Lesson 5.1 - Introduction

People have difficulty understanding the limits of nature to recover from the abuse humans inflict.  Early European fishing fleets saw the fishing grounds of the Grand Banks as having an endless supply of fish.  Conditions have not changed much over the centuries; foreign fishing fleets still try and catch fish using larger nets with smaller mesh.  But the fish population is collapsing; very few fish are left.  What happened?  Obviously, the supply of fish is not endless.  It takes many years for a collapsed fishery to recover, and it takes strong control of fishing to make recovery even possible. 

Why do people and governments behave in such a shortsighted manner?  The answer may be hidden in how well nature recycles many of the substances people. As a result, they think that all things are in an unlimited supply. How many things do you need and use every day?  Spend a few minutes now to make a list of all these things using the table below.  One example is given for you.

I Need

Reason
electricity to power my computer, power lights, run motors and appliances
   
   
   
   
   
   

What does your list look like?  Look at the list below that another student made.  How does your list compare?

Need

Reason
electricity to power my computer, power lights, run motors and appliances
food to provide nutrients and energy
water necessary for my body to live
air necessary for my body to live
fuels like gas to power my car, heat my house
metals to provide materials for cars, appliances
wood to provide building materials for houses, furniture

Then, answer the following questions.

 

Question 1. Which things in the list does nature recycle?

Question 2. Which things in the list are not recycled?

 

Check your answers with those that follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to Questions:

Question 1. Which things in the list does nature recycle?

The things in the list that nature recycles are
  1. Water
  2. Air
You might also have said that food and wood are recycled. Plants grow to produce food, trees grow and are used for wood, so ultimately nature recycles food and wood.

Question 2. Which things in the list are not recycled naturally?

Electricity, fuels, and metals are not recycled naturally.  You may have said that fuels are recycled. When fossil fuels are burned or used to make products, nature will not recycle these products into fuels. If it happens, it will take many millions of years.

 


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