C8 Sustainable Management of the Environment

the ability of Earth to meet the needs of the present, w/o compromising the needs of the future generation’s needs

ETHICAL 1. Intergenerational equity - equity across different generations - future society can access same resources we have access to now • Intragenerational equity - equity across same generation - resources for all people, across country/world • Conservation of biodiversity/eco integrity - continuation of ecosystem existence/function - minimal harm to biodiversity - no slow degradation of ecosystems STRATEGIES 4. Precautionary + Anticipatory principle - if there are possible threats to biodiversity, conditions should be implemented to prevent harm - despite a lack of scientific evidence - i.e. be cautious • Full cost pricing (user pays) - prices for resources should be sufficient to cover the cost of any impacts the resource’s use/extraction is having • Efficiency - resources should be used efficiently + sustainably - we should act within the biocapacity/carrying capacity

an approach that looks at finding a balance between people (social), the planet, and profit, in order to achieve sustainability

• Education - based on science, involve public, has target audience - usually less expensive than other methods - achieves: awareness, behaviour reinforcement, power of individuals to take action (knowledge) • Economics - brown eco: focus solely on $$ growth - green eco: triple bottom line - Externalities: the costs of production not paid for by businesses (eco, enviro, social), can be reduced by full cost pricing, fines/taxes, or bonuses for doing the right thing • Science/tech - reduce, monitor and assess impacts - adaptation to current/future issues (low flow shower, desalination, GMOs - mitigation to reduce impacts (e.g. carbon sequestration, removal of CO2 from atmos.) • Law - implementation of laws/treaties to reduce enviro impacts

EIAs - Enviro Impact Assessment - before development goes ahead - an assessment of likely enviro, eco, social impacts - suggests alternatives/mitigations to reduce impact - an EIS (statement) is created and submitted for review EMPs - Enviro Management Plan - activity/development/project is established - a plan to achieve sustainability/protect ecosystems - most commonly used in Tas for parks/reserves

• common = a shared resource • optimising individual gain short term negatively affects the wider population long term • every individual affected • e.g. overfishing, deforestation

Convention on International trade in Endangered Species - regulates trade of thousands of species to protect them - voluntary for countries, but must follow laws once signed up - lists species under Appendix I, II or III: I: no trade allowed at all, species are endangered or threatened (primates, bears, whales) II: trade is allowed but heavily regulated (rhino) III: species that are protected in at least one country, CITIES helps regulate it (koala) • Strengths: reduces endangered species trade, allows countries to peer pressure to follow rules, some flexibility • Weaknesses: voluntary sign up, policing of areas and penalisation of offenders, black market still exists

Montreal Protocol - regulates the production, consumption and use of ozone depleting chemicals/substances (ODCs) - aims to protect ozone layer - reduces enhanced greenhouse effect - one of the only treaties to reach global ratification - Strengths: universally successful, reduces climate change, reduces ozone depletion, reduces health effects from UV radiation - Weaknesses: black market of ODCs, cutback of ODCs increased consumption of HFCs (chemicals in many household products, now being controlled)

Ramsar Convention for Wetlands - voluntary agreement to protect wetlands as a habitat type - prior to convention, wetlands were undervalued and not protected - specially focuses on migratory birds - not legally binding - Strengths: protection of wetlands, raise awareness, enforces sustainable use of them - Weaknesses: voluntary, policing of areas and penalisation of offenders, some communities have heavy reliance on wetlands resources and may be affected

Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act - applies to all states/territories - law protects important flora, fauna and ecological communities - has 9 triggers (which trigger the act into action): WH properties, NH places, wetlands, threatened species/ecosystems, migratory species, MPAs, great barrier reef, nuclear actions, contaminates a water source

• protects hundreds of species that are endangered/vulnerable/rare • illegal to trade, remove from habitat, or keep

• aiming to develop a Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative network of protected regions (CAR) • Comprehensive: broadness, to ultimately protect ALL the biodiversity, ecosystem types, and niches • Adequate: are species able to sustain themselves within the reserve? large/extensive enough • Representativeness: inclusion of all biodiversity within the reserve, to accurately reflect the ecosystem

• ecosystem/bioregions that are lacking protection • areas with extensive biodiversity • areas with threatened/vulnerable/rare species • areas that are key in providing habitat for species (esp. migratory)

large regions that Australia is divided into, that are based on ecosystem type

• properties deemed to be of outstanding international value • can be cultural or environmental • maintained by UNESCO