Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
of management originates in the science of ecology but applies more
generally to any complex system.
A managed system is one in which societies take steps to ensure the
effi cient and sustainable use of a resource. For example, a farmer may
introduce a drip irrigation system to optimize soil moisture for vines.
In another example that may surprise you, dairy farming has pros-
pered in the deserts of Arizona. Farmers have found that designs that
provide shade and water cooling in the hot summers make for produc-
tive cows. Some systems may suffer from harmful mismanagement. For
example, if people clear mangrove forests for fuel, this might lead to a
major drop in shrimp farming, which thrives among mangroves.
Indoor living is another example of a managed system. With the
use of well-designed and engineered structures, equipment, and moni-
toring devices, humans have modifi ed their indoor structures so that
they can live in virtually every environment from Antarctica to the
tropics to outer space.
By contrast, in our context an unmanaged system is one that operates
largely without human intervention. It might be unmanaged because
humans choose to leave it alone. An example would be a wildlife re-
serve. Or it might be unmanageable because the system is too large for
humans to control. For instance, given current technologies, intense
hurricanes and sea-level rise are unmanageable. Similarly, a human
walking outside without any clothing is a good example of an unman-
aged environment, which is not a good idea in most climates. The im-
portance of a managed environment is shown by the fact that humans
could not long survive in most parts of the planet if they were forced to
live outdoors without clothes or shelter.
Another example—particularly important for the impacts of global
warming—is the distinction between managed and unmanaged eco-
systems. An ecosystem is a set of living organisms—microbes, fungi,
plants, and animals—along with the physical environment in which
they interact. One of the most important ecosystems for humans is ag-
riculture. Some types of agriculture are heavily managed. For example,
hydroponics is a method of growing plants using water and nutrients in
 
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