Untitled Quiz

Module 2: Introduction to Ecosphere

• Adrian Jasper C. Cruz is an MBA-TQM, PhD-Mgt. candidate at De La Salle Araneta University.
• He has a Master of Business Administration in Total Quality Management from Centro Escolar University.
• He is a college instructor at Pamantasan Ng Lungsod Ng Maynila (PLM) and Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU).

Terms in Ecology

• Gaia refers to the planet as a living entity.
• Biosphere describes the totality of living things on Earth.
• Ecosphere encompasses all living organisms on Earth and the non-living/inorganic elements that support them.

Pioneers in the field of Ecology

• Aldo Leopold (1949) developed a land ethic that considered both living and non-living components.
• Leopold's land ethic is a key reference to ecocentrism, emphasizing the interconnectedness between living and non-living entities.
• Erich Zimmermann (1951) provided comprehensive studies on natural, social, and cultural mechanisms defining resources.
• Zimmermann noted resources evolve rather than remain static, reacting to human actions.

Pioneers in the field of Ecology (continued)

• The Maasai of Africa use cattle as currency and sustenance (meat, milk, blood).
• Maasai wealth is measured by the number of cattle owned.

Natural Resources and Tourism Industry

• Natural resources play a significant role in the tourism industry.
• Mountains can be a resource for activities like hiking, mountain biking and skiing.
• Resources, initially mined for unrelated industrial purposes, can be repurposed later (e.g., golf courses).
• The tourism industry relies on a variety of cultural, social, physical, and ecological resources to create various commercial attractions, transportation, facilities, and accommodations.

Natural Resources and Tourism Industry (continued)

• Natural assets are called stock resources. These are non-renewable resources like coal and oil.
• Flow resources are renewable resources, like crops, forests, rivers and fisheries. Proper management of flow resources fosters continued availability.

Ecosystem Services

• Van den Belt and Blake (2015) noted ecosystem assets (natural capital) as constantly generating services.
• Costanza et al. (1997) defined ecosystem services as flows of materials, energy, and information, which combine with manufactured and human capital to produce human welfare.

Ecosystem Assets & Natural Resources

• Details of various types of biodiversity stock and the natural resources they include, encompassing a range of ecological assets, including forests, minerals, water sources, and various aspects of landscapes.

Box 2.1 Ecosystem service definitions

• Ecosystem services contribute to human well-being.
• Ecosystem processes are changes within ecosystems. (physical, chemical, or biological)
• Ecosystem functions relate to the ecosystem's capacity to provide goods and services.
• The supply of ecosystem services refers to the capacity of an area to provide a particular bundle of goods and services.
• Demand for ecosystem services is the total consumption and usage over a given period.
• Ecosystem footprint measures the area needed to supply the goods and services used over a period of time.

Table 2.1 Ecosystem functions, processes and components, and goods and services

• This table provides details of various functions, components, and services of ecosystems.
• It breaks the functions into general categories focused on life support.
• Sub-categories, such as gas regulation, climate, disturbance prevention, and water regulation, are discussed in different rows.

Habitat Functions

• Discusses various functions providing habitats for plant and animal life.
• It includes specific descriptions for functions like refugium function and nursery function relating to plant and animal survival.

Production Functions

• Discusses functions related to provision of natural resources. This includes provisioning for food, raw materials, and genetic resources and other related functions.

Information functions

• Provides information functions related to opportunity development.

General Issues

• SDG 14: LIFE BELOW WATER AND SDG 15: LIFE ABOVE LAND.
• Specifics of habitat loss, invasive species, population growth, pollution, overharvesting are discussed.

Personal Use Value

• Includes direct and indirect use along with option values.

Non-Use Values

• Includes bequest and existence values.

Box 2.2 Progress of SDGs 14 and 15

• Overview of the progress of SDGs 14 and 15.
• The expansion of protected areas has increased since 2010.

Progress of SDG 15 in 2018

• Protection of forest and terrestrial ecosystems is rising and forest loss is decreasing.
• Shrinkage of forest areas is documented and rates of forest loss have decreased.
• Decline in productivity in vegetation areas impacting livelihoods.
• Decline and threat to biodiversity and wildlife continues to be challenged by loss of habitat, unsustainable agriculture, deforestation, and invasive species.

Table 2.2 Positive and negative contributions of tourism to biodiversity conservation

• Positive and negative impacts of tourism on biodiversity conservation.
• Both positive and negative impacts on conditions and ecosystems are highlighted.

Habitat Loss

• Habitat destruction is the largest contributor to biodiversity loss.

Invasive Alien Species (IAS)

• The introduction of Nile perch into Lake Victoria resulted in the extinction of over 200 native fish species.

Population Growth

• Paul Ehrlich (1968) popularized the consequences of population growth, noting the potential for mass starvation.

Pollution

• Pollution is alterations and contamination.
• Pollution can be physical, chemical, or biological. (examples given)

Overharvesting

• The harvesting of wildlife is sensitive and continues to be a conservation strategy.
• Proponents argue that harvesting can increase conservation efforts through funding, although there are questions about distributing that funding to local communities.

SDG 13: CLIMATE ACTION

• Climate change is a change in statistical properties of the climate.
• Natural and human factors are implicated in climate change.

Box 2.3 Progress of SDG 13 in 2018

• Progress in global ratification of the Paris Agreement.

SDG 6: CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION

• Water security is defined as the availability of acceptable quantity and quality of water.
• Key components of water security, and threats, are highlighted. (e.g., contamination threats, economic threats, ecosystem threats).

Some of the main issues tied to water

• Key concerns of water scarcity, access to drinking water and sanitation-related diseases.

Box 2.4 Progress of SDG 6 in 2018

• Data, relevant to drinking water, sanitation services and the implementation of integrated water resources management are offered.

SDG 7: AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY

• Energy is a dominant contributor to climate change.
• Reliance on polluting fuels and the status of renewable energy is highlighted.

Box 2.5 Progress of SDG 7 in 2018

• Progress is made in relation to clean energy access and the global population with access to electricity.

Figure 2.3 Overview of renewable energy sources

• Renewable energy sources are outlined from a high-level perspective.

Table 2.5 The effect of tourism on destination energy and GHG emissions

• Highlights the tourism sector's effect on energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Direct, indirect, and induced impacts are categorized for distinct economic sectors.