UNDERSTANDING ECOSYSTEMS DYNAMICS AS A BASIS TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE HUMAN ENTERPRISES Rodrigo tarté The City of Knowledge Foundation

Three issues: 1. The need to understand ecosystems dynamics in order to understand and increase our commitment to overall sustainability 2.Business sustainability and overall sustainability: an interdependent relationship 3.A mechanism to develop and transfer ecosystemic-based knowledge

1.UNDERSTANDING ECOSYSTEMS DYNAMICS - multiple interactions - complex environments

COMPLEXITY OF INTERACTIONS WITHIN AN ECOSYSTEM Species People, Energy, Inputs, Goods Light Water Gases CO 2 Nutrients Agriculture and Weeds Natural Vegetation Biomass Diversity ? Litter ? People and Enterprises Soil Organics Micro- Organisms Resource Losses and Contaminating Wastes USED ENERGY ?

SIMULATION OF INTERACTIONS IN THE PANAMA CANAL WATERSHED SIMULATION OF INTERACTIONS IN THE PANAMA CANAL WATERSHED TOXICITY TO AQUATIC FAUNA LAKE CONTAMINATION TOXICITY TO MARINE FLORA AND FAUNA MARINE CONTAMINATION INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY ( wastes, spills) 2 2 DEFORESTATION (land degradation) ) 3 3 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY (pesticides) DANGER OF FLOODS LOW WATER RESERVE 2 2 EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION TOXICITY TO HUMANS GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION INCREMENT OF PLAGUES 3 3 ALTERATION OF BIOLOGICAL BALANCE WATER GASES INPUTS SPECIES ENERGY LIGHT PEOPLE GOODSANDSERVICES

ECOSYSTEM DYNAMICS AND ENTERPRISES BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ENTERPRISE

ECOSYSTEMS DYNAMICS AND ENTERPRISES BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ENTERPRISE

2. BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY AND OVERALL SUSTAINABILITY: AN INTERDEPENDENT RELATIONSHIP

1.Businesses are parts of complex economic networks ruled by principles similar to those of ecosystems dynamics 2.Overall sustainability is affected by, and affects, every human enterprise WHY?

Therefore, we need to consider four different aspects in relation to sustainability and businesses: 1.The new opportunities offered by the sustainable use of resources and services from the biophysical environment 2.The ever increasing need, along with opportunities, involved in the development of clean and environmentally friendly business 3.The importance of the application of principles of ecosystems dynamics to business sustainability and overall sustainability 4.The ethical commitment of all human enterprises to contribute to overall sustainability

3.A MECHANISM TO DEVELOP AND TRANSFER ECOSYSTEMIC-BASED KNOWLEDGE

The mechanism is intended to deal with: THE COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESSES AND ENTERPRISES

MARINE AND COASTAL RESOURCES WATER RESOURCES ATMOSPHERIC GASES NON RENEWABLE RESOURCES NATURAL ENERGY CLIMATE LAND RESOURCES NATURAL FORESTS ECOSYSTEM SERVICES BIODIVERSITY SOCIAL BEHAVIOR HEALTH BELIEFS AND VALUES INCOME LIFE QUALITY EQUITY GOVER- NANCE VULNERA- BILITY SECURITY HUMAN RESOURCES MINING CO MMUNI- CA TIONS FORESTRY INDUSTRY TRANS- PORT MARKETS AGRI- CULTURE TOURISM SERVICES FISHERIES ENTERPRISE INTEGRATED INFORMATION SYSTEMS INTEGRATED EDUCATION ETHICS INTEGRATED RESEARCH INTEGRATED POLICIES SOCIAL environment ECONOMIC environment BIOPHYSICAL environment

Panama Center for Sustainable Development An international partnership initiative to develop an ecosystemic know,edge management model for the tropics

Panama Center for Sustainable Development More than 55 international, regional, and local organizations and networks will join efforts. An integrated information, research, and education approach to Ecosystem Management and Sustainable Development.

Panama Center for Sustainable Development The Center is being established at the City of Knowledge, a multi-institutional complex for research, education, technology, and human development, located in a former US military base between the Panama Canal and a National Park

The City of Knowledge and the Panama Canal Watershed constitute ideal institutional and physical scenarios: The City of Knowledge provides high technology facilities and a capacity to establish multiple strategic alliances The Panama Canal Watershed is a natural showcase and living laboratory for ecosystem research and education.

THE PANAMA CANAL WATERSHED A living laboratory More than 500,000 hectares Diversity of natural resources (lakes, rivers, coastal areas, natural forests, high diversity, etc.) Abundant water resources Diversity of land uses (commercial and subsistence agriculture and livestock, fishing, tourism, industries, national parks, navigation, ports, urban areas, etc.) Ethnic and cultural diversity Land use plan approved by law in 1997

The Panama Canal Watershed Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean

The Panama Center for Sustainable Development offers an opportunity to: Integrate multiple disciplines, sciences and organizations in research, education, and management of information systems within an ecosystem’s approach Integrate the economic, social, and biophysical dimensions of sustainable development in all knowledge management processes Provide decision makers at all levels with the relevant knowledge required to undertake sustainable development activities