sustainability and natural resources. what is a resource? it is anything that we find useful ...
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What is a resource?
It is anything that we find usefulIncludes human resources (skills,
experience etc.) and…
Natural Resources
These are all natural resources
What is a natural What is a natural resource?resource?
Anything we find a use Anything we find a use for that the Earth for that the Earth produces.produces.
Two types of natural resources.
Renewable resources that can be replenished in a human lifetime
forests, fish, hydroelectricity, solar energy, etc.
Non-Renewable resources that do not replenish (within a human lifetime)
oil, gas, iron, etc
Use the handout to identify renewable and non renewable resources.
Renewable Resourcestree, water, rubber(from rubber trees),wool, acorn, solarenergy,
soil,newspaper,whales, grapes, fish,cotton, and pigs
Non-Renewable Resources
green garbage bags, rubber (from oil), lead, margarine containers,
glass, oil, gasoline, nickel and coal
Answers
What is sustainable development?
Meeting the needs of today without compromising the needs of tomorrow.
ex. Harvesting trees but replanting.
Consider this Cree prophecy
"Only after the last tree
has been cut down,
Only after the last river
has been poisoned,
Only after the last fish
has been caught,
Only then will you find
that money cannot be eaten."
How much is too much?
Every living thing (including humans) on the Earth needs to be in balance with its environment. If there are too many of something, the environment degrades resulting in deaths.
This concept is known as carrying capacity, which refers to the maximum amount of individuals a region can sustain indefinitely.
Easter Island In 1722 a few hundred natives and very little else, were found on the island.
There is evidence of a great civilization (Rapa Nui) of about 9000 people.
What happened?
Archaeologists believe that early Polynesians settled the island on purpose and thrived.
They cut down the forests to plant crops, build ships & buildings, move giant stone heads, and cook.
This overuse of resources had drastic consequences.
The initial carrying capacity of the island was diminished.
The island’s soil eroded into the sea. There was less rainfall. Crops failed and the inhabitants warred with
each other over the remaining resources. They even turned to cannibalism
This is called a stressed ecosystem.
over carrying capacity
Reduced carrying capacity after the stress.
Does this situation look familiar?
Our global population is over 6.4 billion. We see:
famine drought desertification food shortages war
Should we wait for cannibalism before we act?