Capacity Of Natural Ecosystems Research Articles

Anthropocene: Human Activity Impact on the Climate and Environment

The environment undergoes shifts across various timescales, yet presently, human intervention remains the primary solution provider and is likely to persist in this role for the next few centuries. While it is widely recognised that human-induced, or anthropogenic, climate change contributes to global warming, what is often underestimated are the direct impacts of heavy rainfall, droughts, and storms, incurring significant costs for both society and the environment. The expansion of human populations has led to the conversion of natural ecosystems for agricultural, industrial, and residential purposes, creating a demand for environmental inputs such as fresh water, fiber, and soil fertility. This heightened demand puts increased pressure on the capacity of natural ecosystems. Deforestation, expanding agriculture, illegal fishing and hunting, unplanned tourism, and pesticide pollution have collectively led to the progressive degradation of natural habitats. The consequence is a loss of biodiversity and the removal of forests, disrupting the food and shelter sources for wildlife residing in these ecosystems. Scientific research aims to comprehend the scale of biodiversity, and land use, and contribute to mitigating the impacts of land use changes.

Competence and innovative, humanistic education as the basis of sustainable development of the modern world

The article deals with topical issues of interaction between human and natural systems and the role of education in these processes Attention is focused on the fact that the further development of society oriented only increase production capacity and meet its consumers’ interests, does not meet the laws of nature and leads to the destruction of humanity. This is due to the fact that the pressure of human society on the environment is growing, and the capacity of natural ecosystems is limited. It is shown that the basis of the nature-consuming philosophy of mankind must be changed to a new ecological and economic worldview, in which social development must acquire a humanistic and ecological orientation. Natural resources in such a scheme should be viewed not only as a means of development of productive forces, but also as a factor in the environment in which mankind lives. The main role in the implementation of goals of sustainable development in a given area of the modern urban world is given to changing the paradigm of the educational process, its reorientation from the mechanical transfer of knowledge to the formation of professional competencies, innovation and humanistic worldview.

The Use of Weblog as Innovative Tool for Environmental Advocacy of College and Graduate School Students

Environmental deprivation is now becoming a grave concern in this century. The massive progression of technology somehow resulted to a negative rebound effect to the life supporting capacity of natural ecosystems. Despite of this technological downbeat, people are becoming dependent on technology, which is now reshaping the lifestyle of every person. This increasing technological dependence, however, makes it imperative for institutions to offer an innovative tool to optimize environmental awareness. Recognizing the potential of technology on environmental advocacy, this paper presents a concrete innovation on how weblog be used to promote environmental sustainability to make it responsive to the sustainability mantra. Moreover, this study employed a descriptive-comparative design to determine the difference between the attitudes of college and graduate school students towards the use of weblog as a tool for environmental advocacy. Independent T-test was utilized to compare its mean difference. Pulled by the increasing challenge on environmental sustainability, this successful innovation has been developed, and found to be significant and attainable. Results revealed that college and master’s students have a positive attitude towards weblog as a tool for environmental advocacy. Practical Implications - The key ingredient of this innovation is to utilize weblog as a platform to develop environmental advocacy for college and graduate students. This innovation is highly suitable for multi-disciplinary students; and is supported by the actual, students’ output which can be found in the website.

The change in values for ecological footprint indices following land-use change in a Loess Plateau watershed in China

Sustainability was defined as the continuous support of human quality of life within a region’s ecological carrying capacity. Ecological footprint was a quantitatively measuring indicator to analyze the sustainable use of natural resources and had been widely used to evaluate whether the development of a certain region was within the range of the capacity of natural ecosystem. In the present study, production data, consumption data and statistics communique of Zhifanggou watershed were analyzed to determine per capita ecological footprint, biological carrying capacity and related indices. On the basis of theory a model was applied that showed the biologically productive land area required by a defined population—ecological footprint model before and after grain for green policy. Result showed that after introducing the grain for green policy, per capita ecological footprint was reduced from 0.733 to 0.650 hm2 cap−1 and biological capacity was increased from 1.559 to 1.567 hm2 cap−1. There was a surplus of ecosystem resources both before and after the grain for green policy and this increased as a result of the policy. The related ecological footprint indices analysis showed that 10,000 RMB of GDP of ecological footprint was reduced, but ecological efficiency, ecological footprint index, bio-diversity of ecological footprint and system development ability increased Results demonstrated that conditions in this watershed improved and development potential was enhanced. Meanwhile, the sensitive index of forestland was strengthened more than other biological productive areas after introducing the policy. In adjusting and improving the land use structure created a resource-saving mode, forming resource-saving increase mode gradually, and triggering sustained consumption which will improve the ecological environment of zhifanggou watershed in the future.

Human Ecology for Introductory Biology Courses: An Overview

Human ecology, specifically the population—resource—environment dilemma, should be given thorough coverage in every introductory biology course. To aid educators in integrating it into the course, the subject is outlined here and suggestions are given on what topics should be emphasized and how they might be introduced to students. Special attention is given to the fundamental role of population growth in the dilemma, and to the complex interactions among population growth, depletion of resources, and environmental deterioration. Today's human population size appears to be above the long-term carrying capacity of Earth, and is only maintained (albeit often badly) by the exploitation of a “one-time bonanza” of fertile soils, fossil fuels, concentrated ores, ground water, and other species of organisms. If current trends continue, the depletion of these resources will progressively degrade the human environment, destroying the capacity ofnatural ecosystems to supply civilization with indispensible services. The results will be in increasing frequency and severity of disasters, especially famines, that will at first most seriously affect the poor. But the rich will increasingly be impoverished, and be engulfed also. The basic solution to the dilemma is reduction of the size of the human population to one well below the long-term carrying capacity (one living on resource “income” rather than “capital”) and establishing an equitable society with a sustainable economic system.