1. TOWARD A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
CONSERVATION
RECYCLING
CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY

3. Conservation
Conservation - a strategy to reduce the use of resources through decreased demand and increased efficiency
Conservation is a basic concept towards a sustainable society

4. Waste Management
We are currently living in a disposable society where products are used once and thrown away
Items purchased at the store are designed to be used once  vast amounts of waste
Humans are unique because of the amount of material and energy we waste
No other species uses so many resources as inefficiently as humans

5. Waste Reduction
With other species, the waste left behind one organism will be used by another
When waste is minimized  efficiency is increased
Source reduction – lowering the demand for a resource, resulting in a reduction in the amount of resource needed to satisfy demand
Source reduction decreases amount of resources taken from the environment
This also reduces habitat destruction

6. Waste Reduction
Another way to reduce waste it to minimize what is thrown away
By recycling glass, plastic, paper, and aluminum, you can reduce the amount of garbage created
By taking these actions, our society is headed  sustainable

7. Conserving Energy
Minimizing energy usage is another way to conserve energy
Energy can be conserved by using it more efficiently
In the home, there is a lot of energy used for heat and hot water
Proper insulation of the home can dramatically reduce energy used for heating purposes

8. Conserving Energy
Hot water can be conserved by taking shorter showers and running dishwashers and washing machines only with a full load

9. Conserving Energy Electricity can be used wisely too
Turning off lights and other appliances when not in use  saves energy
Using fluorescent light bulbs conserves energy and reduces waste (last about 10 times as long as a regular light bulb)

10. Conserving Energy
Pay attention to the energy rating attached to large appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and washing machines
The more efficiently the machine runs, the less it will cost you and the better it is for the environment

11. Conserving Energy Conserving gasoline means conserving energy
Using less gas by carpooling or using mass transportation also decreases air pollution
In the future, if electric cars become the norm, drivers will be conserving energy

12. Conserving Energy
The use of renewable resources helps out towards becoming a sustainable society
Resources such as hydroelectric, water, wind, or solar energy all produce very little pollution and cut back on our reliance on fossil fuels

13. Recycling
Recycling – reducing resource use by collecting usable waste materials and using them to produce new items
Recycling is one of the most effective ways of conserving resources
In a natural ecosystem, everything is recycled

14. Recycling Benefits of recycling include…
Reduction of waste
Limits the demand for steel and aluminum
Prevents damage to the environment caused by gathering new resources
Recycling is a critical step towards becoming a sustainable society

15. Recycling Paper Paper is one of the easiest materials to recycle
Recycling paper requires less energy, uses less water, and produces less chemicals than producing paper from trees
In the U.S., only 1/3 of all newspapers are recycled and only 1/2 of all cardboard is recycled
Paper can be recycled a number of times before it is too weak and fresh wood must be added

16. Recycling Minerals Many minerals can be recycled
Glass and aluminum (which must be broken down first), can both be recycled many times
Producing aluminum requires large amounts of energy and water and creates a lot of air and water pollution and if all aluminum is recycled  decrease pollution by 95%

17. Recycling Minerals
In the U.S., 90% of junk cars are recycled  saves steel and iron

19. Recycling Plastics Most plastic is made from petroleum, a fossil fuel
The U.S. produces 9 million tons of plastic every year
Recycling plastic is difficult
Most plastics are made of complex molecules that do not break down easily
When incinerated, plastics release toxic fumes

20. Recycling Plastics
When recycled, plastics  bathtubs, containers, insulation, building materials, and synthetic fibers

21. Conserving Biodiversity
As the human population grows  more people move into places where natural ecosystems once flourished
Forests are cut down, wetlands drained, and ecosystems are permanently changed
The demand for resources is increasing as the population increases, however, people are beginning to realize the importance of protecting Earth’s biodiversity

22. Conserving Biodiversity
To preserve biodiversity…
Captive breeding (goal = increase the population of a species at risk of extinction, then release back into the wild)
Conservationists are not only concerned with preserving one specific species, but are now focused on saving entire ecosystems to ensure that a species natural habitat will survive too

23. Conserving Biodiversity
Preserve – an area of land or water set aside for the protection of the ecosystem in that area
Preserves must be large enough to support genetic variety within a species and provide enough space for an organisms population to grow
This is a difficult task because the expansion of preserves conflicts with human interest