Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
1
Introduction - humans, nature and
human nature
The history of the human species as global caretaker has not been good. As
Homo sapiens
subspecies
exploitabilis
we have polluted air, land and water, destroyed large areas of almost all kinds of natural habitat, overexploited
living resources, transported organisms around the world with negative consequences for native ecosystems,
and driven a multitude of species close to extinction. Our 'evolution' to subspecies
sustainabilis
needs to involve
some signifi cant behavior changes underpinned by ecological knowledge.
Chapter contents
1.1
Homo
not-so-
sapiens
?
2
1.1.1
Homo sapiens
- just another species?
3
1.1.2 Human population density and technology underlie environmental impact
3
1.2 A biodiversity crisis
4
1.2.1 The scale of the biodiversity problem
6
1.2.2 Biodiversit y, ecosystem function and ecosystem services
7
1.2.3 Drivers of biodiversity loss - the extinction vortex
11
1.2.4 Habitat loss - driven from house and home
12
1.2.5 Invaders - unwanted biodiversity
13
1.2.6 Overexploitation - too much of a good thing
14
1.2.7 Habitat degradation - laying waste
17
1.2.8 Global climate change - life in the greenhouse
18
1.3 Toward a sustainable future?
20
1.3.1 Ecological applications - to conserve, restore and sustain biodiversity
22
1.3.2 From an economic perspective - putting a value on nature
28
1.3.3 The sociopolitical dimension
29
Key concepts
In this chapter you will
note that
Homo sapiens
is not the only species to destroy habitat, overexploit resources or pollute
the environment
recognize that human population density coupled with technology underlie our unique impact on
nature
understand the scale of current and future impacts on biodiversity from habitat loss, introduced
invader species, overexploitation, habitat degradation and global climate change
see the link between biodiversity loss and the provision of ecosystem services of importance to
human well-being
grasp that a sustainable society is one able to meet current needs without compromising the ability
of future generations to provide for themselves
appreciate that a sustainable future has three dimensions - ecological, economic and
sociopolitical
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