Acknowledgements The Department of Education would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for their generous support and input into the development of this resource. Steering Committee • Eldred Barnes,Department ofEducation • Shane Mahoney (project architect), Department of Environment & Conservation • Brad Clarke (project architect), Department of Education • Sharon Porter-Trask, Department of Environment & Conservation • Craig White,Department ofEducation Partners and Lead Contacts* • Martin Batterson, Department of Natural Resources • Wanda Garrett , Fisheries and Oceans Canada • Denise Hansen,Parks Canada • Rob Hingston,Parks Canada • Steve Moyse, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture • Glenn Payne, Geospatial Research Facility,College of the North Atlantic • Bruce Roberts Natural Resources Canada • Ed Stewart, Department of Natural Resources • Cyril Taylor and Wavey Greenham,Friends ofBurnt Cape * Partners and Lead Contacts are the team • Peter Thomas,Environment Canada leaders for their respective agencies and department.As a group, they coordinated • Jim Tuff, Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation over 200 individuals who collectively • Anne Warburton,Environment Canada contributed to the production of this text • Chan Wiseman, Federation of Agriculture as well as supplementary materials. Supervising Editors • Craig White • Sharon Porter-Trask Copy Writers • Kathryn Welbourn • Gavin Will • Jolene Sutton • Sandy Newton • Sharon Ryan • Dan Ferguson • Norm Catto • Robert Schmiendendorf Copy Editors • Glenn Clark • Sandy Newton • Wade Kearley • Bruce Atkinson Contributing Authors •Dan Murphy •Cecil Lake • Andrew Hickey • Roland Baker Acknowledgements i ENVIR001_Unit1_FA.qxd 8/31/2009 3:46 PM Page 6 Design and Layout • Vivid Communications, St. John’s,NL A special thank-you is extended to the pilot teachers and students of the 2004 - 2008 school years.We could not have completed this project without your valuable input and support. Pedagogical Reviewers •Roland Baker •Andy Higdon •Cecil Lake Exploits Valley High School Piccadilly High School Corner Brook Regional Nova Central School District Western School District High School Western School District • Dan Murphy • Sheldon Marsh Outdoor Education Itinerant Christ the King School Western School District Eastern School District Copyright © 2009 by Department of Education, Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Printed in Canada. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any mean, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the Director of the Program Development Division, Department of Education, Newfoundland and Labrador. Permission to copy and use this publication in part, or in its entirety, for non-profit educational purposes within Newfoundland and Labrador, is granted to all staff of the Newfoundland and Labrador school system and other parties providing direct or indirect education programs to entitled students as identified in the School Act. The authors and editors of this book have made every reasonable effort to trace the ownership of data and visuals and to make full acknowledgement for their use. If any errors or omissions have occurred, they will be corrected in future editions, providing written notification have been received by the Director of the Program Development Division, Department of Education, Newfoundland and Labrador. The information and activities in this textbook have been carefully developed and reviewed by professionals to ensure safety and accuracy.However, the publisher shall not be liable for any damages resulting, in whole or in part, from the reader's use of the material.Although appropriate safety procedures are discussed, the safety of students remains the responsibility of the classroom teacher, the principal, and the school district. This book has been printed using vegetable-based inks and follows the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) guidelines. FSC is an international certification and labeling system that guarantees that the forest materials used in this book come from responsibly managed forests and verified recycled sources. This book contains 100% FSC certified materials. ISBN 978-1-55146-367-4 ii Toward a Sustainable Future Preface “Oh very young, what will you leave us this time? You’re only dancing on this Earth for a short while.” Are you familiar with the lyrics as written in the photograph above? Who wrote them? They are from the song “Oh Very Young.”How does the song apply to issues of today—environmental or otherwise? To learn the answer to these questions, why not conduct an Internet search for the “cat”who wrote this song? Although this song was written way back in the 1970s, the