Human Species in Biosphere:Human Species in Biosphere:

Sustainabil i tySustainabil i ty

Introduction to PART 4Introduction to PART 4

What is a sustainable development?What is a sustainable development? What do we think about What do we think about sustainabil itysustainabil ity ?? Which resources are in danger of Which resources are in danger of

exhausting? Why?exhausting? Why? May our society go on consuming May our society go on consuming

resources indefinitely?resources indefinitely? Which global problems have only a Which global problems have only a

solution with solution with sustainabil itysustainabil ity ??

10.10. Natural Natural ResourcesResources

Dependence on Dependence on energyenergy .. Renewable Renewable energies energies

Water:Water: an essential resourcean essential resource ForestForest resourcesresources GroundGround as a resource as a resource

11. 11. Impacts and Natural RisksImpacts and Natural Risks

ClimateClimate change change CausesCauses and and effectseffects of climate change of climate change Air Air pollutionpollution Ozone layer Ozone layer hole hole Acid Acid rain rain Earthquake Earthquake risks risks VolcanicVolcanic risksrisks

12. 12. Ecological FootprintEcological Footprint

Concept of Concept of ecological footprintecological footprint Human Human developmentdevelopment Capital Capital SunSun , capital , capital EarthEarth Sustainabil itySustainabil ity

10. 10. The Way We Use Our The Way We Use Our Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

A Town Without Water (p.132)A Town Without Water (p.132)

Where does water flowing form our taps at Where does water flowing form our taps at our high school come from?our high school come from?

Which are the energy sources at our Which are the energy sources at our school? So, where does energy to feed all school? So, where does energy to feed all devices (lights, computers, heating, etc.) devices (lights, computers, heating, etc.) come from?come from?

Energetic Resources:Energetic Resources: These are goods extracted from nature to These are goods extracted from nature to

be used as energy sourcesbe used as energy sources Some are Some are renewablerenewable (wind) and others (wind) and others not not

renewablerenewable (oil, fossil fuels) (oil, fossil fuels) There is There is endosomaticendosomatic energy (food) and energy (food) and

exosomaticexosomatic energy (lifestyle, biomass) energy (lifestyle, biomass) The use of every kind of energy is quite The use of every kind of energy is quite

different from one country to another (see different from one country to another (see Table on p. 134)Table on p. 134)

The Future of Energy Use:The Future of Energy Use: We hope of We hope of renewable energies renewable energies because because

sooner or later non renewable will run outsooner or later non renewable will run out Nuclear f ission Nuclear f ission energy (not renewable)energy (not renewable) HydrogenHydrogen as a fuel (renewable) as a fuel (renewable) HydroelectricHydroelectric energy (r)energy (r) TidalTidal energy (r) energy (r) Nuclear fusionNuclear fusion energy (r) energy (r) Others: wind, photovoltaic, geothermal (r)Others: wind, photovoltaic, geothermal (r)

http://lasfuentesdeenergia.blogspot.com/http://lasfuentesdeenergia.blogspot.com/

Green Gold: Green Gold: BiofuelsBiofuels We may consider it as We may consider it as

renewablerenewable because because production is fast (time production is fast (time for growing and for growing and harvesting crops) and it harvesting crops) and it is exploited at a similar is exploited at a similar rate to which the rate to which the resource is generatedresource is generated

BiofuelsBiofuelsMonoculture Monoculture of sugar cane of sugar cane and corn not to be used as a and corn not to be used as a food resource replaces food food resource replaces food plants growing, like some cereals plants growing, like some cereals which are very important for which are very important for feeding. Massive transformation feeding. Massive transformation of that kind of growing has been of that kind of growing has been controversial, specially in controversial, specially in South-South-AmericaAmerica , because there is the , because there is the risk of provoking food problems risk of provoking food problems in wide regionsin wide regions

Water: An Essential ResourceWater: An Essential Resource The water we use comes from The water we use comes from superficial superficial

waterswaters (reservoirs) or (reservoirs) or aquifersaquifers (wells) (wells) The way we use it:The way we use it:

FarmingFarming use (flood and drip irrigation) use (flood and drip irrigation) IndustrialIndustrial use (cooling, paper, steal, plastic) use (cooling, paper, steal, plastic) DomesticDomestic use (hygiene, washing, toilet, gardens) use (hygiene, washing, toilet, gardens) EnergeticEnergetic use (hydroelectric energy) use (hydroelectric energy) LudicLudic use (fountains, swimming-pools, use (fountains, swimming-pools,

waterparks, golf courses)waterparks, golf courses)

