Natural Resources
& Environmental
Management
Let’s begin!
Introduction to
Environmental
Science
390, 000 new
humans a day
“ The environment is where
we all meet; where we all
have a mutual interest; it
is the one thing all of us
share.
-Lady Bird Johnson
The Connection
Us
What does “environment” means?
⪢ The environment includes all
conditions that surround living
organisms:
○ Climate
○ Air and water quality
○ Soil and landforms
○ Presence of other living
organisms
What does “natural resources” mean?
⪢ Natural resources are raw
materials obtained in the
environment for survival.
○ Water
○ Fisheries
○ Energy
○ Forest
○ Land
○ Mineral
○ Human
What is Environmental Science?
⪢ Environmental science is the
study of the interaction of
humans with the natural
environment.
Environmental science and
the issues that it studies are
complex and interdisciplinary.
○ Includes concepts and
ideas from multiple fields
of study.
■ Natural sciences,
social sciences,
mathematics,
agriculture,
technology
For instance,
○ A community decides to use coal for electricity, as it is
the cheapest source available. (Economics)
○ The coal must be mined from under the soil. (Geology)
○ The coal must be transported to the population center by
road or rail. (Engineering)
○ When it is burned at a power plant, air pollution is
released. Some of that pollution is converted to acid in
the atmosphere. (Chemistry)
○ This falls as acid rain somewhere downwind.
(Meteorology)
○ The acid stresses plants by affecting their nutrient
absorption. (Ecology)
○ Laws are passed requiring the plant to install pollution
scrubbers. (Politics)
The goals:
First: spread awareness
Second: have sustainability
Last: one nation, one planet
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Major
Environmental
Problems
Wag problemahin na wala kang ka-chat.
1. Resource Depletion
○ A great deal of resources are needed to
support the human population (~7 billion).
Renewable resources Non-renewable resources
○ can be replenished ○ replenished extremely
within a human slowly, if at all. These
lifetime. can be used up.
■ Timber, water. ■ Coal, oil, minerals.
1. Resource Depletion
⚫ Coal is a nonrenewable resource. Over time, it
will become more difficult and expensive to
extract.
⚫ This graph represents world coal reserves as of 2008. It is estimated we
have about 250 years of the resource remaining at current rates of use.
2. Pollution
o Pollution is a degradation or an
undesired change in air, water, or soil
that affects the health of living things.
o Misuse and abuse of natural resources.
o Pollution, whether in air or water, can
move and affect ecosystems far away
from the source.
3. Biodiversity Loss
⪢ Biodiversity is variety of life forms
on Earth.
⪢ They are threatened due to
environmental stress caused by
humans.
○ habitat degradation
○ hunting
○ overexploitation
○ global warming
4. Climate Change
○ the long-term changes in climate,
including average temperature and
precipitation. It recognizes that,
although the average surface
temperature may increase, the regional
or local temperature may decrease or
remain constant.
The heat-trapping nature of carbon dioxide and other gases was demonstrated in the mid-19th
century. Their ability to affect the transfer of infrared energy through the atmosphere is the
scientific basis of many instruments flown by NASA. There is no question that increased levels of
greenhouse gases must cause Earth to warm in response.
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277,817,600
Tons of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere as of today (April 6,
2022. 8:30 am)
See live count: [Link]
change/global-warming/global-co2-emissions/story
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23,172,739,000
Whoa! That’s a big number, any guess what does this count?
Resources extracted from the Earth
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Environmental Ethics
⪢ Environmental ethics is the discipline
that studies the moral relationship of
human beings to the environment.
○ What is the value of the
environment?
○ What moral responsibility do we have
in dealing with the major
environmental problems that result
from our resource consumption?
○ Which needs should be given the
highest priority in our decision
making?
Two Main Categories of Environmental Ethics
⪢ Anthropocentrism ⪢ Ecocentrism –
literally means ecosystem-centered
“human-centered”. ⪢ believes that nature
deserves to exist for its
○ This set of ethics
own sake regardless of
protects and
degree of usefulness to
promotes of human
humans.
interests or well-
being at the expense ○ The preservation
of all other factors. of ecosystems or
other living things
takes priority over
human needs.
Hetch Hetchy Debate
The debate about whether to build a dam in the Hetch Hetchy valley was one of the
first big debates between these two philosophies.
Anthropocentrists Ecocentrists
argued that San argued that
Francisco needed this violated
the water, and this the very
was by far the purpose of the
most viable Federal Parks
option. were to be
preserved
ecosystems –
untouched by
human hands.
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The dam was eventually constructed.
The justification for building it was best stated by Gifford Pinochet, the
first man in charge of the U.S. Forest Service.
"Where conflicting interests must be reconciled, the question shall
always be answered from the standpoint of the greatest good of the
greatest number in the long run.
This philosophy, called resource conservationism, was also advocated by
Teddy Roosevelt.
Before and After
Modern Environmentalism
⪢ In 1952, the Cuyahoga river in Ohio caught fire
due to all the pollution that had accumulated
in it.
⪢ Rachel Carson published a book in 1962
entitled Silent Spring about the effects of
pesticides on large predatory birds,
particularly the bald eagle.
○ This began a public awakening to threats
of pollution and toxic chemicals to
humans as well as other species.
○ This movement is called Modern
Environmentalism.
The Tragedy of the
Commons
Garrett Hardin
A great deal of progress has been made
since the birth of modern
environmentalism, but many debates
still rage on.
An ecologist named Garrett Hardin wrote
an essay called “The Tragedy of the
Commons”, describing the source of
environmental problems as a conflict:
Short-term interests of individuals
versus…
Long-term interests of civilization
and the Earth itself
A small village consists mostly of
farmers that raise and sell sheep at a
nearby city.
The only place for the sheep to graze is a
commons in the center of the
village.
A commons is an area that belongs
to no individual; it is shared by
the entire society.
Likely outcome: Villagers obtain as
many sheep as possible, allow to
graze in the commons.
Maximize short-term financial
gain.
What if the commons was instead
divided into sections that was
owned by each villager?
Because the land is owned,
individuals are much more
likely to plan and use it for
the long-term.
Thanks!
Any questions?
Just comment it!
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Answer this.
Why is sustainable
development so often associated
with protecting the
environment?
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References:
Enger, E. D., & Smith, B. (2016). Environmental
science: A study of interrelationships (14th ed.).
McGraw-Hill Education.
Letcher, T. M., & Vallero, D. A. (Eds.). (2019). Waste: A
handbook for management (2nd ed.). Academic Press.
Asinas, J.A. College of Arts & Sciences.
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