Sustainability : Lessons from Nature Dr, Joan Morrison Dept. of - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Sustainability : Lessons from Nature Dr, Joan Morrison Dept. of Biology Environmental Science Program Trinity College Nov. 13, 2008

Sustainability Sustain or Sustainable • To keep up or keep going, as an action or process • To endure without giving way or yielding • To support, hold, or bear up

Capital is Wealth When we invest our capital we protect the principle, live off the interest Wisely invested, our capital will grow or at least we won’t use it up

Sustainability in Nature Nature’s Capital

How do Populations Grow? Carrying Capacity Exponential Growth

Managing Natural Capital Populations in nature survive on interest – you cannot eat up your principle! Wisely managed, we can retain natural capital for use by all species including ourselves

Nature works as Cycles CO 2 cycle Water cycle

Nutrient Cycling

What can we learn from Nature? • Cycles renew, careful use ensures that capital is sustainable • Ecosystem services continue throughout the seasons

Populations living in balance with resources can sustain indefinitely Carrying Capacity Exponential Growth

Continual Growth is Not Sustainable

Sustainable Growth? or Development? City of the Future?

Challenges • Understanding sustainability in nature • How do humans fit in? • Evaluating our patterns of consumption • What determines quality of life? • Distribution of wealth • Protect our principle and learn how to live off the interest!