Water is ScarceWater is Scarce

Due to solaDue to solar r energy and the force of gravity energy and the force of gravity water flows through the hydrosphere, but not all water flows through the hydrosphere, but not all fresh water is suitable to be used by humansfresh water is suitable to be used by humans

The need for water may cause The need for water may cause overexploitation overexploitation of aquifers of aquifers in zones where it scarcely rains in zones where it scarcely rains (Mediterranean shore) and provoke (Mediterranean shore) and provoke well salinitywell salinity

Several human activities generate Several human activities generate residuesresidues and and cause cause contaminationcontamination

Microorganisms in aquatic systems purify water. Microorganisms in aquatic systems purify water. Wastewater treatments Wastewater treatments (sewage) eliminate (sewage) eliminate contaminants and give back water qualitycontaminants and give back water quality

Sewage treatment plant in Lugo

Reducing Reducing consumptionconsumption Increasing Increasing efficiency of efficiency of

installationsinstallations Desalination Desalination of seawaterof seawater Inter-basin transferInter-basin transfer from drainage from drainage

basins with water surplusbasins with water surplus

Solutions to Lack of Water:

Desalination and power plant in Gran Canaria

Calculations with our Calculations with our Water Bil lWater Bil l

67000 L/90 days = 744,4 L per day67000 L/90 days = 744,4 L per day744 L/5 people = 744 L/5 people = 148,8 L148,8 L person and day person and day(Barcelona 122 L/day, with some (Barcelona 122 L/day, with some savingssavings it it could oscillate between 70 and 100 L daily)could oscillate between 70 and 100 L daily)

153,27 €/67000 L = 0,002 € each L (100 L 153,27 €/67000 L = 0,002 € each L (100 L cost almost cost almost 20 cents20 cents). Bottled water is ). Bottled water is much more expensive (50 c/L)much more expensive (50 c/L)

Calculations with our Calculations with our Water Bil lWater Bil l We add VAT and other city taxes: 7,31 €+ We add VAT and other city taxes: 7,31 €+

30,49 € = 37,8 € taxes. 37,8·100/153,27 = 30,49 € = 37,8 € taxes. 37,8·100/153,27 = 24,66 %24,66 % taxes taxes

2 million people using 148,8 L per person 2 million people using 148,8 L per person and day, during 365 days would need: and day, during 365 days would need: 2·102·1066·148,8·365 = 108624·10·148,8·365 = 108624·10 66 L per year. L per year. To convert into hmTo convert into hm33 we divide per 10 we divide per 1099. The . The final result is a yearly consume of final result is a yearly consume of 108,6 108,6 hmhm33 water water

Forest ResourcesForest Resources

ForestsForests cover 1/3 of emerged lands and cover 1/3 of emerged lands and are inhabited by most of identified species are inhabited by most of identified species

There are near 2 million different species, There are near 2 million different species, and maybe even more, that is what we call and maybe even more, that is what we call as as BIODIVERSITYBIODIVERSITY

Between 50 and el 90 % of species live at Between 50 and el 90 % of species live at rainforests rainforests (6 % of emerged lands)(6 % of emerged lands)

Thick forests play a major role in Thick forests play a major role in atmosphere atmosphere regulationregulation

They incorporate COThey incorporate CO22 and release O and release O22 during during photosynthesisphotosynthesis

Forests produce Forests produce humidity humidity and influence and influence local climatelocal climate: they make it : they make it milder milder and and diminish oscillations due to near zones diminish oscillations due to near zones lacking in woodslacking in woods

Resources from the ForestsResources from the Forests Raw material Raw material to produce: furniture, building to produce: furniture, building

materials, paper, food, energy, chemicals (against materials, paper, food, energy, chemicals (against cancer)...cancer)...

