Personal Impact Applied Sustainability & Resource Management
Personal Impact Objectives:
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List habits of mind used to develop personal understandings of nature.
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Describe basic considerations associated with reducing an ecological footprint.
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Relate tree planting to the concepts of biodiversity, ecology, and conservation biology.
Understanding nature has two basic components. The first is the approach of finding out as much about the natural world as possible. The second relates to developing an understanding of how we humans relate to the natural world. Often the first thought that pops into the mind is that our relationship with “nature” is negative, seeing ourselves as separate from natural processes. This section explores this further.
Is it possible to make a positive personal impact on the environment? You bet!
A few people lead and other people follow their example. Here in Corvallis a few people began replacing lawns with low-maintenance vegetation of productive gardens. Within a decade, this became common practice in some of the neighborhoods.
Back in the first week of this course, we talked about some of the basic habits and practices that are essential for safe and productive field work. Similarly, there are habits and practices that can clarify ways to understand nature and ways to have a personal impact on environmental issues.
Habit
Something that is done regularly and routinely, often without much additional thought.
Practice
Something that need improvement through repetition and refinement. May become a habit over time.
Continually practicing and reinforcing safety habits can free the mind to work on other challenging tasks.
Natural systems are complex and one of the necessary habits of mind is to allow room for that complexity rather than looking for simple solutions.
Solving complex problems can mean doing a variety of activities over time, making progress from different approaches.
This type of work is challenging and it takes adjusting to the idea that there is no one single answer to the issues we face.
Values are beliefs that drive our choices. One habit of mind is to consider personal values and how they drive our decision making. This is hard mental work, often our personal values conflict with family, community, or societal values. Other times it is difficult to do the things we believe we should do.
Select a single topic, like endangered species, and ask yourself questions. Do endangered species matter to you? If so, which ones? Do they matter enough to alter some of your behaviors? If so, which ones?
You get the idea. Having a personal impact on the world is easier if you understand what values are driving your actions.
Analyze your personal skill set. What are you good at? Is there a way your abilities can have an impact, and can you share this with others?
Ecological Footprint
An ecological footprint is a way to visualize personal impact on the environment.
Type in “ecological footprint” to a search engine and try one of the surveys. It can tell you how many Earths it would take if everyone lived at the same level of consumption. The results can be surprising and sobering.
Reducing consumption is challenging. Refusing to make purchases or acquisitions may decrease an ecological footprint, but also have a significant impact on the economy. With more and more people on Earth, and many people already not receiving adequate resources, balancing consumption worldwide is a significant issue.
One option is to reduce collection of goods and materials, and to collect experiences. This is especially effective if you live close to parks or community centers that do not require travel.
Gardening is an activity that can model on a small scale the challenges of managing consumption. A garden can support wildlife and produce human foods and benefits from direct energy-efficient physical labor.
Reducing a personal ecological footprint can impact how family and friends consume resources. Altering behaviors starts with one individual who models activities in a way that makes sense to other people.
Groups of people working together can impact the ecological footprint of a community. Recycling programs, community gardens, and volunteer park maintenance are examples of local efforts that can make a difference in ecosystems and people’s lives.
Planting Trees
You may have heard the much-quoted Chinese proverb that “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” Tree planting practices have been embedded in human culture for thousands of years.
Tree planting is one of the ways people choose to have a personal impact on nature. In some cases, the trees are not full grown in a person’s lifetime, they are an investment for future generations.
We have planted a mini-arboretum of native and non-native trees. The primary limitation on species was whether they could survive our lowest temperatures and soil that dries in the summer and is wet in the winter. Many conifers have thrived, but fewer deciduous trees have persisted because of their summer moisture requirements.
Planting trees can draw on concepts and skills related to biodiversity, ecology, and conservation biology.
Tree selection relies on identification of trees and their characteristics. Some species may be too large for an area or require specific soil types for adequate root growth. Typically people select trees from nurseries and labels provide information on species, requirements, and growth habit.
Tree growth and survival is impacted by ecological factors. Abiotic elements like temperature, precipitation, and soil nutrients are significant. Biotic impacts include soil organisms, pathogens, parasites, and competing plants.
And there is the human element. We can care for trees, and in some cases the planted trees serve a role in conservation efforts. Increasingly people are crowd-funding large-scale reforestation efforts.
Even something that may seem as simple as planting a tree has complex and potentially impactful dimensions.
This is the end of the Science Stories Guide. The material from this guide and corresponding lecture are assessed on the weekly quiz along with the next Lifelong Learning Guide.
Check your knowledge. Can you:
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List habits of mind used to develop personal understandings of nature?
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Describe basic considerations associated with reducing an ecological footprint?
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Relate tree planting to the concepts of biodiversity, ecology, and conservation biology?
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