Against the idealism of carrying capacity

A population model assumes that the use of resources is equal to all of the individuals. The think here is that we are talking about “individuals” not hard numbers. They have different needs and life conditions. That’s why we cannot take the entire population of the world as in uniform conditions in order to establish the carrying capacity (K)
The individual/population resource use is a dynamic principle. We also must we aware that resources vary with time and space. Some of this variations are given by:

• MEDCs and LEDCs
• Urban vs. rural
• Young communities vs. older communities

However we need to manage carrying capacity to our advantage.
It might be trough pollution control
POLLUTION MANAGEMET
Natural income –> Human activity –> wastes –>  pollution
Pollution:the addition of a substance of agent to the environment by human activity at a rate grater that that at which it can be rendered harmless by the environment.
Major sources of pollution

• Combustion
• Domestic waste
• Industrial waste
• Agricultural waste

Pollution by noise, by heat.
Sources:

• Point source
• Non-point source

Detection and monitoring

• Directly. measure with a particular variable to refer an specific pollution factor. (CO2 presence in the atmosphere)
• Indirectly. Impact. uses a variable that depends on a specific factor. (e.g. acid rain: a wide range of possibilities to measure the impact; salinity on the atmosphere)

Pollution indicators

• Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD): amount of dissolved oxygen required to break down the organic material in a water volume through anaerobic or aerobic activity
• Indicator species (biotic index 1-10) through invertebrates

Three-level model of pollution management.
replace, regulate and restore
Waste management

Defining Sustainability

In simple words: sustainability is to endure. To exist for a long period of time. If you ask me, sustainability is “the responsible manage of resources that work towards using them while maintaining an equilibrium.”

Introduced in an actual context.
Sustainability is a term that has gained importance in the social world’s context because the arise of concern about the actual Eath’s natural capacity to sustain human life as it is know. That’s why the concept, in means of development, has been defined as: “sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

As a social issue, sustainability enters in means of maintaining the resources for future generation. We must understand that for the world natural equilibrium to be maintained, we need to start taking greater conscience about damage we are making to the environment and how we are wearing down its sustainability. That’s why society and specific institutions are working to create policies for the regulation of the human activities that act against sustainability.

In an economic context. The concept of sustainable yield enters into the picture. It is the increase of natural capital. The natural income that can be exploited each year without getting rid of it. MSY (maximum sustainable yield) is based on this last idea.

It’s equal to
-(The total biomass or energy at a time) T1 – (total biomass of energy at a time) T
-Annual growth and recruitment – annual death and emigration.

A few points to achieving a sustainable way of living:

• To control the exploitation of natural resources.
  
• To look for alternative practices that help prevent a loss of equilibrium.
  
• Understand the entire human society structure and the economic system as part of the global environmental system

Sustainability is involved in three different spheres. Each one of the spheres functions as an individual particle, but at the same time are affected by the others.