Resource Depletion and Sustainability
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Transcript of Resource Depletion and Sustainability
Resources
Water, Minerals, Agriculture, Forests
Renewable and Non-Renewable
Renewable= replaceable/replenishable freshwater, timber
Nonrenewable= nonreplaceable/nonreplenishable
fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas, uranium)
Freshwater
Access to freshwater depends on site and situation
-Canada-20% of world’s fresh water
Freshwater Sources
Surface water= rivers, streams lakes, snowfields, and glaciers
Aquifer= underground water-bearing rock, sand, or gravel
Surface Water vs. Aquifer
Surface Water• Bacteria• Harder to access
Aquifer• Less bacteria• Easier to access• Recharge slowly
Freshwater Issues
Groundwater depletion= aquifers are being over-pumped water table falls
=farmers dig deeper wells
So what? Digging too deep= Arsenic and fluoride
Solutions?
• Water exports• Desalination
Contributors
• Industrial pollution• Urbanization • Agricultural practices
Mineral Resources
Mining= strips natural vegetation, rock, soil
- Left abandoned and pollutants dumped into environment
Agricultural
• Creating farmland= destroying natural habitats• Maintaining farmland= irrigation and fertilization• Farmland Salination= farmlands turn to
wastelands• Practices:– Chemicals: pesticides and herbicides– Genetically Modified Foods (in Canada: corn, canola,
soybeans, squash, potatoes)
Pesticides
Pesticides= poison to kill insectsHerbicides= poison to kill unwanted plants
- Kill harmless insects- Harm farmworks- Seep into nearby streams***phase-out in Canada
Deforestation
-fewer trees= more carbon & poorer air qualityBrazilian Rainforest Case StudyRainforest exploitation= farming, cattle
ranching, mining, lumbering- Subsistence farming= farmers given rainforest
to develop unsuccessfulDeforestation= dry, arid wastelands- flooding, clogged reservoirs
Deforestation
Canada’s Forests¼ of world’s temperate, deciduous coastal forest1/3 of the world’s boreal coniferous forestAlmost all of the world’s old growth pine- Forest fires, industrial development, loggingEnvironmental stewardship= effective
management of resources, sustainable practices
Government Response
• governments helping to clean-up and protect environment
• Canada- national, provincial, regional laws
SO WHAT??