The Nine Environmental Principles

Nine Environmental Principles

1. Nature knows best This principle is the most basic and, in fact, encompasses all the others. In essence people must not go against the natural process if they would like to ensure a continuous and steady supply of resources. In nature, nutrients pass from the environment to the organism and back to the environment. Any disruption in the cycle can bring about imbalance. For example, burning of farm wastes instead of allowing them to decompose naturally disrupts the cycle.

2. All forms of life are important.
Each organism plays a fundamental role in nature. All living things must be considered valuable in the maintenance of stability in an ecosystem. It is easy to appreciate the beautiful butterflies, especially knowing their important role in pollination. Giant beasts like whale, alligator, and elephant are objects of wonder and respect.

3. Everything is connected to everything else.
In an ecosystem, all components interact with each other to ensure the system is continued. Any outside interference may result in an imbalance. Deforestation in the mountains may affect the lowlands, resulting in floods, drought, or erosion. What happens in one country may even affect other countries.

4. Everything changes.
The only permanent thing is change. Change may be linear, cyclical, or random. An example of linear change is the evolution of a species. Cyclical changes is the eruption of a volcano, like Mt. Pinatubo bringing great upheaval in many parts of Luzon.

5. Everything must go somewhere.
When a piece of paper is thrown away, it disappears from sight but it does not cease to exist. It simply goes somewhere else. Wastes can either be pollutants or resources. We need to change or "throw-away" society attitude in order to develop better methods of waste management and recycling.

6. Ours is a finite earth.
The earth's resources can be classified as either renewable or nonrenewable. Renewable resources, like water, air, plants, and animals, can easily be replenished by natural cycles. Nonrenewable resources, like minerals, oil, and coal cannot be replenished through natural cycles. Awareness of the earth's limited resources should lead to a conscious effort to change one's attitude as a consumer.

7. The amount of life nature can support is limited.
Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a given species which can be supported by a particular habitat or ecosystem without damaging it. For example, a typical Filipino bahay kubo can only support a limited number of family members; the presence of too many residents results in overcrowding. Therefore, nature nature has its own processes or mechanisms to regulate the population of a species within or environment.

8. Human progress must consider its effect on nature.
Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without comprising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Development is viewed as essential in improving the quality of human life, yet human activities often change the environment and destroy or damage natural resources. Sustainable development strives for human progress without threatening the environment.

9. Nature is beautiful and we are stewards of God's creation.
This principle is inherent in most religious and tribal beliefs. teachings of Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam enjoin everyone to respect all life and order of nature.


Reflection


                   When we hear the word NATURE what comes into our mind? We can think of the trees in the forests, the fishes in the oceans, and the flowers on our gardens. Now our environment is slowly being destroyed. Soil, water, and air pollution is everywhere. These nine environmental principles will serve as our guide which can lead us to the right way on how to  treat our environment. 

                  These principles can help  us a lot on how to take care of our environment. The first principle said that nature knows best. We must always go with the natural process of the things that happens in nature, that any disruption can bring imbalance. The second principle is more about the the different forms of life. We must know how to appreciate and value our life and other living things. Even though they they're small and ugly each of us is significant and has a role in this world. The third principle said that all of us are connected so we must interact with each other so that disruption and imbalance in nature will not occur. Everything changes and the only permanent thing is change. That is what said in the fourth principle. The fifth principle said that everything must go somewhere. The candy wrapper we threw away just disappear in our sight but it just go somewhere, maybe to a river or a dumpsite. The sixth principle said that we must know that the resources we have are limited. We have renewable and non- renewable resources that we must know how to use properly so that there would not be a time that this natural resources cannot anymore support the people on Earth. The seventh principle discussed that nature can support limited people only in a given area. The eight principle is about the progress we contribute to mother earth but sometimes this cause destruction. Lastly, we must accept the fact that we are the stewards of God to achieve a beautiful environment. If we want to have a wonderful and a kind of environment where we can get all our needs we must know how to take care and love nature.
                   
                     May these principles help us on how to treat our environment now. These are the things we must follow to keep a beautiful, stunning and useful environment. Let's now hold our hands together and be the one to lead other people on taking care our environment.