Overview
This lecture introduces the seven key environmental principles, providing foundational concepts for understanding human impacts on the environment and strategies for sustainable management.
Introduction to Environmental Principles
- Environmental principles guide decision-making to minimize negative impacts on nature.
- They help balance human needs with environmental protection for long-term sustainability.
The Seven Environmental Principles
1. Nature Knows Best
- Natural processes and ecosystems function optimally without human interference.
- Human interventions can disrupt these processes, leading to unintended consequences.
2. All Forms of Life are Important
- Every organism, regardless of size or function, contributes to ecosystem balance.
- Biodiversity ensures ecosystem resilience and productivity.
3. Everything is Connected to Everything Else
- Ecosystems are interconnected; a change in one component affects others.
- Human actions in one area can have far-reaching environmental impacts.
4. Everything Changes
- Environmental conditions and ecosystems continuously evolve through natural processes.
- Adaptation is necessary for organisms, including humans, to survive.
5. Everything Must Go Somewhere
- Matter cannot be destroyed; waste produced by humans stays in the environment.
- Pollution accumulates, affecting air, water, and soil quality.
6. Ours is a Finite Earth
- Earth’s resources are limited and can be depleted by overuse.
- Sustainable use of resources is vital for future generations.
7. Nature is Beautiful and We are Stewards of God’s Creation
- The environment provides aesthetic, spiritual, and recreational value.
- Humans have a moral responsibility to care for and protect the environment.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Ecosystem — a community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment.
- Biodiversity — the variety of living species in an ecosystem.
- Sustainability — meeting current needs without compromising future generations’ ability to meet theirs.
- Pollution — introduction of harmful substances into the environment.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the seven environmental principles and their real-world examples.
- Prepare to discuss how these principles apply to local and global environmental issues.
- Complete assigned reading on human-environment interactions.