Glossary
Biological Diversity
The variety of life on Earth at all its levels, from genes to ecosystems, which contributes to ecosystem resilience and health.
Example:
A forest with high biological diversity is more resistant to widespread disease outbreaks because different species may have varying levels of susceptibility.
Commons
Resources that are shared and accessible to all, not owned by any single individual or entity, making them susceptible to overuse without proper management.
Example:
The Earth's atmosphere, which absorbs pollutants from all countries, is a global commons that requires international cooperation for its protection.
Demand for the Resource
The level of human desire or need for a particular natural resource, which influences its consumption rate and potential for depletion.
Example:
High global demand for the resource like palm oil has led to extensive deforestation in tropical regions.
Environmental Sustainability
The practice of using natural resources and services in a way that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Example:
A city that invests in renewable energy sources and efficient public transportation is demonstrating a commitment to environmental sustainability by reducing its ecological footprint.
Food Production
The processes and systems involved in growing, harvesting, and distributing food for human consumption, which must be managed sustainably to ensure long-term food security.
Example:
Sustainable food production methods, such as organic farming and crop rotation, can reduce soil degradation and water pollution.
Greenhouse Gas Concentrations (CO2, CH4)
The atmospheric levels of gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) that trap heat, contributing to the greenhouse effect and global climate change.
Example:
Reducing greenhouse gas concentrations through policies promoting renewable energy is crucial for mitigating the impacts of climate change.
Human Population Levels
The size and growth rate of the human population, which directly influences the demand for resources and the generation of waste.
Example:
Rapidly increasing human population levels in a region can lead to increased deforestation as more land is needed for agriculture and housing.
Impact of Extraction
The environmental consequences or damage resulting from the process of removing or harvesting a resource from its natural environment.
Example:
The impact of extraction for mineral mining can include significant habitat destruction, soil erosion, and water contamination if not properly mitigated.
Overexploitation
The unsustainable use of a renewable resource to the point where its natural regeneration cannot keep pace with its consumption, leading to its decline or depletion.
Example:
The overexploitation of certain timber species has led to their endangerment and significant loss of forest biodiversity.
Resource Consumption
The rate at which humans use natural resources, including both renewable and non-renewable materials and energy.
Example:
A society with high per capita resource consumption might face challenges in maintaining its lifestyle as finite resources become scarcer.
Resource's Rate of Replenishment
The speed at which a renewable resource naturally renews or regenerates itself after being utilized or harvested.
Example:
Forests with a high resource's rate of replenishment can support more frequent selective logging than slow-growing old-growth forests.
Sustainable Yield
The maximum amount of a renewable resource that can be harvested or used without depleting the resource's base supply, allowing for its natural regeneration.
Example:
Fisheries managers set quotas based on sustainable yield to ensure that enough fish remain in the ocean to reproduce and maintain healthy populations for future seasons.
Tragedy of the Commons
An economic theory describing a situation where individuals, acting independently and rationally in their own self-interest, deplete a shared, unowned resource, even when it is not in anyone's long-term interest.
Example:
The Tragedy of the Commons is often seen in international waters where overfishing by multiple nations can decimate fish stocks without collective regulation.