File:Human Conditions and its Environmental Impact.pdf

English: The challenges to natural resource managers, and educators and researchers is broad. The International Food Policy Research Institute has identified three areas for action namely: food security and nutrition; poverty and economic growth; and human resource development - and presents these in terms of current status and future trends, changes that are needed and highlights for action (IFPRI, 1995). This provides a context for natural resource management and highlights the critical role of sound scientific and moral education concerning natural resources. Of course natural resource deterioration is not related solely to poverty and ignorance. Wanton destruction also occurs. If we are to understand the dynamics of the system, which is presented in Figure 2.2, we must factor in some basic human traits which are somewhat unsavory. Greed and other motivations lead to destruction of environments through such obvious means as overgrazing state lands, disposal of industrial and other wastes, and uncontrolled logging. Regulation therefore forms part of the overall scenario for natural resource management.