How Do We Develop How Do We Develop and Maintain a and Maintain a

Sustainable Future?Sustainable Future?

What is Environmental Science?Multidisciplinary field that draws from all the sciences, as well as other fields, to help us better understand the relationship between humans and the world in which we live.

It focuses on three main areas:

Conservation and protection of natural resources

Environmental education and communication

Environmental research

Major fields of study that contribute Major fields of study that contribute to Environmental Science to Environmental Science

BiologyBiology: Study of living organisms: Study of living organisms Earth ScienceEarth Science: Study of Earth’s nonliving systems: Study of Earth’s nonliving systems PhysicsPhysics: Study of matter and energy: Study of matter and energy ChemistryChemistry: Study of chemicals and their interactions: Study of chemicals and their interactions Social SciencesSocial Sciences: Study of human populations: Study of human populations EcologyEcology: Study of how : Study of how livingliving (biotic) things interact with (biotic) things interact with

their their nonliving nonliving (abiotic) environment(abiotic) environment

Tragedy of the Commons

In 1968, Garrett Hardin published an essay that argued the main difficulty in solving environmental problems was the conflict between short term interests of individuals and long term welfare of society.

Our Environment Over TimeOur Environment Over TimeWherever humans have hunted, grown food or settled, they have Wherever humans have hunted, grown food or settled, they have

changed their environment.changed their environment.

Burned prairies to prevent tree growthBurned prairies to prevent tree growth Over hunting in combination with climatic changes led to Over hunting in combination with climatic changes led to

disappearance of large mammal species such as: Giant disappearance of large mammal species such as: Giant sloths, giant bisons, mastadons, cave bears and saber-sloths, giant bisons, mastadons, cave bears and saber-tooth tigers tooth tigers

HUNTER-GATHERERS

AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTIONAGRICULTURAL REVOLUTIONAbout 10,000 years ago man began to plant seeds and domesticate About 10,000 years ago man began to plant seeds and domesticate

animalsanimals

This allowed human population to grow at a very rapid rate (an area This allowed human population to grow at a very rapid rate (an area can support 500 times more people)can support 500 times more people)

Plants we grow and eat today are descendants of wild plantsPlants we grow and eat today are descendants of wild plants Grasslands, forests and wetlands were replaced with farmland; Grasslands, forests and wetlands were replaced with farmland;

habitats were destroyedhabitats were destroyed Bad farming techniques, overworked soil became water logged and Bad farming techniques, overworked soil became water logged and

contaminated by saltscontaminated by salts

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTIONINDUSTRIAL REVOLUTIONUntil mid 1700’s tools were powered by humans and animalsUntil mid 1700’s tools were powered by humans and animals

Began in EnglandBegan in England Fewer people grew their own food, populations in urban areas grewFewer people grew their own food, populations in urban areas grew Pollution and habitat loss became commonPollution and habitat loss became common Many products made life easier but we are now beginning to Many products made life easier but we are now beginning to

understand some of the environmental problems they presentunderstand some of the environmental problems they present

Environmental Problems We Face!Environmental Problems We Face!

Decrease in BiodiversityDecrease in Biodiversity

Depletion of ResourcesDepletion of Resources

PollutionPollution

What is the Root Cause?What is the Root Cause?

POPULATION INCREASE!!!!!!POPULATION INCREASE!!!!!!