General revision Flashcards
(43 cards)
What is sustainability?
“sustainability” as an idea refers to the body of knowledge that deals with how dynamic systems work
“sustainability” as a discipline refers to humanity’s rapidly-evolving response to the urgent planetary challenges
What are the goals of environmental management?
The prevention and resolution of environmental problems
Establishing limits
Establishing and nurturing institutions that effectively support environmental research, monitoring and management
Warning of threats and identifying opportunities
Sustaining and, if possible, improving existing resources
Where possible improving ‘quality of life’
Identifying new technology or policies that are useful
What does the term “anthropogenic” mean?
Caused by human activities
What are the 4 organisations that influence conservation?
The government
Non-government organisations
Businesses
The media
How does the government influence conservation?
It makes the law and also sets an example.
Governments are likely to be most interested in problems which have a direct impact on their chances of re-election.
Tend to concentrate on solving problems which can be completed within a short timescale.
Signed us up to various conservation agreements.
What do NGOs do?
They are very powerful lobbyists.
How do businesses influence conservation?
Businesses are increasingly regulated with respect to what they can and cannot do to the environment.
There are pressures on businesses to go beyond legal requirements.
What are the two types of values when conserving biodiversity?
Utilitarian values: It has a use.
Intrinsic values: It has an inherent value
What is an Anthropocentric view?
Biodiversity has a value only as a means to human ends.
Stresses utilitarian values of biodiversity.
What is a biocentric view?
Biodiversity is valuable simply because it exists.
Independent of its use for human beings.
Stresses intrinsic value of biodiversity.
What are the 4 ecosystem services?
Provisioning services.
Supporting services.
Regulating services.
Coastal services.
What are option values?
They are utilitarian values.
Refer to something who’s value hasn’t yet been recognised.
There is a debate as to whether it should be considered a direct use value but it does not focus on the possibility of ‘using’ the resource in the future
What are the challenges to intrinsic values?
If we consider nature to have intrinsic value beyond the value we put on it, we need to consider:
Which entities are morally considerable?
If animals are morally considerable, use how much consideration should they have besides humans?
What about plants?
What is existence value?
People often place a high value on species existence -even if they don’t ever expect to get any direct value
Is this still a utilitarian/anthropocentric value?
What factors might affect how we rank species’ importance?
Phylogenetic uniqueness.
Keystone species.
Charismatic species.
What are the 3 major changes to UK agriculture in the post-war period?
Loss of hedgerows:
- Reduced habitat for mammals, birds and insects
- Ancient, species-rich hedgerows can be very important sites for biodiversity in an agricultural landscape
- More species-rich hedgerows appear to provide better habitat for birds
Drainage of wet meadows:
-This improves the grazing but decreases the nesting habitat for many birds
Increased chemical inputs:
-Reduces plant diversity on agricultural fields
Why not pay farmers to farm wildlife?
It may seem rather counter-intuitive to pay farmers not to produce the maximum crops that they could on a piece of land
But the natural environment, including wildlife, is a ‘public good’; we all enjoy it, why should the farmer bear costs of producing it
What is the definition of agro-environment schemes?
Government incentive schemes aimed at rewarding farmers who manage their land in a way which provides ‘environmental goods’
What are the market impacts of AES?
Besides their intended positive effects on the environment, AES do not subsidise production of agricultural products
They continue to provide additional income to support farmers, but in a way that does not distort world markets
Supported by major development charities
What have AES achieved?
AES have reduced pesticide and fertiliser inputs in some countries but not others
AES improved biodiversity outcomes for some groups in some countries
Environmental management definition?
The management of the interaction between, and impact of, human activities on the environment
What is environmental auditing and assessment?
Process of collecting information of the effects of individual development projects on various aspects of the environment
Critical appraisal of the likely effects of a proposed project, activity, or policy on the environment, both positive and negative
What are the impacts of a new development?
Promotes learning of new trade Employment Infrastructure Housing Disposable income ‘Multiplier effects” Heavy burden on the environment
What is sustainable development?
Development which meets the needs of the current population without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
