstances or conditions that surround an organism or groups of organisms.  The complex of social or cultural conditions that affect an individual or community.

4 Introduction Environmental Science: Systematic study of our environment, and our proper place in it.  Interdisciplinary  Integrative - Natural Sciences - Social Sciences - Humanities  Mission Oriented

5 Environmental Science

6 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Four Distinct Stages  Pragmatic Resource Conservation  Moral and Aesthetic Nature Preservation  Health and Ecological Damage Concerns  Global Environmental Citizenship

7 Pragmatic Resource Conservation George Perkins Marsh - Man and Nature - Influenced Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot.  Pragmatic Utilitarian Conservation  “Greatest good for the greatest number for the longest time”  Multiple Use Policies of USFS.

8 Moral and Aesthetic Nature Preservation John Muir - President Sierra Club  Nature deserves to exist for its own sake - regardless of degree of usefulness to humans. (Biocentric Preservation)

9 Modern Environmentalism Industrial explosion of WW II added new concerns to the environmental agenda.  Rachel Carson - Silent Spring (1962) Environmental Agenda expanded in 1960’s and 70’s to include:  Atomic Weapons Testing  Fossil Fuel Issues  Air and Water Pollution  Wilderness Protection

10 Global Concerns Increased technology has greatly expanded international communications.  Daily events now reported worldwide instead of locally or regionally. - Global Environmentalism

11 CURRENT CONDITIONS Human Population > 6 Billion.  Food shortages and famines exist in many densely populated areas.  Water Quantity and Quality Issues  Fossil Fuel Burning - Air and Water Pollution  Landscape Destruction - Loss of Biodiversity

12 Signs of Hope Progress has been made on many fronts.  Population has stabilized in many industrialized countries.  Incidence of life-threatening diseases has been reduced in some countries.  Average life expectancy nearly doubled.

13 RICH / POOR: A DIVIDED WORLD Poor countries tend to be located in Southern Hemisphere. World Bank estimates1.4 billion people live in acute poverty of < $1 (U.S.) per day.  Daily survival necessitates over-harvesting resources thus degrading chances of long- term sustainability.  Poor are often victims and agents of environmental degradation.

14 RICH / POOR: A DIVIDED WORLD Wealthy countries tend to be located in the Northern Hemisphere. About 1/5 of world population live in countries with per capita income > $25, (U.S.).  Poor people exist here as well. Gap between rich and poor continues to increase.  Wealthiest 200 people in the world have combined wealth of $1 trillion - more than total wealth of poorest half (3 billion) of the world’s population.

15 Human Development United Nations releases Human Development Index (HDI). Based on social factors - ranges from  Aggregate numbers hide many important inequity issues: - Gender - Race

16 A Fair Share of Resources Affluent lifestyles of richer countries consume inordinate share of natural resources and produces high proportion of pollutants.  Takes approximately 450 kg to get an average American through the day.  US annually throws away 160 million tons of garbage.

17 Economic Progress Over the past 50 years, the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)increased from $2 Trillion to $22 Trillion. Since WW II, average real income in developing countries has doubled. BUT General welfare has increased. Worldwide gap between rich and poor has widened.

18 Sustainable Development “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”  Benefits must be available to all humans, not just sub-set of privileged group.

19 Sustainable Development  Many economists see continual economic growth as essential in providing more resources to more people.  Most ecologists view continual growth as impossible in the long-run due to non- renewable resources and limited ecological waste-disposal capabilities.

20 20 : 20 Compact 1995 United Nations Summit for Social Development called all nations to ensure basic needs for everyone.  20:20 Compact - Wealthy countries contribute 20% of aid to humanitarian concerns and social development. - Developing countries contribute 20% of budget to human primary concerns.

21 Indigenous People Indigenous (native) people are often least powerful, most neglected people in the world.  At least half the world’s 6,000 distinct languages are dying.  Indigenous homelands may harbor vast percentage of world’s biodiversity.  Recognizing native land rights and political rights may often be a solid ecological safeguard.

22 Summary Introduction Historical Perspective  Pragmatic Resource Conservation  Moral and Aesthetic Nature Conservation  Modern Environmentalism  Global Conservation Current Conditions A Divided World Sustainable Development

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