1. Introduction to the Environment What is the Environment? Common view of the environment as a wildlife area Traditional societies view the environment in reverential terms, fear the destruction of nature New perspectives of the environment due to space travel Perspective of the ”Big Blue Marble”

2. Big Blue Marble

3. What is the significance of this picture of the earth? Meaning of such terms as “ecosphere” or “spaceship earth” Inter-relatedness of the earth’s basic systems of land, water, oceans, seas, clouds and other physical phenomena Environmental problems do not respect state boundaries Major environmental concepts- ecosystem, carrying capacity, and tragedy of the commons

4. Ecosystem Interrelationship of species (both plant and animals) in a given environment Changes in one part of system has an effect on other systems Diversity of systems crucial to survival Influence of modernity on ecosystems Fragility of all ecosystems- ecosystems can be destroyed if devastated

5. Carrying Capacity Maximum rate of exploitation of a given resource that can be carried on indefinitely Regenerative capability of a resource dependent on the consumptive habits of the population Consumptive habits of Americans and South Asians Average American uses 5 to 20 times the food, water, mineral resources, and energy as a person from South Asia

6. Tragedy of the Commons Concept developed by Garrett Hardin Practice of English farmers grazing on the town commons area Commons was a “free good”, ie. Didn’t cost anybody to use it. No incentive to restrict herbs English commons was destroyed just like the global commons is being destroyed by air pollution, ocean pollution, deforestation, hunting of species to extinction