Chapter 1: Managing Human-Environment Interactions

Discussion Questions
Links

Summary:
Since the dawn of their time, humans have been dependent on the natural forces of the earth. As society advanced, people tried to separate themselves from the natural burdens and hazards of life common to all other living beings. Yet, like it or not, humans remain part of that natural environment, dependent on natural systems for the necessities of life—clean air and water, food, and health—as well as connected to their evolutionary heritage. And as human population and technology developed, human activity increased to affect these critical natural systems, including biogeochemical cycles, large-scale ecosystems, and atmospheric processes.
Managing their relationship with the environment has been a continuous requirement and responsibility for people and society. How society has assumed that responsibility depends on technology, human ingenuity, and the values and norms of society, which also vary across cultures and over time. Just as human beings and society have evolved, so too has their relationship with the environment and the way they manage that relationship. It is still evolving.

Environmental management is a complex field. It is complicated by the wide range of people and institutions involved and the different perspectives and values they hold on how to manage the environment. Society’s perspectives on the environment ultimately determine the planning and policy framework for management, and because these perspectives change over time, so do approaches to environmental management. Some evidence indicates that more widespread environmental values and new methods of environmental analysis and evaluation are spurring new paradigms of management.

Chapter 1 Discussion questions:

1. This chapter suggests that how we manage the environment is a reflection of society, its values and culture. Can you think of historical or contemporary examples of how different cultures manage the environment differently?

2. The chapter also suggests that our management of the environment depends on how we view the world, society, nature, and the future. Meadows characterizes individuals’ worldviews in four colorful categories: Blues, Reds, Greens, and Whites.
a. Describe how your worldview fits these categories.
b. What category or mix of categories best describes your parents and your hometown?
c. How does the way the environment is managed in your home or town reflect this worldview?

3. "If we can provide for economic growth while protecting environmental quality in the future, we will have attained sustainable development." Do you agree with this statement? Briefly explain.

4. Chapter 1 states that "both personal and public decisions are based not only on utility, but also on duty, responsibility, and stewardship." To what extent do you think this is true or false? Give an example or two to illustrate your answer.

5. How do you distinguish between Colby’s "Environmental Protection" and "Resource Management" paradigms of environmental management?

6. Some classic environmental literature sources are cited in Chapter 1. Find an excerpt or an article from one of the following authors in the library or on the Internet, read it, and write a one page review: George Perkins Marsh, John Muir, Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, Garrett Hardin, Lynton Caldwell, Roderick Nash.