Some years ago Some years ago CHARCOALCHARCOAL was the main was the main source of primary energysource of primary energy

During the Industrial Revolution it was replaced During the Industrial Revolution it was replaced by by COAL COAL (from a mineral origin)(from a mineral origin)

But there are still many countries whose But there are still many countries whose resources are in part based in resources are in part based in BIOMASS BIOMASS from the from the forests (firewood from logs and branches and forests (firewood from logs and branches and charcoal)charcoal)

More than a half of wood is used to produce More than a half of wood is used to produce FUELFUEL, a basic combustible in many poor , a basic combustible in many poor countriescountries

Fragas do rio Eume

Forests ExploitationForests Exploitation Economic growing Economic growing and and demographic progression demographic progression provoke provoke

an excessive exploitation of forest resourcesan excessive exploitation of forest resources Many poor countries pay their Many poor countries pay their debtdebt to the rich ones with to the rich ones with

natural resources (wood, precious minerals...)natural resources (wood, precious minerals...) In In BrazilBrazil rainforest is transformed into pasture to fatten up rainforest is transformed into pasture to fatten up

herdherd In In MadagascarMadagascar sugar cane monoculture replaces rainforest sugar cane monoculture replaces rainforest In In MalaysiaMalaysia part of the rainforest is exploited to get more part of the rainforest is exploited to get more

woodwood At the island of At the island of KalimantanKalimantan (Indonesia) the natural habitat (Indonesia) the natural habitat

of orang-utan is being destroyed and substituted by palm of orang-utan is being destroyed and substituted by palm trees to produce palm oiltrees to produce palm oil

http://teknociencia.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/pocos-motivos-para-la-http://teknociencia.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/pocos-motivos-para-la-esperanza-en-la-isla-de-borneo/esperanza-en-la-isla-de-borneo/

Kalimantan Forest Indonesia

Exploitation of resources must be Exploitation of resources must be SUSTAINABLE SUSTAINABLE and they should never be and they should never be extracted to a rate higher than they take to extracted to a rate higher than they take to regenerateregenerateAt this very moment there are lots of At this very moment there are lots of places all along the planet where forests places all along the planet where forests supposedly supposedly RENEWABLERENEWABLE are are exploited exploited so much intensely that they are becoming so much intensely that they are becoming NON RENEWABLENON RENEWABLE resources resourcesA forest may take decades or even A forest may take decades or even centuries to regeneratecenturies to regenerate

ReforestationsReforestations Lots of forests have been substituted by Lots of forests have been substituted by

harvesting and pasturing zonesharvesting and pasturing zones Some countries have increased or maintained Some countries have increased or maintained

forest surfaces tooforest surfaces too REFORESTACIONSREFORESTACIONS have been made using fast have been made using fast

growing trees which are not original (pine, growing trees which are not original (pine, eucalyptus...)eucalyptus...)

Reforestation with plants that are not typical Reforestation with plants that are not typical from the habitat involves some from the habitat involves some problemsproblems: : diminishing original species, loss of original diminishing original species, loss of original forest, spreading of illnesses, loss of diversity, forest, spreading of illnesses, loss of diversity, drought, risk of forest firesdrought, risk of forest fires

Paper and Fast Paper and Fast WoodWood Using Using digital digital supports, supports, reusingreusing paper paper

(using the back side to print rough draft), (using the back side to print rough draft), sensitizingsensitizing people people

Foreign species play the role of other Foreign species play the role of other original species until they can eliminate original species until they can eliminate them. them. EucalyptusEucalyptus have caused the have caused the disappearing of lots of original woods at disappearing of lots of original woods at the Cantabrian cornice and Galicia and it the Cantabrian cornice and Galicia and it is also a species prone to spread fireis also a species prone to spread fire

Ground as a ResourceGround as a Resource

It is an interaction zone between living It is an interaction zone between living beings and environmental elements beings and environmental elements (rocks, air, water) and the place where (rocks, air, water) and the place where plant nutrients are generated and retainedplant nutrients are generated and retained

GroundGround is a dynamic natural system that is a dynamic natural system that has been formed by has been formed by rockrock changes due to changes due to atmospheric agents atmospheric agents and and living l iving beings beings actionaction

It takes a lot of years for a ground to be It takes a lot of years for a ground to be formed, however it is easily formed, however it is easily eroded eroded awayaway

It is a main resource because it is the It is a main resource because it is the substratesubstrate from where primary producers from where primary producers get part of the mineral matter they need to get part of the mineral matter they need to livelive

There live There live decomposer decomposer microorganisms microorganisms that transform organic that transform organic matter into inorganic nutrients for plant matter into inorganic nutrients for plant feedingfeeding

Ground has aGround has a farming and cattle use farming and cattle use . . Production of Production of growing and pasturesgrowing and pastures depends on ground quality and fertilitydepends on ground quality and fertility

The Loss of GroundThe Loss of Ground Intensive farmingIntensive farming (heavy machinery, (heavy machinery,

monoculture) provokes impoverishment and monoculture) provokes impoverishment and needs the increasing use of fertilizers needs the increasing use of fertilizers (phosphates and nitrates) that will pollute (phosphates and nitrates) that will pollute groundwatergroundwater

The number of heads of livestock per The number of heads of livestock per hectare of hectare of pasturepasture must respect the must respect the ground features. An excess of them may ground features. An excess of them may cause degradation (erosion, cause degradation (erosion, compactness...)compactness...)

