Environmental Resource Management Lecture 2.1
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Questions and Answers

The concept of Sustainable Development emphasizes considering only economic aspects to ensure a prosperous future.

False (B)

Which of the following is NOT a key characteristic of Sustainable Development?

  • Direction
  • Exclusivity (correct)
  • Adaptability
  • Transparency

What is the fundamental principle of Sustainable Development?

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Sustainable Development recognizes that the world is not made up of separate parts, but rather a ______ system.

<p>holistic</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following aspects to their corresponding category in Sustainable Development:

<p>Economic = Profitability and resource efficiency Environmental = Preservation of natural resources and ecosystems Social = Equity, fairness, and community well-being</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following exemplifies the concept of 'Sustainable Development'?

<p>Utilizing solar energy to minimize reliance on fossil fuels (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Effective environmental resource management should only focus on ecological sustainability.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is a shift from a fragmented view to a holistic view of the world important for Sustainable Development?

<p>A holistic view recognizes the interconnectedness of systems and promotes a harmonious approach to resource management, ensuring sustainability across all domains.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary belief of the anthropocentric view regarding environmental resources?

<p>Parts of the environment only become resources when they hold value for humans. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The ecocentric view argues that parts of the environment have intrinsic value regardless of human interests.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are ecosystem services?

<p>Benefits that people obtain from ecosystems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The willingness to pay for environmental resources reflects their perceived _____ to humans.

<p>value</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following valuation methods with their definitions:

<p>Avoided cost = Costs avoided by having ecosystem services Replacement cost = Costs associated with building a system Factor income = Services create income for people</p> Signup and view all the answers

What estimated global value of ecosystem services was provided by Constanza et al. in 2014?

<p>$125 trillion/year (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which valuation method focuses on the economic benefits created by ecosystem services?

<p>Factor income (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Trade-offs in valuation do not need to consider individual perceptions of benefits.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Ecosystem services are not crucial for human well-being.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What factors need to be considered when assessing the value of a wetland for storm protection?

<p>Downstream flooding, historical damage, infrastructure location, sedimentation, contaminant transport, population distribution.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What two perspectives are compared when discussing values towards environmental resources?

<p>Anthropocentric and Ecocentric</p> Signup and view all the answers

The estimated loss due to land cover change is between $ ___ to $ ___ trillion/year.

<p>4.3, 20.2</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their definitions:

<p>Anthropocentric = Human-centered perspective Ecocentric = Ecosystem-centered perspective Ecosystem Services = Benefits provided by ecosystems to humans CICES = Classification system for ecosystem services</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact on ecosystem services when ecosystems change?

<p>Their value and services may be altered. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The global GDP is estimated to be higher than the global value of ecosystem services.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES)?

<p>To classify and categorize ecosystem services.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of resilience refers to the maximum potential change a system can undergo before it loses its ability to recover?

<p>Latitude (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Degraded ecosystems are generally more effective at providing ecosystem services than healthy ecosystems.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the ease or difficulty of changing a system's state?

<p>Resistance</p> Signup and view all the answers

The movement of the ball downhill represents a _____ change of an ecosystem.

<p>gradual</p> Signup and view all the answers

What could cause a forest to shift into a different ecosystem?

<p>Large perturbations plus multiple influencing factors (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following aspects of resilience with their descriptions:

<p>Resistance = Ease or difficulty of system change Precariousness = Closeness to a threshold limit Latitude = Maximum recoverable change Panarchy = Influence of other scales on resistance</p> Signup and view all the answers

The belief that sustaining an ideal state is realistic is based on the assumption of only minor future changes.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by precariousness in an ecosystem?

<p>Closeness to a threshold</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary goal of sustainable resource management?

<p>Enhancing system resilience (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Optimizing a complex system for a specific goal increases its resilience.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does uncertainty imply in the context of resource management?

<p>Imperfect and/or unknown information</p> Signup and view all the answers

A situation where predictions of future events are difficult due to complexity is referred to as _____ .

<p>uncertainty</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a consequence of removing redundancy in ecological systems?

<p>Greater sensitivity to external influences (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What should proposals for sustainable development acknowledge?

<p>A system's resilience</p> Signup and view all the answers

The behavior of social, ecological, and economic systems can be easily predicted and established.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of avoided cost in ecosystem services?

<p>Health costs avoided by wetland habitats (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The primary purpose of hedonic pricing is to reflect the value of ecosystem services through the prices people pay for associated goods.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of US food production is reliant on crop pollination by bees?

<p>15-30%</p> Signup and view all the answers

Ecosystem services enhance or provide __________ to society.

<p>income</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the valuation method with its description:

<p>Travel cost = Cost reflects implied value of the service for experiences Hedonic pricing = Service value reflected in prices of associated goods Contingent valuation = Value of service reflected in alternatives' prices Replacement cost = Cost of replacing natural services with man-made systems</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a method of ecosystem service valuation?

<p>Market analysis (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Intensification of agricultural practices enhances pollination services.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What must be maintained to prevent the prohibitive costs associated with engineered services?

<p>Ecosystem services</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Ecosystem Resilience

The ability of an ecosystem to withstand change and recover from disturbances.

Ecosystem Services

Benefits provided by ecosystems that support human life and well-being.

Value of Ecosystem Services

The estimated economic worth of services provided by ecosystems, e.g., $125 trillion/year.

Land Cover Change Impact

Economic loss ranging from $4.3 to 20.2 trillion/year due to changes in land cover.