words are timeless and just as relevant and meaningful today as when they were first written. Welcome to Environmental Science 3205. Hundreds of people, who are experts in managing natural resources, have worked together on your behalf for more than two years to bring this material together. Thanks to their commitment, this text (as of 2008) has the most current information on aspects of this province’s natural resources. In these pages you can find information on all aspects of the environmental science of resource management in Newfoundland and Labrador. As you work your way through each unit, we hope that you begin to see that the study and application of environmental science is very complex and dynamic. In fact, we believe it is one of the most interesting and relevant courses you will ever study. Preface iii The text is broken up into five Units. Each one represents a special field or area of environmental study: Introduction to the Environment: Includes a brief history and 1. evolution of environmental science and an introduction to Protected Areas and Species At Risk programs of the province. Recreation and the Environment: Examines the ways we use and 2. abuse our environment and looks at the steps we can take to protect the environment. Land Use and the Environment: Looks at forestry, mining and 3. agriculture and their impact on the environment. (You will do two out of three of these topics.) Water Use and the Environment: Covers both fresh and marine 4. water issues ranging from a discussion of safe drinking water to the fishery and the marine environment. The Atmosphere and the Environment: Addresses issues related 5. to air quality, acid precipitation and climate change. Environmental Science is very diverse. It is the science of observing and recording or making note of those observations. In this way we ask and answer important questions about the environment. Some studies take a relatively short period of time, while other studies may take a lifetime or longer.There are many ways to get involved in the field of Environmental Science. If you see yourself working outdoors, you could be conducting research, protecting wildlife and the environment. Or if you see yourself working indoors, you could be developing policies and programs, teaching others or working in a laboratory.All of these are key aspects of Environmental Science. They are interconnected and together help us to make responsible decisions so that we can do what is best to protect and sustain our natural resources. Among the many things you will discover in this course, we hope that some of them will include: Newfoundland and Labrador is a huge province blessed with an 1. abundance of natural resources. Our future lies with choices made by wise individuals with accurate 2. information. Environmental Science is a diverse field with a tremendous amount 3. of opportunity for career choices. Back to the question asked in the opening paragraph.You are the “young”to whom the song refers.You and your generation will inherit the resources of our province. We hope you will enjoy learning about the topics in this course.We are confident of your ability to make the right choices to ensure that the environment of Newfoundland and Labrador is around for the next group of young people who will inherit these resources from you. iv Toward a Sustainable Future Table of Contents Preface I UNIT 1 Chapter 1: An Introduction to Environmental Science 1 The Earth and Environment 1 Evolution of Earth 2 Impacts of Human Civilization 3 Science and the Environment 5 What is Environmental Science? 8 Review of Key Concepts of Environmental Science 9 Environmental Attitudes 14 History of Environmentalism 17 Environmental Disasters 22 International Agreements 23 Chapter 2: Sustainable Development 26 Creating a Sustainable Society 26 Factors that Influence Sustainability 29 Environmental Sustainability 30 Economics and Sustainability 35 The Precautionary Principle 37 CORE LABORATORY ACTIVITY: “How Much Earth do you Need?” 38 Sustainable Development in Newfoundland and Labrador 41 Eco-citizenship 43 Citizen Empowerment 44 Multi Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB) 47 Household Hazardous Waste Collection 48 Waste Reduction and Composting 51 Table of Contents v UNIT 1 continued Chapter 3: Ecosystems, Ecoregions and Biodiversity 55 Ecosystems 55 Ecoregions 58 Biodiversity 62 CORE LABORATORY ACTIVITY: “Biodiversity - Why is it Important?” 64 Genetic Diversity and Biodiversity 68 Chapter 4: Protecting Species 71 Introduction to Species Protection 71 Going, Going, Gone: Threats to Species Survival 78 Habitat Loss and Degradation 78 Introduced Species 83 Over-exploitation 86 Pollution 88 Climate Change 91 Processes for Species At Risk