Sustainable Development & Resource Management: Environmental Impact

Sustainable Development & Resource Management

Environmental problems are closely linked to development patterns. This leads us to examine two distinct forms of development: uncontrolled development and sustainable development.

Uncontrolled Development: Environmental Consequences

This approach, based on developmental and liberal theory, remains the dominant system in many developed countries today. It has been described as predatory, exploitative, and ultimately unsustainable.

Since liberal economists did not consider the environment as a system in their economic analysis, they were unable to establish the maximum dimensions of the economic system and disregarded the limits of its expansion, hence the goal of continuous growth.

Sustainable Development Principles & Practices

This concept posits that the primary human problem is the overall alteration of ecosystems, stemming from the degradation of renewable resources, the accumulation of emissions and waste, and the loss of biodiversity. It highlights the incompatibility of current production-consumption approaches with the principles of sustainability. Sustainable development is based on two key premises:

• No true development can occur without preserving and enhancing the environmental foundation upon which it rests.
• Maintaining the planet's ecological health requires promoting the integral development (economic, social, and cultural) of humanity, especially for those marginalized by poverty.

Biological Resource Overexploitation

The resources of the biosphere, including agricultural, forestry, livestock, hunting, and marine resources, are currently being unsustainably managed or overexploited.

Exploitation of Plant Resources & Land Degradation

The exploitation of these resources stems from several factors: overharvesting of wood and clearing of tropical and subtropical forests in developing countries; certain farming techniques that deplete the soil or promote desertification; and livestock practices, such as excessive animal concentration in specific areas, leading to overgrazing, pasture loss, and soil erosion.

Impact of Hunting on Wildlife Populations

Historically, hunting has led to the extinction of many species and is responsible for the alarming decline in others.

Furthermore, the use of methods like poisoned baits or mutilating traps in game reserves can cause significant damage to non-game species, which is particularly serious if those species are threatened (as seen with the Iberian lynx).

Overexploitation of Marine Resources & Bycatch

Overexploitation has caused 60% of traditional fishing areas to show signs of exhaustion.

Especially destructive is 'bycatch' or 'discard fishing,' which involves the release of unwanted, dead catches back into the sea. This discarded material can represent up to three tons for every ton of commercially valuable fish caught. Bycatch includes birds, turtles, marine mammals, sharks, non-commercial fish, and other marine organisms.