Transcript Sustainability - Lake Stevens School District

Sustainability
Chapter 6
Sustainability: using
natural resources at
a rate that does not
deplete them
What impacts are humans having
on the biosphere (Earth)?

Deforestation
– Results from loss of
trees for burning
(fuel), building
homes, clearing for
farmland
– Leads to severe
erosion (loss of
soil)
– Permanent changes
to ecosystems

Overfishing
– Harvesting fish
faster than they can
be replaced
– Results in collapse
of food chains,
species extinction
 Pollution
– Air pollution affects
those with
respiratory issues
(smog)
 Results
from car
emissions and
burning of fossil fuels
– Water pollution
 Chemicals,
waste
and sewage enter
waterways
 Effects aquatic
ecosystems and
organisms
 Limits access to
clean drinking water

Species
Extinction
– Species loss due
to pollution,
habitat
destruction,
poaching

Invasive
Species
– An introduced
species that is
not native to a
particular area
– Causes
disruption in
ecosystem food
chains and
habitats

Waste
Production
– Thousands of
tons of trash
dumped into
landfills each
year
– Most is nonbiodegradable
or contains
potentially
harmful or
toxic
chemicals
How do we measure our impact?

Ecological
Footprint: the
productive area of
land needed to
support one person
in a particular
country
– Food, housing,
crops, grazing,
forest area to
absorb pollution
http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/calculators/
Personal Ecological Footprint

Calculate your personal footprint using the
worksheet
– Average is 24-25 acres per person in the US

Draw the size of your footprint on a
separate sheet of paper (1 acre = 1 cm)
– Include your name and size of footprint
– Color!

Look at your calculations…what might you
do to reduce your footprint?
– Write your answer on the back of your drawn
footprint