The most important loss of ground is due The most important loss of ground is due to to water erosionwater erosion . Rain drags ground . Rain drags ground materialsmaterials

Mediterranean climate Mediterranean climate (dry summers, (dry summers, intense rains in fall) and the geological intense rains in fall) and the geological conditions of our countryside become a conditions of our countryside become a very serious problem in our landvery serious problem in our land

Alzira floods in 1982

Deforestation and DesertificationDeforestation and Desertification Forest degradationForest degradation is connected with loss of is connected with loss of

ground, since vegetal covering contributes to ground, since vegetal covering contributes to conservancy and stabilityconservancy and stability

Cause of deforestation: Cause of deforestation: abusive loggingabusive logging in in territories for several uses (mining, pasturing, territories for several uses (mining, pasturing, growing, roads...)growing, roads...)

Another cause of deforestation: Another cause of deforestation: forest f ireforest f ire . The . The loss of thick forest decreases COloss of thick forest decreases CO22 fixation and fixation and increases the greenhouse effectincreases the greenhouse effect

Forest zones decrease ground Forest zones decrease ground erodingeroding . . Vegetation intercepts one fraction of the Vegetation intercepts one fraction of the falling water, it reduces impact speed and falling water, it reduces impact speed and diminishes the eroding power of diminishes the eroding power of precipitations. It also decreases precipitations. It also decreases run-offrun-off and contributes to diminish hydric erosion and contributes to diminish hydric erosion of the groundof the ground

RootsRoots make ground eroding difficult, they make ground eroding difficult, they keep it more compact, and accumulated keep it more compact, and accumulated organic matter (organic matter (plant litterplant litter, leaves in , leaves in process of decomposition) and process of decomposition) and humushumus protect it from erosionprotect it from erosion

Deforestation and loss of ground entail Deforestation and loss of ground entail desert advance, what is known as desert advance, what is known as desertif icationdesertif ication

AridArid lands lands (1/3 of the planet) are (1/3 of the planet) are extremely vulnerable to overexploitation extremely vulnerable to overexploitation and inappropriate use of landand inappropriate use of land

According to FAO at the beginning of 21st According to FAO at the beginning of 21st century more than century more than 250 mill ion250 mill ion people people are now affected by desertification and are now affected by desertification and some 1000 million in more than 100 some 1000 million in more than 100 countries will be at risk the next yearscountries will be at risk the next years

Damaging of habitats and loss of Damaging of habitats and loss of biodiversitybiodiversity

Global Seed VaultGlobal Seed Vault ::A NoahA Noah’’s Ark for Plantss Ark for Plants

They would be difficult to reforest, since They would be difficult to reforest, since survival of species cannot be split survival of species cannot be split up from the presence of other l iving up from the presence of other l iving beings and environment beings and environment (species do (species do not live isolated). According to the degree not live isolated). According to the degree of damage in ecosystems, it could not be of damage in ecosystems, it could not be easily reforestedeasily reforested

Global Seed VaultGlobal Seed Vault ::A NoahA Noah’’s Ark for Plantss Ark for Plants

Natural climate conditions Natural climate conditions in Svalbard in Svalbard archipelago are ideal, specially low archipelago are ideal, specially low temperatures, what permits to keep seeds temperatures, what permits to keep seeds without germinating and in good conditionswithout germinating and in good conditions

The existence of a seed bank allows The existence of a seed bank allows preserving the genetic heritagepreserving the genetic heritage of the of the Earth and its Earth and its biodiversitybiodiversity , and one never , and one never knows if we could need to use this knows if we could need to use this biological potential in future situationsbiological potential in future situations

Section of the Global Seed Vault at Svalbard Islands (Norway)

To Learn MoreTo Learn MoreWEBS where the Global Seed Vault project WEBS where the Global Seed Vault project is explained:is explained:httphttp://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/B://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%B3veda_Global_de_Semillas_de_Sva%C3%B3veda_Global_de_Semillas_de_Svalbardlbardhttp://www.croptrust.org/main/arctic.php?http://www.croptrust.org/main/arctic.php?itemid=211itemid=211http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svalbard_Globahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svalbard_Global_Seed_Vaultl_Seed_Vault