PLM Sustainable Tourism Module 2 PDF

Module 2: Introduction to Ecosphere Mr. Adrian Jasper C. Cruz, MBA-TQM, PH.D.-Mgt. (Cand.) Doctor of Philosophy major in Management (Candidate) De La Salle Araneta University Master of Business Administration major in Total Quality Management...

Module 2: Introduction to Ecosphere Mr. Adrian Jasper C. Cruz, MBA-TQM, PH.D.-Mgt. (Cand.) Doctor of Philosophy major in Management (Candidate) De La Salle Araneta University Master of Business Administration major in Total Quality Management Centro Escolar University College Instructor, Pamantasan Ng Lungsod Ng Maynila (PLM) College Instructor, Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) Terms in Ecology Gaia, which refers to the planet as a living entity. Biosphere, as the totality of living things that are found on Earth. Ecosphere, which refers more broadly to the totality of living organisms on Earth as well as the non-living/inorganic elements of the environment that sustain them. Pioneers in the field of Ecology Aldo Leopold (1949) who developed a land ethic based not just on living entities, but also on the non-living components that comprised the whole. Leopold’s land ethic is one of the earliest direct references to an emerging science of ecocentrism that emphasizes the connectedness between living and non-living entities. Pioneers in the field of Ecology Erich Zimmermann (1951) who provided one of the first comprehensive studies on the natural, social and cultural mechanisms that define the nature of resources. The central and most enduring principle of Zimmermann’s work is the notion that resources ‘are not, they become; they are not static but expand and contract in response to human actions’ (Zimmermann, 1951) Pioneers in the field of Ecology The Maasai of Africa use cattle as currency, as well as sources of meat, milk and blood for consumption. A Maasai’s wealth, therefore, is measured by the number of cattle he has (as well as children). Natural Resources and Tourism Industry It is not such a difficult stretch to see how natural resources play a pivotal role in the tourism industry. Mountains become resources for hiking, mountain biking and/or skiing depending on the needs of a human group in time. Or mountains once mined for the aggregate industry can later be ‘reclaimed’ and used for other purposes such as golf courses. Natural Resources and Tourism Industry In fact, the tourism industry is founded upon and sustained by a number of different categories of resources that are cultural, social, physical and ecological in nature, that once combined result in a dizzying array of attractions, transportation, facilities and types of accommodation that facilitate the supply and demand needs of the tourism industry. Natural Resources and Tourism Industry Natural assets are also referred to as ‘stock’ resources, which refer to nonrenewable resources like coal and oil. ‘Flow’ resources, which include renewable resources like crops, forests, rivers and fisheries. Flow resources are especially important, as is their management. If they are properly managed, there is no limit to the flow of goods and services that humans might use to our advantage. Ecosystem Services Van den Belt and Blake (2015) continue by observing that ‘The stock of natural capital, specifically ecosystem assets, provides an ongoing flow of goods and services, which are referred to as “ecosystem services”’ In Costanza et al.’s (1997) account, ecosystem services may be defined as ‘flows of materials, energy and information from natural capital stocks which combine with manufactured and human capital services to produce human welfare’ General Issues: SDG 14: LIFE BELOW WATER AND SDG 15: LIFE ABOVE LAND Habitat Loss Invasive Alien Species Population Growth Pollution Overharvesting SDG 14: LIFE BELOW WATER AND SDG 15: LIFE ABOVE LAND Munasinghe (1994) has categorized economic value that are linked to environmental assets into personal use values and non-use values, as follows: Personal use value: Direct use value: Outputs that can be consumed directly (food, biomass, recreation, health) Indirect use value: Functional benefits (ecological functions, flood control, storm protection) Option value: Including future direct and indirect use values (biodiversity, habitat conservation) SDG 14: LIFE BELOW WATER AND SDG 15: LIFE ABOVE LAND Non-use values: Bequest value: The value of leaving use and non-use values for offspring (habitats, irreversible change) Existence value: Value from knowledge of continued existence based on moral conviction (habitats, endangered species) Habitat Loss Of all the causes of biodiversity loss, habitat destruction is viewed as the greatest contributing factor, and it is studied on a number of different scales including habitat patches, landscapes, biomes and ecoregions, and in all regions of the world. Invasive Alien Species (IAS) For example, the introduction of Nile perch into Lake Victoria in 1954 for the purpose of increasing fish stocks for fishing (the lake had been over-fished) resulted in the extinction of over 200 native fish species (ISSG, 2004). Population Growth The consequences of population growth were popularized by Paul Ehrlich (1968) in his major work, The Population Bomb, in which the world during the 1970s and 1980s was marked by mass starvation due to population growth outpacing food production. Pollution Pollution is defined as ‘an alteration and contamination of the natural conditions in the environment due to physical, chemical, or biological factors’. An example of physical pollution is artificial light at night, which operates against the natural light and dark cycles of the Earth on its axis. Chemical pollution is recognizable as a form of pollution because of its effects on the natural world with mercury poisoning being a case in point. An example of biological pollution is a virus or bacterium that has an impact on the fitness of another organism. Overharvesting The harvesting of wildlife, although sensitive, has been a conservation strategy for many years. On one side of the debate, proponents argue that the harvesting of a wildlife species is instrumental in guaranteeing its conservation. While hunting can and does increase funding for conservation, there are questions about how much of this money gets into the hands of local people. SDG 13: CLIMATE ACTION Climate change is a change in the statistical properties of the climate system that persists for several decades or longer – usually at least 30 years. These statistical properties include averages, variability and extremes. Climate change may be due natural processes, such as changes in the Sun’s radiation, volcanoes or internal variability in the climate system, or due to human influences such as changes in the composition of the atmosphere or land use. (Australian Academy of Science, 2018)  SDG 13: CLIMATE ACTION Climate change may be due to: (1) natural processes, such as changes in the Sun’s radiation, volcanoes or internal variability in the climate system, or (2) human influences, such as changes in the composition of the atmosphere or land use. (Australian Academy of Science, 2018) SDG 6: CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION Water security is defined as ‘the availability of an acceptable quantity and quality of water for health, livelihoods, ecosystems and production, coupled with an acceptable level of water-related risks to people, environments and economies’ Bakker (2012) argues that water security has attracted considerable attention from the social, natural and medical sciences and policy makers for the following main reasons: 1. threats to drinking water supply systems from contamination, human impacts and poor access; 2. threats to economic growth and human livelihoods from water-related hazards such as floods, droughts, water scarcity, water stress and energy security;  3. threats to water-related ecosystem services from point- and non-point source pollution and increased water consumption; 4. increased hydrological variability from climate change, especially the increase in the amplitude and frequency of droughts and floods. Some of the main issues tied to water include: (2018) Water scarcity affects more than 40% of the global population, and this figure is projected to rise. 663 million people are still without improved drinking water. Each day, nearly 1000 children die due to preventable water and sanitation-related diseases. Some of the main issues tied to water include: (2018) Women in sub-Saharan Africa collectively spend about 40 billion hours a year collecting water. 2.4 billion people worldwide do not have access to basic sanitation services like toilets or latrines. 80% of wastewater from human activities is discharged into waterways without any pollution removal. SDG 7: AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY Critical facts and figures offered by UNEP (2018c) on global energy issues include: Energy is the dominant contributor to climate change, accounting for around 60% of global GHG emissions. More than 40% of the world’s population, 3 billion people, rely on polluting and unhealthy fuels for cooking. Globally, as of 2011, more than 20% of power is generated through renewable sources Thank you!