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Anthropocentric View

A perspective that places human needs and interests above those of the environment.

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Ecocentric View

A perspective that values ecosystems and non-human life equally or more than human interests.

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CICES

Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services, a framework for categorizing services.

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Fear of Change

An emotional response to potential impacts of ecosystem changes on well-being and economics.

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Resource definition

Parts of the environment that have value to humans.

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Valuation

Assessment of trade-offs to achieve goals related to ecosystem services.

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Avoided cost

Savings from preventing issues through ecosystem services.

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Replacement cost

Cost incurred to create a substitute for an ecosystem service.

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Factor income

Income generated by services provided by ecosystems.

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Pollination Enhancement

Oak-woodland habitat within 1-2 km aids crop pollination by bees.

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Sustainable Development

Development that meets present needs without compromising future generations' needs.

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Key Aspects of Sustainable Development

Requires direction, transparency, adaptability, and consideration of economics, environment, and society.

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Inter-Generational Equity

The principle of fairness between present and future generations.

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Resource Management Perspectives

Effective management considers ecological, social (ethics), and economic perspectives.

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Holistic View

Shift from seeing the world as parts to understanding it as a whole system of interactions.

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Environmental Resource Conflicts

Conflicts arise between resource use and environmental protection.

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System Governance in Sustainability

Requires transparent governance and adaptive management for sustainability efforts.

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Travel Cost Valuation

Value derived from how much people are willing to pay to access services.

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Hedonic Pricing

Price of related goods reflects the value of ecosystem services.

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Contingent Valuation

Value of a service based on alternatives people are willing to pay for.

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Crop Pollination by Bees

Crucial service for food production, reliant on bee populations.

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Resistance

The ease or difficulty of changing an ecosystem.

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Precariousness

The proximity of an ecosystem to a critical limit or threshold.

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Latitude

The maximum change an ecosystem can sustain before losing recovery ability.

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Panarchy

Influence of processes at different scales affecting ecosystem resistance.

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Degraded Ecosystems

Ecosystems that have been disturbed and may be stable but less productive.

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Shifting Ecosystem

A change in ecosystem type due to large perturbations or multiple influences.

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Sustaining Ideal State

Best practices to maintain a system’s goods and services without over-extraction.

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Herbicides and Pesticides

Chemicals used to control unwanted plants (weeds) and insects in agriculture.

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System Resilience

The capacity of a system to absorb disturbances and reorganize while undergoing change.

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Optimal State

The best condition for achieving certain goals within a system.

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Sensitivity to Changes

The increased vulnerability of a system to external disturbances due to optimization.

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Sustainability and Resilience

Sustainable development focuses on enhancing system resilience, not optimizing individual parts.

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Uncertainty in Systems

The lack of certain knowledge about the behavior of complex systems.

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Drivers of Uncertainty

Factors causing unpredictability in ecological, social, and economic systems.

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Complex System Behavior

The unpredictable response of systems made of multiple interacting components.

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Study Notes

Environmental Resource Management - Lecture 2.1

  • Ecosystem Resilience vs. Change and Conflict:
    • Humans, the environment, and their interactions experience periods of stability and change.
    • Ecosystem changes can affect ecosystem services (e.g., water purification, pollination).
    • Recognizing the causes of change is crucial for managing ecosystems resiliently.

Ecosystem Services Valuation

  • Ecosystem Value:
    • Ecosystem services have significant global value (e.g., $125 trillion/yr)
    • Land cover change decreases ecosystem value by $4.3-20.2 trillion/year.
    • Total value varies per hectare per year ($40 - $20,000).
  • Factors affecting Value:
    • Socioeconomic and personal values can impact how we consider the environment.
    • Using monetary values can be useful but carries trade-offs in describing ecosystem worth.

Anthropocentric vs. Ecocentric Views

  • Anthropocentric vs. Ecocentric:
    • Anthropocentric view: parts of the environment are resources only if needed by humans.
    • Ecocentric/biocentric view: resources exist independently; they have inherent value, regardless of human need.

Sustainable Development and Ecosystem Services

  • Sustainable Development:
    • Direction, transparency, adaptability, considering economic, environmental, and social aspects.
    • Meeting present needs without compromising future generations' needs.
    • Requires a shift in values, policies, processes, and practices.
  • Resilience:
    • The ability of a system to absorb disturbance and retain function/structure.
    • Natural systems show resilience despite human impacts. Ecosystems can even gain from disturbances.
    • Systems can change rapidly and non-linearly.

Uncertainty and Conflict

  • Uncertainty:
    • Imperfect information, unknown factors, difficult to completely assess systems' behavior in advance.
    • Uncertainty exists in measurements, even when substantial resources are devoted to understanding a system's behavior and predicting their future.
    • Drivers of complex systems involve constant, random, and monotonic factors. Interactions between systems increase uncertainty when it is considered.
  • Conflicts:
    • Conflicts arise due to differing values, interests, needs, or actions that impact a system.
    • Conflicts might be beneficial (clarifying issues, fostering understanding) but they might also be detrimental (creating biases and mistrust).

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Related Documents

GEOG 3075 Environmental Resource Management Lecture Notes PDF

Description

Explore the complexities of ecosystem resilience and the valuation of ecosystem services in this lecture. Understand how human interactions with the environment influence stability and change, and learn about the monetary implications of ecosystem value. This quiz will deepen your insights into anthropocentric and ecocentric perspectives.

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