7 Environmental Principles

The key to understanding the environmental problems that we encounter today is to learn about
our ecosystem. This section highlights the basic environmental principles, varied types of
ecosystem, current environmental issues, anthropogenic activities that threat the environment
and the role of youth in protecting our environment.
1. Nature knows best.

This principle is the most basic and in fact encompasses all the others. Humans have to
understand nature and have to abide by the rules nature dictates. In essence, one must not go
against the natural processes if one would like to ensure a continuous and steady supply of
resources.
One natural process that needs serious attention is nutrient cycling. In nature, nutrients pass
from the environment to the organisms and back to the environment. Any disruption in the cycle
can bring about imbalance.
For example, burning of farm wastes instead of allowing them to decompose naturally disrupts
the cycle. In burning, most of the organic compounds are lost. The combustion products bring
greater havoc as in the case of carbon dioxide build-up, which results in the warming-up of the
earth, or the so-called "greenhouse” effect.
Nature has also its built-in mechanisms to maintain balance of homeostasis - the availability of
nutrients, conduciveness of the environment for growth and reproduction, and the feeding
relationships that exist between and among organisms which serve as population controls. For
example, the rat population is controlled by the presence and number of its predators, e.g.,
snakes.
The use of chemical pesticides and fertilizer disrupts check and balance in the ecosystem.
Pesticides can either kill vital organisms directly or induce genetic changes that result in
resistant pests or organisms. Chemical fertilizers increase the acidity of the soil through time
making a number of nutrients unavailable and thus, unfit for the survival of plants and other
organisms.
History and our experiences are full of examples to prove the validity of this principle. In fact,
this principle only surfaced when many of the detrimental effects of technology were
recognized and coined thereon as “ecological backlash.”
2. All forms of life are important.

Each organism plays a fundamental role in nature. Since such occupational or functional
position, otherwise known, as niche cannot be simultaneously occupied by more than on
species, it is apparent that all living things must be considered as invaluable in the maintenance
of homeostasis in the ecosystem.
It is easy to appreciate the beautiful butterflies, especially knowing their important role in
pollination. The giant beasts – the elephants, the whales, the alligators – are objects of awe and
the products the yield – respectively ivory, oil, leather – are highly prized. But when it comes to
unlovely, wriggly, and troublesome creatures, this principle is unusually overlooked.
For instance, it has been customary for many to step on any wriggling creature (e.g. earthworm)
without even considering why God made them in the first place. People also react adversely to
the presence of snakes. At home, spiders are looked at with disdain. Awareness of the snakes’
role in limiting the rat population and of the spiders’ role in checking the population of
mosquitoes and flies may, however, change this attitude.
3. Everything is connected to everything else.

This principle is best exemplified by the concept of the ecosystem. In an ecosystem, all biotic
and amniotic components interact with each other to ensure that the system is perpetuated. Any
outside interference may result in an imbalance and the deterioration of the system.
In a lake ecosystem, the organisms are linked to one another through their feeding habit/level
and are also dependent on other physico-chemical factors in the lake (e.g. amount of nutrients,
amounts and types of gases, temperature, Ph, etc.). At the same time, the physico-chemical
factors in the lake are influenced by the terrestrial environment that surrounds it. The fertilizers
that reach the lake cause a faster growth of phytoplankton, which may lead to algae bloom, red
tide, or other such phenomena.
This principle may be discussed in local, regional, or global perspective. Deforestation in the
mountains may affect the lowlands through floods, drought, and erosion. Whatever happens to
one country may affect other countries. An example of this is the Chernobyl accident, which
affected a lot of countries through the transfer of radioactive substances by natural agents such
as wind and water, as well as human activities like export of contaminates food.
4. Everything changes.

It is said that the only permanent thing is change. As a general classification, change may be
linear, cyclical or random. As example of linear change is evolution of species, which has
brought about higher and more complex types of organisms. Cyclical change may be
exemplified by seasons and the rhythms in floral and faunal life stages that go with the seasons.
An example of random change is the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, which brought about great
upheaval in many parts of Luzon and changes in the topography of the land.
The environment is constantly changing. Organisms also evolve through time. However, man’s
technology has affected these natural changes often to a problematic extent. Although mutation
is a natural change, pesticides have induced insect mutation, which, however, are not matched
by natural checks and balances.
Humans should rethink their relationship with the environment. Changes that they think may be
beneficial to the environment often turn out to be disastrous. Environmental technologies
should be given priority if man would want more positive changes in the environment.
5. Everything must go somewhere.

When a piece of paper is thrown away, it disappears from sight but it does nit cease to exist. It
ends up elsewhere. Gases released in smokestacks may disperse but it will end up a component
of the atmosphere or brought down by rains. What a particular type of waste does to the earth’s
repository should be of concern to us. It may be a pollutant or a resource depending on the
certain factors.
Since wastes are not lost to oblivion, and even goes back to one’s awn backyard in some other
forms, it is important that one becomes aware of the different types of wastes – whether they are
hazardous or not. Classification of wastes facilitates their proper disposal and minimizes, if not
prevents the entry of toxic wastes in vital ecosystems and ensures reconversion into useful
forms.
6. Ours is a finite earth.

The earth’s resources can be classified as either renewable or non-renewable. Renewable

resources are those that can easily be replenished by natural cycles (e.g. water, air, plants, and
animals) while non-renewable resources are those that cannot be replenished through natural
cycles (e.g. ores of various metals, oil, coal).
Although renewable resources can be replenished, it is important to note that these are
renewable only as long as they are not overused nor destroyed from such factors as pollution.
To ensure that these resources will be continually replenished, it is essential to know how much
of a resource can be consumed at a given time to balance the rate of exploitation with the rate of
replenishment.
Just how long would the earth be able to sustain demands on its resources? This is a question
that needs serious reflection. Unless the factors of population growth, lifestyles, and polluting
technologies are checked, the collapse of the earth might be inevitable.
Awareness of the earth’s limited resources leads to a conscious effort to change one’s
consumerist attitude as well as to develop processes and technology that would bring about
effective recycling of a great number of resources.
7. Nature is beautiful and we are stewards
of God’s creation.

Among all creatures, humans are the only ones made in God’s image and have been given the
right to have dominion over all His creations. Being the most intelligent and gifted with reason,
humans are capable of manipulating creation to their own advantage. Yet, creation exists not to
be ravages or abused but to be taken care of. Humans cannot exist without nature. They are co-
natural with the environment they live in. If the environment they live in is destroyed, with it
will go Homo Sapiens.