Why Should You Care About the Environment

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Why Should You Care About the Environment?

• Wade B. Worthen

Biology Department, Furman University,
Greenville, SC
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Overview - Some facts about humans - Some
facts about ecological systems - How are we
doing? - Preserving forests case studies
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Some facts about humansA. What we use now -
We are animals. We require food, clean water, and
air - We use 50 of the Earths land area for
food production (and most of the remainder is
not farmable) - We use 50 of the Earths
available fresh water - We use 40 of the Net
Primary Productivity (NPP is new plant growth
it is the base of the food pyramid for all
terrestrial communities). - We are changing the
climate of the planet
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Some facts about humansB. Population growth1
billion 18002 billion 1927 (127 years
later)3 billion 1960 (33 years later)4
billion 1974 (17 years later)5 billion
1987 (13 years later)6 billion 1999 (12
years later)2004 6.3 billion, adding 80
million each year (10 NYCs) U.N. medium
projection 8.9 billion in 2050, almost all
growth in developing, tropical countries.
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Some facts about humansC. Two big questions
- (quantitative) Given our current pattern of
resource use, will the Earth be able to sustain
a population of 9 billion humans? -
(qualitative) Will the quality of life change?
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Some facts about humansC. What do we want for
the future? - - - -
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Some facts about humansC. What do we want for
the future? - - - -
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Some facts about humansC. What do we want for
the future? - - - -
I want world peace
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Some facts about humansC. What do we want for
the future? - World Peace - - -
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Some facts about humansC. What do we want for
the future? - World Peace - - -
Democracy is the government of the people, by
the people, for the people
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Some facts about humansC. What do we want for
the future? - World Peace - stable, moral
governments - -
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Some facts about humansC. What do we want for
the future? - World Peace - stable, moral
governments - -
Woo-hoo!!
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Some facts about humansC. What do we want for
the future? - World Peace - stable, moral
governments - stable, productive economies -

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Some facts about humansC. What do we want for
the future? - World Peace - stable, moral
governments - stable, productive economies -

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Some facts about humansC. What do we want for
the future? - World Peace - stable, moral
governments - stable, productive economies -
stable, productive food supply
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Some facts about humansD. How can we get
there? - A stable, productive food supply
Stable, productive economies Stable,
productive, moral governments Peace and
happiness for our children
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Some facts about humansD. How can we get
there? stable food supply
productive economies Happy
peoplestable, moral governments To achieve
ONE goal, we must achieve ALL goals...
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Some facts about ecological systemsA. What
they do for humans - They produce all our
food - They produce and clean our water - They
produce the oxygen we breathe and they clean
our air.
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Some facts about ecological systemsB. How they
do it
O2
CO2 Water Soil nutrients
Filtered water
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• Some facts about ecological systems
• B. How they do it
• - And different plants
• use slightly different
• resources and make
• different types of food.

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• Some facts about ecological systems
• C. What diversity does
• - 1. Diversity increases productivity
• Rainforests are 4X more productive than
• agricultural fields so they make more food,
• filter more water, and filter more air.

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• Some facts about ecological systems
• C. What diversity does
• - 1. Diversity increases productivity
• Even agricultural polycultures are more
• productive than low diversity
  monocultures.
• (However, they are more difficult to harvest)

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Some facts about ecological systemsC. What
diversity does - 2. Diversity increases
stability Monocultures are not very resistant
a single pathogen or disturbance can wipe out the
entire community.- diverse systems are more
stable
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Some facts about ecological systemsD. All
species are not equal - Keystone species
exert a disproportionate effect on their
communities
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Some facts about ecological systemsD. All
species are not equal - Keystone species
exert a disproportionate effect on their
communities - As species are lost, it becomes
more likely that a keystone species will be lost
resulting in a dramatic further reduction in
diversity and ecosystem function.
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Some facts about ecological systemsD. All
species are not equal
Cougar
Cougar
Deer
Deer overpopulate
Plants
Plants overgrazed
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Some facts about ecological systemsE. Some
basic food-web energetics
CARNIVORES
(inefficiency)
HERBIVORES
PLANTS
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Some facts about ecological systemsE. Some
basic food-web energetics
CARNIVORES
HERBIVORES
PLANTS
There is more food lower on the food chain.
Eating predators is energetically wasteful
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Some facts about ecological systemsE. Some
basic food-web energetics
Area Effects
CARNIVORES
HERBIVORES
PLANTS
LARGE AREA OF HABITAT
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Some facts about ecological systemsE. Some
basic food-web energetics
HABITAT FRAGMENTATION
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Some facts about ecological systemsE. Some
basic food-web energetics
Carnivores cant be supported herbivores
overgraze land, soil nutrients depleted.
HABITAT FRAGMENTATION
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Some facts about ecological systems - So if we
want productive, stable ecological systems, we
MUST preserve biodiversity it is FUNCTIONALLY
important.
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How are we doing?A. Food - Food production
per person has declined for grain (-11), beef
(-15), and fish (-17) since the1980s
Brown, L. (2001). Eco-economy.
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How are we doing?A. Food - Food production
per person has declined for grain (-11), beef
(-15), and fish (-17) since the1980s -
although yield/hectare increased 4X from 1950 to
1990 (green revolution), it is flat since
then. Brown, L. (2001). Eco-economy.
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How are we doing?A. Food - Food production
per person has declined for grain (-11), beef
(-15), and fish (-17) since the1980s -
although yield/hectare increased 4X from 1950 to
1990 (green revolution), it is flat since
then. - total meat production has increased 5X
since 1950, although the population has only
increased 3X. (Eating meat is LESS efficient
than eating grains). Brown, L. (2001).
Eco-economy.
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How are we doing?B. Natural Fisheries -
Global fish catch is declining by 500,000 metric
tons/yr from peak in 1987 (Science, 2003). -
Predatory fish (tuna, salmon) and bottom fish
(flounder, sole) have decreased by 90.
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How are we doing?B. Natural Fisheries -
Global fish catch is declining by 500,000 metric
tons/yr from peak in 1987 (Science, 2003). -
Predatory fish (tuna, salmon) and bottom fish
(flounder, sole) have decreased by 90. - Farmed
salmon and trout are FED other fish, further
increasing pressures on natural fisheries.
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How are we doing?C. Effects on Diversity -
Habitat loss and fragmentation reduce diversity

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How are we doing?C. Effects on Diversity -
Habitat loss and fragmentation reduce diversity
- Climate change may be more important. Based on
the distribution of 1,103 species ranging over
20 of the Earths land surface area, continued
climate change may lead to the extinction of
15-37 of these species by 2050 if climatic
trends continue (Thomas et al. 2004, Nature).
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How are we doing?D. Summary - We need
diverse ecosystems to sustain the existing human
population.
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How are we doing?D. Summary - We need
diverse ecosystems to sustain the existing human
population. - These services will be even more
important as the population increases.
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How are we doing?D. Summary - We need
diverse ecosystems to sustain the existing human
population. - These services will be even more
important as the population increases. - Our
current practice of over-exploitation of
resources is contrary to our long-term goals.
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Case Studies

• Overview about Rainforests
• Preserving Biodiversity
• Case Studies
• - Ecuador and Oil
• - Costa Rica and Ecotourism
• - Brazil The Future of the Amazon

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RAINFOREST OVERVIEW

• General Characteristics gt 10cm rain/month, mean
  temp 26oC
• Variable 40 types, differing in rainfall. LA
  4m/yr Africa 1.5m/yr
• 2 of Earths Surface Area 21 Earths NPP
  50 Earths species

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RAINFOREST OVERVIEW

• Form and Function
• Trees 60m tall lots of layers,
• 50 more biomass/unit area
• than deciduous forests in US
• Nutrients in biomass, not soil
• Decomposition is rapid,
• recycling nutrients to biomass
• Volatiles from trees - condensation nuclei -
  CAUSE rainfall
• A RAINFOREST FEEDS ITSELF NUTRIENTS AND WATER

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RAINFOREST OVERVIEW
Why do you value cultural diversity? Why Do you
value history and our libraries? We have a
reverence for uniqueness, creativity, and
knowledge.
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PRESERVING BIODIVERSITY
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PRESERVING BIODIVERSITY
A
A
A B C D E F G H
A B
A
Fragmentation selects for generalist species that
can live in variable, frequently disturbed
habitats. PRODUCES LESS DIVERSE, REDUNDANT
COMMUNITIES
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CASE STUDIES
HUMAN CULTURE
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
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CASE STUDIES USA
In the US, we have used our resources to power
OUR OWN economic growth
RESOURCES
MANUFACTURING
PROFITS and jobs
GOODS AND SERVICES
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CASE STUDIES LATIN AMERICA
In 1989, the rate of rainforest destruction was 1
hectare/second (size of two football fields) it
slowed in the 90s, but has picked back up again,
largely due to Brazils development programs.
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CASE STUDIES LATIN AMERICA
In developing nations, resources have been
exported to grow the economies of the
industrialized world
RESOURCES EXPORTED
DEVELOPING NATIONS
DEBT PLUS INTEREST
PROFITS
MANUFACTURING
LOANS FOR EXTRACTION
GOODS AND SERVICES
INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS
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CASE STUDIES ECUADOR and OIL
Major Oil Reserves attracted foreign investment
Texaco, Gulf, Shell. From 1967-1990, oil
exploration and pipeline construction over the
Andes Ecuador is an OPEC nation (1972). 1992
Lease is up and Ecuador takes over pipeline
operations. 2001 Plan and expansion a second
pipeline through ecologically sensitive
areas. 24 of US oil imports from Latin
America. Saudi Arabia, is 4 source of US oil
imports (Can, Mex, Ven).
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CASE STUDIES ECUADOR and OIL
Effects Spilled 17 million gallons of crude oil
(50 more than the Exxon Valdez spill) Discharge
of 20 billion gallons of wastewater, with
hydro-carbons, heavy metals and other toxic
contaminants abandonment of hundreds of unlined
toxic waste ponds Construction of oil roads
opening more than 2.5 million acres of the forest
to colonization.
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CASE STUDIES ECUADOR and OIL
Effects (cont.) Impact on indigenous
populations. In Ecuador, the Siona, Houroani In
Columbia, the Uwa In Peru, the Nahua 50
different indigenous nationalities live on oil
concession land. Loss of land, pollution of
waterways, skin diseases, stomach ailments,
respiratory diseases, headaches, malnutrition,
and cancer have surfaced in Native communities.
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CASE STUDIES ECUADOR and OIL
Oil in Amazonia - Black Dots wells in
production - Red Dots exploration fronts
concessions granted
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CASE STUDIES COSTA RICA
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CASE STUDIES COSTA RICA
LA SELVA BIOLOGICAL STATION
1970s Deforestation to increase grazing for
fast-food in USA - Grassroots effort to establish
National Parks supported by govt and
conservation agencies (WWF) 1980s Education
programs in public schools through colleges env.
Ed. Programs and ecotourism 1990s Merck and
Bioprospecting increase protected lands to 24
of country. Ecoutourism 1 export 2000
Considering a corridor plan to connect protected
areas to reduce fragmentation.
ACROSS THE STREET
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CASE STUDIES COSTA RICA

• Why Did It Work?
• Stable economy and political system
• - No Army invested money in economy
• Educated populace gt95 literacy rate
• Foreign investment in NON-EXTRACTIVE sectors of
  economy have an educated workforce and a stable
  economy. (Intel)
• Enforcement
• - Had the time to allow ecotourism to grow

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CASE STUDIES BRAZIL
1/3 OF THE WORLDS RAINFOREST LARGEST INTACT
EXPANSES OF RAINFOREST LUNGS OF THE PLANET 20
OF EARTH RIVER RUNOFF - AMAZON
TIMBER MAHOGANY, ETC. MINERALS GOLD,
DIAMONDS AGRICULTURAL LAND OIL
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CASE STUDIES BRAZIL
1975
1986
1992
2000
Rodonia, southwest Brazil - Opened on loans
from the IMF and World Bank. - Settlements and
increased fragmentation. - Forest destruction
from 1995 to 2000 averaged almost two million
hectares a yearequivalent to seven football
field a minute. William Laurance of the
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
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CASE STUDIES BRAZIL
AVANCA BRAZIL (Advance Brazil) Government to
invest 40 billion in new highways, railroads,
hydroelectric reservoirs, power lines, and gas
lines in the Amazon over the next few years.
About 5000 miles of highways will be paved. The
government claims that these projects will have
only limited effects on the Amazon.
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CASE STUDIES BRAZIL
Laurence et al. (2001) Avanca Brasil project
will result in as much as 40 of the Brazilian
Amazon being deforested or damaged in the next 20
years, and only 5 continuing to exist in wild
and pristine conditions.
EXTREME FRAGMENTATION TOP OPTIMISTIC BOTTOM
PESSIMISTIC
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Conclusion - diversity increases productivity
and stability of natural ecosystems.
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Conclusion - diversity increases productivity
and stability of natural ecosystems. - we are
increasingly dependent on the global stability
and productivity of natural ecosystems.
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Conclusion - diversity increases productivity
and stability of natural ecosystems. - we are
increasingly dependent on the global stability
and productivity of natural ecosystems.- so, we
need to preserve system diversity so that
adequate food, water, and clean air production
can be sustained.
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Conclusion - diversity increases productivity
and stability of natural ecosystems. - we are
increasingly dependent on the global stability
and productivity of natural ecosystems.- so, we
need to preserve system diversity so that
adequate food, water, and clean air production
can be sustained. - the stability and integrity
of our economies and political systems depend on
it. - BIODIVERSITY MATTERS. NOW.- CLIMATE
CHANGE MATTERS. NOW.
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Conclusion
I want to preserve the integrity of ecological
systems....