Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
A Path to Sustainability
Natural Capital
Natural Capital
Degradation
Solutions
Trade-Offs
Individuals
Matter
Sound Science
Figure 1-2
A path to sustainability.
Five subthemes are used throughout this topic to illustrate how we can make
the transition to more environmentally sustainable societies and economies. Sound science is used to help us
understand and implement this transition to sustainability.
=
+
NATURAL CAPITAL
NATURAL RESOURCES
NATURAL SERVICES
NATURAL RESOURCES
NATURAL SERVICES
Air
Air purification
Water purification
Water
Soil renewal
Soil
Nutrient recycling
Land
Food production
=
+
NATURAL CAPITAL
Pollination
Life (Biodiversity)
Grassland renewal
Nonrenewable minerals
(iron, sand)
Forest renewal
Waste treatment
Renewable energy
(sun, wind, water flows)
Climate control
Population control
(species interactions)
Nonrenewable energy
(fossils fuels, nuclear power)
Pest control
Figure 1-3
Natural capital:
the natural resources (left) and natural services (right) provided by the earth's
natural capital
support and sustain the earth's life and economies. For example,
nutrients,
or chemicals such as
carbon and nitrogen that plants and animals need as
resources,
are recycled through the air, water, soil, and
organisms by the natural process of
nutrient cycling.
And the interactions and competition of different types of
plants and animals (species) for
resources
(nutrients) keeps any single species from taking over through the nat-
ural service of
population control.
Colored wedges will be shown at the beginning of most chapters in this topic
to show the
natural resources
(blue wedges) and
natural services
(orange wedges) discussed in these chapters.
