Lecture 4 Sustainable Development The concept of resource Hunker(1964)pointed out that a resource can no longer be conceived as a tangible object; but a functional relationship that exists between mans wants, his abilities, and his appraisal of his environment. As a result resources have been given such names as: Natural: H Natral resource: is anything created through natural processes that people use and/rvalue Human resources. This includes human-made resources which are creations or inventions such as money, factories, computers, information, laboretc Indeed, resources became to satisfy man's wants in biological(food, shelter, comfort) and cultural(values aspirations)needs. And these exists both at the individual and sociallevels a To create and manage these resources, we employ our technological and organizational abilities a In summary, a resource is an attribute of the environment appraised by man to be of value over time within constraints imposed by his social, political, economic, and institutionalframework. The characteristics of resources are -Cultural values -technology -economic system, as well as human The concept of sustainability Since the publication of the brundtland report on 'Our Common Future'in 1987, sustaina ble development has gained world-wide attention and received extensive discussions at different international forums I In the report, 'sustainable development is defined as 'development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability offuture generations to meet their own needs. The main principle is that all human beings are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature. The right to development must be fulfilled so as to equita bly meet development and environmental needs of present and future generations
1 Lecture 4 Sustainable Development The concept of Resource Hunker (1964) pointed out that a resource can no longer be conceived as a tangible object; but a functional relationship that exists between man’s wants, his abilities, and his appraisal of his environment. As a result resources have been given such names as: Natural; Human ◼ Natural resource: is anything created through natural processes that people use and/or value. ◼ Human resources: This includes human-made resources which are creations or inventions such as money, factories, computers, information, labor etc. ◼ Indeed, resources became to satisfy man’s wants in biological (food, shelter, comfort) and cultural (values aspirations) needs. And these exists both at the individual and social levels. ◼ To create and manage these resources, we employ our technological and organizational abilities. ◼ In summary, a resource is an attribute of the environment appraised by man to be of value over time within constraints imposed by his social, political, economic, and institutional framework. The characteristics of resources are: -Cultural values, -technology, -economic system, as well as human The concept of sustainability ◼ Since the publication of the Brundtland Report on ‘Our Common Future’ in 1987, sustainable development has gained world-wide attention and received extensive discussions at different international forums. ◼ In the report, ‘sustainable development’ is defined as ‘development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’ ◼ The main principle is that all human beings are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature. The right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet development and environmental needs of present and future generations
Habitat approach a In discussing resources and the concept of sustainability in Hong Kong, they will use the so called habitat approach,. In Hong Kong, these resources in terms of habitat approach, will include: 1)Seashore ecosystem; 2)Freshwater ecosystem tErrestrial ecosystem; Terrestrial ecosystem a Grassland: some areas are covered with a single species, growing so tall and dense that all other plants are excluded but grasslands are a poor habitat for fauna -If grassland is free from disturbance for several years, they are usually invaded by shrubs/scrubs a- Complete protection, allows an increase in the size and diversity of the shrubs When matured,-The tall shrublands contain some plants which are capable of becoming tress. The only natural woodland in Hong Kong is the "fung shui"woodlands. These can be found near the older villages and temples Seashore ecosystem The hong Kong coastline is >800 kms. There is diverse flora and fauna arious factors affect these resources in Hong Kong I. there is rainfall variability 2. soil cover differs from place to place, 3. animal/plants also differ from place to place, 4. the economy fluctuates 5. People All these factors are inter-related and these variations depend to a large extent on the physical environment Factors can be seen as: 1. Climate a)temperature, b)prevailing, c)rainfall 2. Soils 3. Vegetation 4. The city habitat The climate and hydrology Hong Kongs climate is seasonal and depends largely on the cool dry winds
