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DXX-1002 Env.Management and conservation > General revision > Flashcards

General revision Flashcards

1
Q

What is sustainability?

A

“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

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2
Q

What are the goals of environmental management?

A

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

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3
Q

What does the term “anthropogenic” mean?

A

Caused by human activities

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4
Q

What are the 4 organisations that influence conservation?

A

The government

Non-government organisations

Businesses

The media

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5
Q

How does the government influence conservation?

A

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.

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6
Q

What do NGOs do?

A

They are very powerful lobbyists.

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7
Q

How do businesses influence conservation?

A

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.

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8
Q

What are the two types of values when conserving biodiversity?

A

Utilitarian values: It has a use.

Intrinsic values: It has an inherent value

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9
Q

What is an Anthropocentric view?

A

Biodiversity has a value only as a means to human ends.

Stresses utilitarian values of biodiversity.

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10
Q

What is a biocentric view?

A

Biodiversity is valuable simply because it exists.
Independent of its use for human beings.
Stresses intrinsic value of biodiversity.

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11
Q

What are the 4 ecosystem services?

A

Provisioning services.
Supporting services.
Regulating services.
Coastal services.

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12
Q

What are option values?

A

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

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13
Q

What are the challenges to intrinsic values?

A

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?

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14
Q

What is existence value?

A

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?

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15
Q

What factors might affect how we rank species’ importance?

A

Phylogenetic uniqueness.
Keystone species.
Charismatic species.

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16
Q

What are the 3 major changes to UK agriculture in the post-war period?

A

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

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17
Q

Why not pay farmers to farm wildlife?

A

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

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18
Q

What is the definition of agro-environment schemes?

A

Government incentive schemes aimed at rewarding farmers who manage their land in a way which provides ‘environmental goods’

19
Q

What are the market impacts of AES?

A

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

20
Q

What have AES achieved?

A

AES have reduced pesticide and fertiliser inputs in some countries but not others
AES improved biodiversity outcomes for some groups in some countries

21
Q

Environmental management definition?

A

The management of the interaction between, and impact of, human activities on the environment

22
Q

What is environmental auditing and assessment?

A

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

23
Q

What are the impacts of a new development?

A 
Promotes learning of new trade
Employment
Infrastructure
Housing
Disposable income
‘Multiplier effects”
Heavy burden on the environment
24
Q

What is sustainable development?

A

Development which meets the needs of the current population without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

25
Q

Natural capital definition?

A

Finite resources that we need to manage

26
Q

Triple bottom line definition?

A

planet, people, profit

27
Q

Ecosystem services definition?

A

The processes by which the environment produces resources utilised by humans such as clean air, water, food and materials

28
Q

Why should companies go beyond the minimum legal requirements in terms of minimising the environmental impacts of their activities?

A

To maximise their profits.

Because of pressures from different directions.

29
Q

What pressures do companies get?

A 
Regulations.
Voluntary regulations.
Consumer pressure.
Direct action.
Shareholders.
Workers.
CEOs.
30
Q

What is ISO and what does it aim to achieve?

A

The world’s largest standards developing organisation.
Aim to establish standards to facilitate international trade by ensuring that materials, products, processes and services meet minimum standards

31
Q

Why implement an ISO?

A

Widely accepted method of implementing an EMS

Market forces push companies to certify

Strong regulatory incentives

Demonstrate ‘green’ credentials of their company

Save money

Help protect against environmental legislation
Global standards for global companies (less cross-border conflicts)

Links the public and the private sector

32
Q

What are the problems with ISOs?

A

Possibly less intrusive than commands of government regulations
Other voluntary schemes place more emphasis on environmental performance
Cost
No enforcement - voluntary scheme
Firms set their own standards/policy = set low goals
Adoption of new technologies not stringent

33
Q

Carbon footprint definition?

A

The sum of greenhouse gases released during the full life cycle of a product.

34
Q

Carbon source definition?

A

something that gives off greenhouse gases

35
Q

Carbon sink definition?

A

Something that locks up greenhouse gases

36
Q

Carbon neutral definition?

A

A system is carbon neutral when it locks up as many greenhouse gases as it releases

37
Q

Carbon offsetting definition?

A

a way of achieving ‘carbon neutrality’ by purchasing a carbon sink somewhere outside the business

38
Q

What does a life cycle assessment take into account that a carbon footprint doesn’t?

A

Eutrophication potential
Acidification potential
Resource depletion potential
As well as GHG emissions

39
Q

What is needed to develop a carbon footprint?

A

Data collection and system boundaries.

40
Q

Why do we conduct environmental impact assessments?

A

Understand existing environmental conditions
Predict and quantify what impacts a proposed project might have upon the environment
Make informed decisions about whether such impacts are acceptable
Put in place measures to avoid, reduce, mitigate and/or compensate for such impacts
Learn from experience for future projects

41
Q

What is an EIA?

A

The assessment of the environmental effects likely to arise from a major project significantly affecting the environment

42
Q

Annex 1?

A

EIA is mandatory; this is on major projects.

43
Q

Annex 2?

A

EIA is discretionary.

DXX-1002 Env.Management and conservation (2 decks)

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