Sustainable habitat is an ecosystem that produces food and shelter for human beings and other organisms, without resource depletion and in such a way that no external waste is produced. Thus the habitat can continue to tie without external infusions of the resource. Such a sustainable habitat may evolve naturally or be produced by human beings. A sustainable habitat that is created and designed by human intelligence to mimic nature. Everything within it is connected to a complex array of organisms, physical resources, and functions. Organisms from many different biomes can be brought together to fulfill various ecological niches[1].
Alternatives
editZero Waste
There is a movement called zero waste[2], which consists of using eco-friendly alternatives such as bamboo, metal, coconut, recycled fibers, etc. to substitute plastic and other materials. Zero waste ideology emphasizes eliminating products that humans use on a daily basis, for example, plastic straws, plastic utensils, paper towels, etc. The movement [3]substitutes solid waste with biodegradable components.
Ecovillage
Ecovillages[4] are looking to be sustainable, these consist of modifying the lifestyle such as having renewable energy, substituting car transportation for renewable trains, bicycles, and pedestrian walking. The consumption of organic and seasonal foods, constructing houses that are eco friendly with the environment. Eco Villages[5] consist of creating an environment that can be sustained and to eliminate pollution.
Some examples of Ecovillages [6]are:
Intelligent Urbanism
Causes
editPollution[8] has been around for many decades, but the rise of it has been in the 21st century. Pollution is caused by certain chemicals, solid waste, and emissions to the environment. Humans use certain elements on their daily basis that can cause direct or indirect pollution such as transportation, housing, incineration, chemicals in products, and food. The use of any resource can cause waste. Pollution is a long term effect that the results of it may be projected in many years. There are some studies that imply that the larger the population the levels of pollution[9] appear to be higher this being related to the numbers of consumers.
- Water Pollution
Chemical and solid waste discharges in water [10]can cause marine death in our oceans and rivers. These go through changes such as color, odor, wildlife extinction and can cause loss of ecosystems. Chemical pollution may happen in an accidental spill of the substance that eventually collides with the water.
- Air Pollution
Emissions of chemicals into the air[11] may or may not affect forests, plants' growth and reproduction, soil, and the light reach that helps the growth in the plants. The growth in plants, forests, and other green life still manage to keep growing and adapt.
- Light Pollution
- This kind of pollution[12] is an energy that is consumed almost every day by using lightbulbs, electronics, buildings, factories, hospitals, etc. During the day the consumption of electric energy is less due to the fact that humans and organisms rely on the light of the sun. But at night many humans in the world have lights and electricity in their houses because of the darkness of the night. This affects animals as the light can disorientate animals and affect their vision.
Habitats
edit
Habitats in Earth:
Overview[edit]
editIn creating sustainable habitats, environmental scientists, designers, engineers, and architects must not consider any elements as a waste product to be disposed of somewhere off-site, but as a nutrient stream for another process to feed on. Researching ways to interconnect waste streams to production creates a more sustainable society by minimizing pollution. To construct houses or any building, there is an alternative for cement blocks called Ecobricks[13]. They consist of recycled plastic bottles that get filled with recycled plastic wrappers until compacted.
See also[edit]
editExternal links[edit]
edit- Creating sustainable communities in harmony with nature. Urban Permaculture.
- Path to Freedom - Urban Agriculture & Sustainability
- Helping create sustainable habitats around the world-the SHIRE
References
edit- ^ "Ecological Niche: Definition, Types, Importance & Examples". Sciencing. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
- ^ Song, Qingbin; Li, Jinhui; Zeng, Xianlai (2015-10-01). "Minimizing the increasing solid waste through zero waste strategy". Journal of Cleaner Production. 104: 199–210. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.08.027. ISSN 0959-6526.
- ^ Murray, