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Introduction to the History of Environmental Science Text: Chapter 2 pgs. 22-271 Environmental Science Cont’d Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary field. Includes concepts and ideas from several different branches of science 2 Environmental Science How can we define environmental science? An interdisciplinary science which investigates issues caused by humans using the natural world (our environment). It tries to identify and then find remedies for harmful problems. How humans interact with nature Environmental Science What are some of the important areas of study associated with environmental science? Biology Ecology Chemistry Earth science Political science Economics Ethics and philosophy Environment What is the Environment? Conditions that surround living organisms including climate, soil, and other organisms. 5 Major Concerns of Environmental Science Human population: underlying most of the environmental issues of today Sustainability: continued availability of resources (future generations or economy?) Global perspective: planetary environment, not only local or regional effects, we are in a large-scale planetary experiment Urban world: increasing problems due to neglect, also considered an ecological community Values, knowledge, social justice: understanding our values and identifying those which are socially just Spaceship Earth 7 Spaceship Earth At one point Earth was an Open System Earth is a Closed System Both matter and energy was cycled between earth and the external environment. All mater is cycled within the biosphere The only thing that enters or leaves the Earth in large quantities is HEAT (energy). Problems with Closed Systems Resources are limited, but the population continues to increase Wastes do not go away 8 Major Environmental Problems Resource Depletion Resources can be renewable (water) or nonrenewable (oil) The supply of fossil fuels and metals will eventually run out. Pollution Undesired change in air, water, or soil that affects the health of living things. 9 Major Environmental Problems Loss of Biodiversity The number and variety of species is decreasing. Extinction – Natural or man-made? The Tasmanian tiger may be the only mammal to become extinct in the past 200 years on the island of Tasmania. During the same period of time, on nearby Australia, as much as 50 percent of all mammals became extinct. 10 4 Main Cultural Changes and the Environment Hunters-Gatherers Agricultural revolution Industrial revolution Information and globalization revolution Hunters-Gatherers Hunter-Gatherers (10,000 B.C.) Obtain food by collecting plants and hunting wild animals. How did they affect the environment? Hunted and killed animals Picked up and spread plants/seeds to new areas. 12 Hunters-Gatherers Most of human existence Collect edible plants, fish, hunt Lived in small bands Worked together to survive Nomadic Population grew slowly Small environmental impact Hunters-Gatherers The indigenous people of South Africa are variously referred to as Bushmen, San, Sho, Barwa, Kung, or Khwe. These people were traditionally hunters and gathers. They were recently switched to farming due to government mandated modernization. Agricultural Revolution Agricultural Revolution (6000-7000 B.C.) Humans first developed the process of breeding, growing, and harvesting plants for food. How did this affect the environment? Human population grew quickly Natural habitats (grasslands, rainforests) replaced by farmland and villages. New breeds of animals and plants were created. 15 Agricultural Revolution Hunters and Gathers settled, agricultural communities Plant cultivation developed Slash and burn/shifting cultivation Sustainable Little impact on the environment-no machinery ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY The ability to allow the environment to function indefinitely without going into a decline from the stresses imposed by human society on natural recourses. Spaceship Earth 18 1 Clearing and burning vegetation 2 Planting Allowing to revegetate 10 to 30 years 4 3 Harvesting for 2 to 5 years Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution (1700s Europe 1800s US) Shift in the source of energy to fossil fuels How did this affect the environment? Increased the efficiency of farming Increased the size of cities Introduced plastics, pesticides, fertilizers and air pollution. 20 Industrial Revolution Cultural shifts Renewable (can be replenished with time) nonrenewable (can not be replenished with time) Localized goods large scale, machine made Rural Urban Increased crop yields/acre w/ farm machinery Population ↑ sharply Environmental impact ↑ More goods, More people, More problems Environmental History of the US 4 Eras The environmental history of the US can be divided into 4 eras: Tribal Frontier Early conservation Modern Envrionmentalism Environmental History of the US Tribal Era Native Americans 10,000 years before European settlement Hunters and Gatherers Slash and burn/shifting cultivation Small population Low environmental impact Environmental History of the US Frontier Era Early 1600’s—European settlement Frontier environmental worldview—vast and inexhaustible resources Tribes and land conquered Publicprivate land Government declared frontier officially closed in 1890 John James Audubon (1785-1851) Painted lifelike portraits of animals in natural surroundings Increased widespread public interest in wildlife. Henry David Thoreau (1817 –1862) and other writers addressed these issues but not taken seriously Urged part of unspoiled wilderness be protected as legacy to future generations He wrote on how people could simplify their lives to live in harmony with the natural work. "Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind.” - Thoreau George Perkins Marsh (1801 –1882), is considered by some to be America's first environmentalist. Wrote the book Man vs. Nature First to suggest that humans are an agent affecting global environmental change. Marsh argued deforestation leads to eroded soils that led to decreased soil productivity. Man vs. Nature helped increase awareness of the need for conservation. Deforestation Upton Sinclair wrote The Jungle about the life of the immigrant in the United States. And unintentionally exposed the corruption of the American meatpacking industry during the early 20th century. It exposed the corruption on the side of big industry, and major neglect in treatment of food for the exchange of a cheaper product. Environmental History of the US Early Conservation 1870-1930 ↑ citizens interest in resource conservation ↑ role of government 1891-Forest Reserve Act established federal government as responsible for protecting public lands 1892-John Muir founded Sierra Club and led preservationist movement 1872-Yellowstone National Park Theodore Roosevelt (18581919) 26th President of the United States (1901-1909) Used his position to pave the way for environmentalists of the future. He set aside land for national forests, established wildlife refuges, and advocated protection of natural resources Appointed Gifford Pinchot (1865-1946) the first head of US Forest Service. Utilitarian Conservationists: Conserve when it is of use to the people – provides jobs During His Presidency Established wildlife reserves and tripled size of national reserve President given power to designate public land as federal wildlife reserves 1905-US Forest Service 1906-Antiquities Act President can protect areas on federal lands as national monuments (Grand Canyon) “Golden Age of Conservation” Environmental Ethics Environmental ethics is the discipline that studies the moral relationship of human beings to, and also the value and moral status of, the environment. Environmental change within democracies involves voicing opinions through elected officials, legislation, budgeting, and lobbying by special interest groups. 33 Types of Environmental Ethics Five Distinct Stages: Anthropocentric Pragmatic Resource Conservation Moral and Aesthetic Nature Preservation Modern Environmentalism Global Environmental Citizenship 34 Case Study: Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite San Francisco in 1903 is experiencing severe water shortages due to a rapidly increasing population. The Tolumne river runs through nearby Hetch Hetchy valley. Proposal: Dam the river, create a reservoir for water supplies and hydroelectric power. Problem: The valley lies within Yosemite National Park; public land. 35 Hetch Hetchy Valley 36 Tolumne River, California 37 Build the Dam! The nearby people need water, and there are no other practical sources. The dam will produce pollution-free renewable electricity. The valley will be even more beautiful with a lake. 38 Preserve the Valley! Hetch Hetchy is on a national park. The natural ecosystem will be flooded and destroyed. The picturesque beauty of the valley will be ruined. 39 Anthropocentrism Literally means “human-centered” The protection or promotion of human interests or well-being at the expense of all other factors. 40 Pragmatic Resource Conservation Advocated by President Theodore Roosevelt. The environment should be used in a planned way to benefit everyone. Should be used for “the greatest good for the greatest number, for the longest time.” 41 Moral and Aesthetic Nature Preservation Advocated by John Muir, first president of the Sierra Club. Nature deserves to exist for its own sake regardless of degree of usefulness to humans. 42 So…What Happened? 43 Pragmatic Resource Conservation Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) 1933-Civil Conservation Corp (CCC) 2 million people employed Restore degraded environment, built dams, etc. Global Environmentalism Increased travel and communication enables people to know about daily events in places unknown in previous generations. Issues and problems are explored on a global scale instead of a local one. 45 Modern Environmentalism Rachel Carson wrote a book entitled Silent Spring about the effects of pesticides on birds. Awakened the public to threats of pollution and toxic chemicals to humans as well as other species. 46 Aldo Leopold Aldo Leopold was an American author, scientist, environmentalist. He was a professor at the University of Wisconsin and is best known for his book A Sand County Almanac(1949) Focused on environmental ethics and in the movement for wilderness conservation. Aldo Leopold "This sounds simple: do we not already sing our love for and obligation to the land of the free and the home of the brave? Yes, but just what and whom do we love? Certainly not the soil, which we are sending helterskelter down river. Certainly not the waters, which we assume have no function except to turn turbines, float barges, and carry off sewage. Certainly not the plants, of which we exterminate whole communities without batting an eye. Certainly not the animals, of which we have already extirpated many of the largest and most beautiful species. A land ethic of course cannot prevent the alteration, management, and use of these ‘resources,’ but it does affirm their right to continued existence, and, at least in spots, their continued existence in a natural state. In short, a land ethic changes the role of Homo sapiens from conqueror of the land-community to plain member and citizen of it. It implies respect for his fellowmembers, and also respect for the community as such." Environmental Decade Nixon 1970-EPA established 1973-Endagered Species Act 1978-Bureau of Land Management started to manage public lands through Federal Land Policy and Management Act “Sagebrush Rebellion” – Public vs. Private Land (We will come back to this) Environmental Decade Jimmy Carter 1977-Department of Energy (DOE) to reduce dependence on foreign oil 1977-Clean Water Act 1980-Superfund created in response to Love Canal to clean up abandoned hazardous waste Tripled land in National Wilderness system and doubled land in the National Park System Anti-Environmental Movement Anti-environmental movement formed to weaken laws of 60’s and 70’s Ronald Reagan Increased private energy, mineral development and timber cutting Funding for environmental resources cut The “wise use” movement formed to weaken government over environmental issues Clinton protected more public lands as national monuments than any other Pres. 1997-Kyoto Japan 161 nations met to negotiate a treaty to decrease emissions and slow global warming Environmentalists countering claims global warming and ozone depletion are hoaxes George W Bush Withdrew US totally from Kyoto treaty What is next? Timeline Activity Your timeline should include: Key dates/events that documents the growth and development of environmental awareness. A picture/symbol that represents that date/event. A sentence describing why that date/event was important. Then at the end of the timeline make a prediction…..What do you think will happen next?