2 Habitat Approach ◼ In discussing resources and the concept of sustainability in Hong Kong, they will use the so called ‘habitat approach’. In Hong Kong, these resources in terms of ‘habitat approach’, will include: 1)Seashore ecosystem; 2)Freshwater ecosystem; 3)Terrestrial ecosystem; Terrestrial ecosystem ◼ Grassland: some areas are covered with a single species, growing so tall and dense that all other plants are excluded , but grasslands are a poor habitat for fauna ◼ -If grassland is free from disturbance for several years, they are usually invaded by shrubs/scrubs. ◼ - Complete protection, allows an increase in the size and diversity of the shrubs. ◼ When matured, - The tall shrublands contain some plants which are capable of becoming tress. ◼ The only natural woodland in Hong Kong is the “fung shui” woodlands. These can be found near the older villages and temples Seashore ecosystem ◼ The Hong Kong coastline is > 800 kms. ◼ There is diverse flora and fauna. Various factors affect these resources in Hong Kong 1. there is rainfall variability; 2. soil cover differs from place to place, 3. animal/plants also differ from place to place, 4. the economy fluctuates, 5. People All these factors are inter-related and these variations depend to a large extent on the physical environment. Factors can be seen as: 1. Climate a) temperature, b) prevailing, c) rainfall, d) light. 2. Soils 3. Vegetation 4. The city habitat The climate and hydrology ◼ Hong Kong’s climate is seasonal and depends largely on the cool dry winds
easterly monsoon in summer The climate, and particularly the direction and speed of the wind affects the sea And in summer, the se monsoon brings to the shores of hong Kong warm water from the South China Sea hainan Current), and this makes the seawater temperature rise to approximately 28C. In winter the Ne monsoon replaces the warm seawater with north China sea water(Taiwan Current) making the seawater temperature to drop to about 19-23 C, and resulting in reduced salinity in the seawater. Geomorphology This affects the distribution of plants and animals at the shore (geological structure)of the beach. In general, sedimentary rocks (which are susceptible to weathering and so break down into smaller fragments)or alluvial deposits are associated with the north-eastern and north-western shores and on these areas, possess predominantly sandy or muddy shores. a Since the prevailing wind and wave direction in Hong Kong is from the south east, shores that face this direction receive the full impact and are said to be exposed. Shores on the other side are sheltered. This results in spatial distribution of species according to adaptation Biotic factors The animal eggs, larvae or juveniles and the plant spores or seeds determine distribution of the adults by their settling position. a These young lives have a wide range of structural behavioural and physiological adaptations that permit them to colonize the most suitable site that will ensure their survival Because of these, both intraspecific and interspecific competition for all available space occurs Biotic factors can be defined as those factors produced by organisms which have an influence on the other organisms Major biotic factors are: a Suspended material in water and it has two main components namely the living plankton, and the detritus, both oforganic and inorganic origin Competition (remember niche) occurs for light, space, etc. interspecific (ecological niche overlap)and intraspecific competition(members of the same species Predation. ete Freshwater Ecosystem In Hong Kong, the 3 types of freshwater habitat that can be found are streams. reservoirs and small bodies of standing water such as small natural ponds, fish ponds, and paddy fields. The End
3 easterly monsoon in summer. ◼ The climate, and particularly the direction and speed of the wind affects the sea. And in summer, the SE monsoon brings to the shores of Hong Kong warm water from the South China Sea (Hainan Current), and this makes the seawater temperature rise to approximately 28o C. ◼ In winter, the NE monsoon replaces the warm seawater with North China sea water (Taiwan Current) making the seawater temperature to drop to about 19-23o C, and resulting in reduced salinity in the seawater. Geomorphology ◼ This affects the distribution of plants and animals at the shore (geological structure) of the beach. In general, sedimentary rocks (which are susceptible to weathering and so break down into smaller fragments) or alluvial deposits are associated with the north-eastern and north-western shores and on these areas, possess predominantly sandy or muddy shores. ◼ Since the prevailing wind and wave direction in Hong Kong is from the South East, shores that face this direction receive the full impact and are said to be exposed. Shores on the other side are sheltered. This results in spatial distribution of species according to adaptation. Biotic factors ◼ The animal eggs, larvae or juveniles and the plant spores or seeds determine distribution of the adults by their settling position. ◼ These young lives have a wide range of structural, behavioural and physiological adaptations that permit them to colonize the most suitable site that will ensure their survival. ◼ Because of these, both intraspecific and interspecific competition for all available space occurs. ◼ Biotic factors can be defined as those factors produced by organisms which have an influence on the other organisms. Major biotic factors are: ◼ Suspended material in water and it has two main components namely the living plankton, and the detritus, both of organic and inorganic origin. ◼ Competition (remember niche) occurs for light, space, etc. interspecific (ecological niche overlap) and intraspecific competition. (members of the same species). ◼ Predation, etc. Freshwater Ecosystem In Hong Kong, the 3 types of freshwater habitat that can be found are streams, reservoirs and small bodies of standing water such as small natural ponds, fish ponds, and paddy fields. The End