Resource Management and Environmental Resilience

Science in Disaster Prevention

Science plays a crucial role in predicting and preventing natural disasters. Specialized scientists utilize advanced tools and data to safeguard communities:

• Meteorologists study weather satellite data to predict heavy rains and flooding expected to occur.
• Seismologists monitor the Earth's movements with electronic instruments to forecast seismic activity.
• Volcanologists prepare and publish volcanic hazard maps and information for inhabitants of volcanic areas.
• Oceanographers have developed sophisticated detection systems for tsunamis, such as those in the Pacific Ocean.

Risk maps are a key tool in urban and environmental planning. They enable authorities to authorize or restrict certain activities based on the varying risks to which different areas are subject, thereby enhancing public safety and resilience.

Global Resource Consumption and Scarcity

Humanity relies heavily on Earth's resources for building, transportation, sustenance, and cultural expression. The processing and use of consumer goods require substantial amounts of energy. The rapid increase in global population has been accompanied by a corresponding surge in the consumption of natural resources.

A critical concept in this context is the planet's carrying capacity, which represents the maximum number of people the Earth can sustainably support without environmental degradation.

While no important mineral has been entirely exhausted yet, as materials become scarcer, their price rises. This makes extraction from sites with low mineral concentration unprofitable. Such deposits are often referred to as mineral reserves, though their economic viability fluctuates. For some countries, the possession of valuable resources presents a dual nature: on one hand, the promise of wealth, but on the other, a harsh reality of conflict, injustice, and misery. For example, recent conflicts in the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda have been linked to the presence of coltan, a strategic mineral vital for telecommunications.

Food Security and Land Use

The population increase following the Industrial Revolution led to a great demand for food, which was largely addressed through the massive destruction of forests for cultivation. This historical trend has had lasting environmental consequences.

In marine ecosystems, fish catches have significantly decreased, indicating that fish stocks cannot reproduce fast enough to compensate for the rate of capture. This unsustainable practice is known as overfishing, and it has led to the virtual disappearance of many species.

On land, an alarming statistic reveals that two out of three trees have disappeared since Homo sapiens began farming. The vast spaces once occupied by forests have been converted into cities, pastures, farmland, and roads. This loss is not merely about vegetation; it also impacts the soil that sustains these ecosystems. When forests are cleared, the exposed soil erodes, leading to the desertification of deforested areas. A sustainable alternative is forestry, which involves the rational exploitation and management of forests for timber production while ensuring their long-term health and regeneration.

The Global Water Crisis

Water scarcity is a pressing global issue. On average, each person in Spain uses about 320 gallons of water daily, distributed as follows: 64% for agriculture, 24% for industry, and 12% for domestic use. In stark contrast, people in other countries, such as Mozambique, manage with as little as 5 to 15 gallons per day. Globally, one in three people lacks access to sufficient water, while the minimum recommended for basic needs is 20 to 50 liters per day.

The price of water in Spain is among the lowest in Europe, which can contribute to unsustainable consumption patterns. Key challenges related to water management include:

• Depletion of aquifers
• Salinization of coastal aquifers
• The ongoing need for new reservoirs

Potential solutions to these challenges often involve strategies like water transfers, improved irrigation techniques, and enhanced water conservation efforts.