Chapter 13 Achieving our Preferred Future Environment

Defining the “Perfect” Environment A preferred environment means many different things to many different people A preferred environment means many different things to many different people Whatever we choose as our ideal environment we need Whatever we choose as our ideal environment we need work toward maintaining diversity maintaining diversity and protecting our natural world

Defining the “Perfect” Environment Sustainable development Sustainable development Ecosystem management Ecosystem management Adaptive management Adaptive management Use these paradigms to retain intricate ecosystem complexity and “life on earth” Use these paradigms to retain intricate ecosystem complexity and “life on earth”

You are Brilliant and the Earth is Hiring Paul Hawken, 2009 commencement speech Paul Hawken, 2009 commencement speech Do what needs Do what needs to be done What point is What point is Hawken making about the stars?

Sustainable Ecosystem Management A frame work of action is needed A frame work of action is needed Most of the issues and problems in the world are human based Most of the issues and problems in the world are human based The solutions and strategies are established through human ingenuity The solutions and strategies are established through human ingenuity Earth is resilient Earth is resilient We have the ability needed to act We have the ability needed to act

Sustainable Ecosystem Management Humans take part in the decisions Humans take part in the decisions Collective decision making strategy Collective decision making strategy An approach that meets goals for society and the biotic community and their abiotic components An approach that meets goals for society and the biotic community and their abiotic components Takes into account economic, social and environmental requirements Takes into account economic, social and environmental requirements

Defining and Creating our Preferred Environment Sustainable development Sustainable development Economic growth Economic growth Meets needs without compromising future generations ability to meet their needs Meets needs without compromising future generations ability to meet their needs Environmental sustainability Environmental sustainability Considers economic, social and environmental considerations Considers economic, social and environmental considerations

Defining and Creating our Preferred Environment

Ecosystem Management Ecosystem Management economic, environmental or ecological, and social considerations in environmental decision making economic, environmental or ecological, and social considerations in environmental decision making Ecosystem – and – management Ecosystem – and – management Increasingly being used Increasingly being used 5 steps 5 steps

Defining and Creating our Preferred Environment Ecosystem Ecosystem Biotic community and assoc. abitoic parts in a defined geographic area Biotic community and assoc. abitoic parts in a defined geographic area Management Management Achieving goals and Achieving goals and objectives as established by decision makers

Royalwood Urban Environment Suburban development in Winnipeg, MB Suburban development in Winnipeg, MB Shows how 5 steps of sustainable ecosystem management effectively Shows how 5 steps of sustainable ecosystem management effectively Applied to a water and Applied to a water and land management issue in an urban setting

Royalwood Urban Environment STEP 1: Determine the stakeholders and define the ecosystem area STEP 1: Determine the stakeholders and define the ecosystem area Difficult step Difficult step Stakeholders – primary, secondary, tertiary Stakeholders – primary, secondary, tertiary Build strong relationships, collaborative partnerships Build strong relationships, collaborative partnerships Ecosystem area – determine geographic boundary, consider all influenced factors Ecosystem area – determine geographic boundary, consider all influenced factors

Royalwood Urban Environment STEP 2: Characterize the ecosystem structure, function and management options STEP 2: Characterize the ecosystem structure, function and management options Adaptive resource management Adaptive resource management Measure ecosystem diversity – use the historical range of variability (HRV) Measure ecosystem diversity – use the historical range of variability (HRV)

Royalwood Urban Environment

STEP 3: Identifying the important economic issues for stakeholders STEP 3: Identifying the important economic issues for stakeholders Many of the same processes as step 2 but from an economic rather than ecological/environmental point of view Many of the same processes as step 2 but from an economic rather than ecological/environmental point of view Try to eliminate the negative economic consequences Try to eliminate the negative economic consequences Look at potential subsidies, awards, tax reductions, or increased land values for stakeholders Look at potential subsidies, awards, tax reductions, or increased land values for stakeholders

Royalwood Urban Environment STEP 4: Determining the impact of the ecosystem STEP 4: Determining the impact of the ecosystem Determine the impact of proposed management on adjacent ecosystems Determine the impact of proposed management on adjacent ecosystems Synergistic benefits Synergistic benefits This step is important for considered ecosystem but also for the larger landscape This step is important for considered ecosystem but also for the larger landscape

Royalwood Urban Environment STEP 5: Using adaptive management over time STEP 5: Using adaptive management over time Create long-term goals and flexible ways to reach them, monitor, re-visit, adjust Create long-term goals and flexible ways to reach them, monitor, re-visit, adjust

Getting Involved! Join an environmental organization or club Join an environmental organization or club Encourage others to take an active role in the future of our world Encourage others to take an active role in the future of our world Keep current on environmental matters Keep current on environmental matters

Eco Canada Career Focus Consider a career as a Sustainable Architect Consider a career as a Sustainable Architect Creative and ingenious ways to create functional, attractive structures that do not harm the environment during their construction or lifetime Creative and ingenious ways to create functional, attractive structures that do not harm the environment during their construction or lifetime

Case Study: Green Roof Tops at Trent University Created an elaborate vegetable garden Created an elaborate vegetable garden Area for environmental research Area for environmental research Roof top absorbs rainwater Roof top absorbs rainwater Provides insulation Provides insulation Lowers urban air temp Lowers urban air temp Creates wildlife habitat Creates wildlife habitat Reduces building Reduces building energy consumption