12.3. Protecting environments at risk

Question 1

Key points of Sustainable Management

Answer 1

1) Before protection, it must be recognised that there is degradation - an environment is at risk
- -> Sometimes, degradation can be gradual on difficult to recognise without realising

2) Specific factors that cause the degradation must be identified
- -> We have to solve the problems and the source, not the symptoms (hiding symptoms)

3) Specific strategies can then be devised which target these causal factors
- -> As most degrades environment have a human population management strategies must take into account economic and social factors, as well as purely environmental considerations if they are to be successful
- -> There are social, environmental, economic elements involved
- -> Sustainable solutions needed - costs vs benefits

Question 2

If strategies are to be sustainable in the long term, they must consider:

Answer 2

Needs > measures > outcomes

Question 3

What is meant by “Needs”

Answer 3

• What is the current situation and what needs to be done?

- What are the long term aims? Is the need to stop further degradation or return the environment to its undamaged state?

Question 4

What is meant by “Measures”

Answer 4

• What could be adopted to achieve the aims and needs?
• Evaluate each potential measure - what are the economic and social costs, and how do they balance with the impact on the environment?

Question 5

What is meant by “Outcomes”

Answer 5

• These measures need to be continually evaluated for levels of success
• Essentially, what’s the point in spending money and time on something that doesn’t have an identifiable benefit?
• Can the measures implemented be modified to be more successful?
• Has the situation, environment or context changed and should the measures be modified to reflect this

Question 6

Management in rural and urban areas

Answer 6

• Large conservation areas - national parks?
• Can cause conflict with local population - if limiting economic activity
• Smaller scale, tackling local issues - easier to solve

Question 7

Environmental Kuznet’s Curve

Answer 7

• curve with a peak in the middle
• y axis - environmental degradation
• x axis - income levels (pre-industrial economy, industsrial economy and post-industrial economy)
• environmental degradation peaks at middle income levels (industrial economy)

Question 8

Is the Environmental Kuznet’s Curve still relevant?

Answer 8

• Because most countries have moved from the lowest level of development, most countries are in the middle of the Kuznet’s curve
• We don’t see the first have of the Kuznet’s curve because countries have developed
• There are some anomalies