Envi 11: Environmental Science

Lesson 1.1: Environment and Basic Concepts of Environmental

Science

What is environment?

Environment comes from the French word "environner"- to encircle or to surround. The
physical, non-living, and living surroundings of a society with which it has a reciprocal
relationship. The total of water, air, and land and the interrelationships among them with the
human being and other living organisms and materials exist. This lesson will also discuss the
following

a) Functions of the Environment

1. Source of Resource Inputs

2. Source of Amenity Services
3. Provides Life Support
4. Receptacle for Waste

b) Ecosystem Services

1. Provisioning Services
- Products directly obtained from the environment.
 Food
 Water
 Raw materials
 Medicine

2. Cultural Services
- Non-material benefits people obtained from ecosystems.
 Recreation and mental and physical health
 Tourism
 Aesthetic Appreciation and Inspiration for Culture, Art and Design
 Spiritual Experience and Sense of Place

3. Regulating Services
- Benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes.
 Local Climate Air Quality
 Carbon Sequestration and Storage
 Moderation of Extreme Events
 Waste Water Treatment
 Erosion Preventions and Maintenance of Soil Fertility
 Pollination
 Biological Control

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 Envi 11: Environmental Science

 Regulation of Water Flow

4. Supporting Services
- Most fundamental services necessary for the production of provisioning,
regulating or cultural services.
 Habitat for Species
 Maintenance of Genetic Diversity

c) Seven Environmental Principles

1. Nature knows best- this principle is the most basic and encompasses
all the others.

2. All forms of life are important- each organism plays a fundamental

role in nature.

3. Everything is connected to everything else- the concept of the

ecosystem best exemplifies this principle. All components interact with each other, and any
outside intrusion may result in the decline of the system.

4. Everything changes- the environment is continually changing. There

can be changes that we consider may be beneficial to the environment frequently turn out to
be disastrous.

5. Everything must go somewhere- everything ends up elsewhere. It

does not just disappear.

6. Ours is finite Earth- although renewable resources were replenishing,

it is essential to understand that these are renewable only if they are not overused and not
destroyed from factors such as pollution.

7. Nature is beautiful and that humans are the stewards of God's

creation. Humans are made in God's image and have the right to have dominion over all
His creations among all creatures.

What is Environmental Science?

Environmental Science uses scientific approaches to understanding the complex systems in

which we live. It is the systematic study of our environment and our place in it. It involves
applying fundamental knowledge to real-world problems.

Environmental Science is integrative. We inhabit both a natural world of biological diversity

and physical processes and a human environment of ideas and practices. It involves both
these natural and social worlds. This field draws on a wide range of disciplines and skills,
and multiple ways of knowing are often helpful for finding answers.

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Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-01
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
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 Envi 11: Environmental Science

Environmental Science is global. We are already aware of our global dependence on

resources and people in faraway places, from computers built in China to oil extracted in
Iraq or Venezuela. These interdependencies become more apparent as we learn more
about global and regional environmental systems. Often the best way to learn is to see how
principles play out in real places. Familiarity with the world around us will help us
understand the problems and their context.

Environmental Science helps us understand our remarkable planet. We live in an incredibly

vibrant and colorful world that is, as far as we know, unique in the
universe. Biogeochemical cycles and biological communities regenerate plentiful supplies
of clean air, freshwater, and fertile soil endlessly and spontaneously. The value of these
ecological services is almost limitless, although economists estimate that they account for a
substantial global economic activity. From time to time, we should remember that we are
incredibly lucky to be here despite the challenges of life on Earth.

Main Goals of Environmental Science

· Learn how the natural world works

· Understand how we humans interact with the environment

· Determine how humans affect the environment also includes finding ways to deal
with these effects on the environment.

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Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-01
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No. 2 0 - 0 0 1