Uncertainty, Resource Exploitation, and

Conservation: Lessons from History

1

Ecological Thresholds: The Key to Successful Environmental Management or

an Important Concept with No Practical Application?

A Comparative Inquiry

(Lead Paper)

(Supporting Paper)

2

Major Themes: Definitions

ECOLOGICAL THRESHOLD

PREDICTION

VARIABILITY

UNCERTAINTY

3

Summary:

Uncertainty, Resource Exploitation,

and Conservation: Lessons from History

Overconsumption of natural resources by humans is a serious

problem and will lead to environmental degradation and loss of

biodiversity.

Human endeavor has been inadequate at changing the trajectory of

the consequences of resource exploitation. Why? What can we do?

Anything?

“…Rely on scientists to recognize

problems but not to remedy

them…”

4

Environmental Problems = Human Problems:

Lead Paper

“…Resource problems are not really

environmental problems: They are

human problems that we have

created at many times and in many

places, under a variety of political,

social and economic systems…”

“…We suggest that progress in

this area depends on both

general and specific research…”

Supporting Paper

“…Perhaps the greatest challenges in

applying threshold concepts to

environmental problems arise from

difficulties in incorporating human

decision making and behaviour into

our evaluation framework and

methods…”

5

Resources: Water

6

The Paradox of Modern Landscapes

7

Systems of Knowledge:

Rene Descartes(1596-1650): Philosopher and Mathmetician

“I think therefore I am”

Cartesian coordinate

system

The Age of Enlightenment

8

Systems of Knowledge:

Greek Mythology

9

Systems of Knowledge: Australian Aborigines

‘The Dreaming’

10

Systems of Knowledge: First Nations

11

Systems of Knowledge:

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)

‘A science of qualities’

The Romantic Era

12

Compassionate Intelligence and Environmental Humility

13

Managing for the Whole