Resource Depletion, Environmental Impacts, and Sustainability

Resource Overexploitation

Ecosystem Balance

Ecosystems are dynamic, initially autonomous systems. They consist of:

1. A natural community or biocenosis.
2. A physical environment or biotope.

Ecosystem Overexploitation

This occurs when ecosystems are exploited faster than their natural regeneration rate, potentially causing biodiversity loss.

Sustainable Development Principles

• Meets present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs.
• Traditional food production methods can cause serious environmental changes (e.g., intensive agriculture).

Specific Resource Overexploitation Issues

Mineral Resources

If the current pace of mineral extraction is maintained, these resources will eventually be exhausted.

Water Resources

Water scarcity is spreading across every continent at an alarming rate.

Forest Resources and Desertification

Overexploitation leads to deforestation.

Fishery Resources

Marine resources are finite and not inexhaustible.

Protected Species

Species protection is enacted through legislation to prevent issues like illegal trade. Measures include:

• International conventions.
• Publication of endangered species lists.

Energy Resources and Waste

Exponential growth of the global population, while resources remain finite, creates an imbalance.

Key Environmental Impacts

Atmospheric Pollution

Results from the incorporation of foreign materials into the environment or existing materials exceeding normal concentration levels.

Water Pollution

Caused by pollutant discharges, either directly into water bodies or indirectly via soil contamination.

Soil Pollution

Primarily caused by heavy metals from industrial activities, fertilizers, agricultural runoff, and urban waste.

Potential Solutions for Emission Reduction

• Improving fuel efficiency.
• Recycling produced gases.
• Converting harmful gases into harmless products using catalysts.
• Storing gases as liquids or solids.

Understanding Climate Change

Climate change refers to unusual and lasting alterations in the average state of the climate. It can result from natural internal processes, external factors, or human actions affecting the atmosphere, biosphere, or soils.

Biodiversity Loss Connection

Climate change and biodiversity are closely linked. Climate change is a significant driver contributing to the loss of biodiversity.

Sustainable Land Management Approach

Environmental Problems Context

• Environmental problems are global in scale.
• They often stem from prevailing development models and have significant social impacts.

Sustainability Framework

Sustainability is a development model aiming to harmoniously integrate three key aspects:

• Environmental protection.
• Economic viability.
• Social equity.