Global Ecosystem Pressures and Sustainability

Growing pressures on the natural environment through intensification of human land use may compromise ecosystem functions that are central to both the human and the natural world. According to the UN commissioned Millennium Ecosystem Assessment report 60% of ecosystem services are currently degraded or used unsustainably.
This module examines rising ecosystem pressures focusing particularly on post WWII intensification and projected demands in future output. It explores effects of water and pollinator shortages, fertiliser and chemical deposits in the environment and the widespread introduction of genetically modified organisms. What changes can these stressors cause in wild population structure and biodiversity and how might they ultimately affect such ecosystem services like water purification, food production, biological pest control, pollination, soil conservation and carbon sequestration.
Objectives: Explore growing environmental and ecosystem pressures with intensifying human land use through case studies from China, sub-Saharan Africa and Ireland. Identify specific pressures and investigate their influence on natural habitats and biodiversity. Review how increasing pressures impact on ecosystem services supporting human populations as well as natural environments.