Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Key Issue 4Key Issue 4

Why Can Resources Be Why Can Resources Be Conserved?Conserved?

Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development According to the United Nations, sustainable development According to the United Nations, sustainable development

is “development that meets the needs of the present is “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”meet their own needs.”

Preservation is the maintenance of resources in their Preservation is the maintenance of resources in their present condition, whereas conservation is the sustainable present condition, whereas conservation is the sustainable use and management of natural resources.use and management of natural resources.

Sustainable development advocates the limited use of Sustainable development advocates the limited use of renewable resources so that the environment can supply renewable resources so that the environment can supply them indefinitely.them indefinitely.

Some critics, such as the World Wildlife Fund, argue that Some critics, such as the World Wildlife Fund, argue that the world surpassed its sustainable level around 1980.the world surpassed its sustainable level around 1980.

BiodiversityBiodiversity

Closely related to sustainable Closely related to sustainable development is biodiversity, which refers development is biodiversity, which refers to the variety of plant and animal species to the variety of plant and animal species across the Earth’s surface or in a specific across the Earth’s surface or in a specific place.place.

When biodiversity is protected, sustainable When biodiversity is protected, sustainable development is promoted.development is promoted.

More than one-half of the Earth’s species More than one-half of the Earth’s species are located in tropical forests, and the are located in tropical forests, and the main cause of high rates of species main cause of high rates of species extinction is rapid deforestation.extinction is rapid deforestation.