Ecological Integrity

Ecological Integrity

What is Ecological Integrity?

What does that mean?

Interdependence

within an ecosystem

—> Proper function is necessary because all living things depend on the constant supply of essential materials and habitat.

• Predators --> non-predators --> availability of natural resources

• Forest succession & nutrient cycling

• Abundance and diversity of organisms

• Patterns, processes, and structural attributes for ecosystem resilience

“Richness of species and wellness of functions”

• Haida Gwaii: Trees provide shade --> fish don't die, soil doesn't wash away, water quality maintained

Looking Up

Call to Action

Renewable Energy: Recycling, solar panels, windmills, hydrothermal energy, watermills, radiant energy, geothermal energy, biomass, nuclear…

• New methods to accumulate natural resources in a way that mimics natural disturbances

--> After a natural disaster occurs, we should collect all the debris and use it for something

Taking advantage of what’s already gone

Why?

• National Parks: Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Isle Royale, Pea Ridge National Military Park…

There is a national park for nearly every state in America

Legislation protecting certain species, charity funds supporting habitat restoration, artificial methods of reproduction to increase a species’ population…

—>Peru farming strategy in which crop plots are rotated each season so as not to deplete one field of specific nutrients

—>Switzerland policy in which rate of deforestation cannot exceed rate of growth…

Human Influence on the Environment

The world is not our own- we have a responsibility to the future and deal with the consequences of our actions.

• Our relationship with the environment has changed dramatically throughout history

Advancements in science, technology, and society gives our species responsibility in how we choose to effect our environment.

Deforestation, CO2 emissions, modern agricultural methods --> Climate change

• Lack of animals, biological diversity, inefficient use of resources, material distribution [North Korea]

• Absence of natural resource regulation: trees cut down at a higher rate than growth [Amazon]

Little human interference leads to higher probability of biodiversity