Sustainability

Aims of sustainability

• preserve the environment

• ensures resources are available for future generations

• allow humans to live comfortably

• enable less economically developed countries to develop through exploiting their natural resources

• create a more even balance in the consumption of these resources between HICs and LICs/NEEs

Example 1: timber production

• small scale

  • coppicing

    • tree trunk cut close to group so shoots grow out of it - used for things like fencing - more shoots grow

  • rotational coppicing

    • section is cut for a while then left to grow into full size trees then reused for coppicing years later

  • pollarding

    • tree trunks are cut higher up so deer etc cannot eat new shoots as they grow

• large scale

  • selective cutting

    • removing only the largest trees

  • replanting

    • replace trees through replanting rather than waiting for natural regeneration

  • reduce competition

    • plant trees an optimal distance apart

    • higher yields as more wood per tree

  • pests and pathogens

    • manage pests and pathogens to maximise yield

  • indigenous people

    • ensure that areas of forest remain for indigenous people

Example 2: sustainable fishing

• over-fishing has lead to dramatic declines in fish stocks in the sea due to a lack of adult fish surviving to breed and replenish population

  • Common Fisheries Policy: EU to limit the number of fish caught in different areas of the ocean

  • use of nets with different mesh sizes so smaller, younger fish escape

  • limit the times of year commercial and recreational fishing can occur so fish have time to breed and rear young in peace

  • introducing and encouraging fish farming so less wild fish are caught in the first place