Environmental Science

Von Lloyd L. Loren

ecology
Derived from Greek Word Oikos
Oikos house or place to live in
Interactions of organisms with one
another and with their physical and
biological environment.

environment
Sum of all external factors acting on
an organisms like plants and animals,
and the nonliving (abiotic) elements
such as air, water, and soil.

ecosystem
Refers to the living component, the
environment and the interaction
between and among them.

Environmental Science
is defined as a branch of biology
focused on the study of the
relationships of the natural world and
the relationships between organisms
and their environments. An example
of environmental science is the study
of the natural world and how it
relates to recycling and mulching.

What is the difference between

ecology and environmental science?
Although they both study issues regarding the environment, ecology and
environmental science take different focuses on what they are studying.
Environmental science focuses on the environment and how humans can
manage and utilise its resources and the effects our actions have on the
environment.
Ecology on the other hand is purely interested in the interactions between the
environment and living things. It may be concerned with human influence on
the environment but most ecological research focuses on organisms other
than humans such as plants, animals or microbial communities within the soil.
Ecology can also be applied. Restoration ecology, for example, is an applied
field of ecology.
The lines can sometime be a bit blurred between the two disciplines.

Natural change are healthy but

human-induced changes like
environmental disturbances cause
damages in the system.

Philippine Agenda 21
is part of the country's response to
fulfill its commitments in the historic
Earth Summit in 1992 where
government and key sectors of
society agreed to implement an
action agenda for sustainable
development, known as the Agenda
21.

HOLISTIC APPROACH
REDUCTIONIST APPROACH it is
believed that understanding lower
levels of organization, from atom to
organization will enhance
understanding of the larger levels.
HOLISTI APPROACH it consider the
system as a whole of which should
be analyzed for holistic parts, the
interrelatedness of which should be
analyzed for a holistic view.

ENVIRONMENTAL
PRINCIPLES

EVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Is the process by which people
develop awareness, concern and
knowledge of the environment and
its diverse values and processes, and
learn to use this understanding to
preserve, conserve and utilize the
environment in a sustainable manner
for the benefit of present and future
generation.

Main Goal of Environmental

Education
To develop an environmentally
literate and responsible citizenry who
shall ensure the protection of the
Philippine environment in order to
promote and implement
sustainability, social equity and
economic efficiency in the use of the
countrys natural resources.

1. Interdependence/Interrelatedness

Living things are interdependent with

one another and with their
environment.

2. Diversity and Stability

Is believed that a diverse community
is a stable community.

3. change
Change in the community affects the
different organisms within it. Natural
change like this is healthy but human
induced changes like environmental
disturbances wreak havoc in natural
systems.

4. Balance of Nature
Ecosystems are capable of selfmaintenance and self-regulation.

5. Finiteness of Resources
There are limitations and boundaries
to utilization. Extraction of resources
should be anchored on the concepts
of sustainable development and wise
utilization.

6. Pollution
Is the undesirable accumulation of
substances resulting in diminished
quality and utility of a resource.

7. Stewardship of Resources
Efficient management by maintaining
a balance between population
growth and resource use.

8. Sustainability
Actions that address the needs of the
present without compromising the
needs of the future generations to
meet their own needs are embodied.