Chapter 1 Where is your greatest interaction with the environment? –What should you know about that interaction?

Chapter 1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Interdisciplinary area of study Interdisciplinary area of study Applied and theoretical aspects of human impacts on our world Applied and theoretical aspects of human impacts on our world

Chapter 1 INTERRELATED NATURE –ECOLOGY –CONSERVATION –GEOGRAPHY –CHEMISTRY –ENGINEERING –SOCIOLOGY –ECONOMICS –POLITICAL SCIENCE = INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE VERSUS POLICY

Chapter 1 IMPACTS ARE CONNECTED ECOSYSTEM A REGION WHERE BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC FACTORS INTERACT AS A “UNIT” BOUNDARIES ARE OFTEN FUZZY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT TYPICALLY COMPLETELY ALTERS ECOSYSTEMS

Chapter 1 ECOSYSTEMS  REGIONS Multiple ecosystems in a region Each region has unique set of relevant issues What are our priorities/problems?

Chapter 1 WILDERNESS NORTH MINIMAL HUMAN INFLUENCES MUCH LAND OWNED BY GOVERNMENTS, NOT INDIVIDUALS HARSH WINTERS  SENSITIVE TO IMPACTS NATIVE PEOPLES’ RIGHTS (FROM PREVIOUSLY SIGNED TREATIES)

Chapter 1 AGRICULTURAL MIDDLE INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE HAS REPLACED NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS (SOME PRESERVED FRAGMENTS) MOST LAND PRIVATELY OWNED TYPICAL PROBLEMS: –NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION –FUGITIVE DUST EMISSIONS –SOIL EROSION –EUTROPHICATION –PESTICIDE CONTAMINATION

Chapter 1 DRY WEST FEW CROPS, BUT RANCHING POSSIBLE MUCH GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP AND INCENTIVES TO USE LANDS WATER IS VERY VALUABLE, BUT PROBLEMS ARISE WHEN USED FOR IRRIGATION LOW HUMAN POPULATION DENSITY WILDERNESS CHARACTER

Chapter 1 FORESTED WEST CONIFEROUS FORESTS DOMINATE LITTLE FARMING, SOME GRAZING GOVERNMENT AND TIMBER INDUSTRY OWNERSHIP HARVESTING AT LESS THAN PRODUCTION COSTS JOBS VERSUS ECOSYSTEM

Chapter 1 GREAT LAKES & INDUSTRIAL NORTH EAST LARGE METROPOLITAN AREAS –SMALLER TOWNS, FARMS AND FORESTS INTERSPERSED LARGE SHIP TRANSPORTATION COMPONENT TOXIC WASTES IN WATER  BIOACCUMULATION HIGH RECREATIONAL VALUE OF WTR RESOURCES LIMITED OPEN SPACE

Chapter 1 DIVERSE SOUTH SIMILARITIES TO ALL OTHER REGIONS RAPID HUMAN POPULATION GROWTH POVERTY GULF COAST DEVELOPMENT

Chapter 1 ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION MAKING NOT EVERYONE IS BENEFITED OR HARMED IN THE SAME WAY PERCEPTIONS DIFFER ECONOMIC IMPACTS REGULATIONS PROTECT OR HINDER USE OF RESOURCES

Chapter 1 ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION MAKING HUMAN VERSUS NON-HUMAN SPECIES CHANGE FOR STATUS-QUO  COMPROMISE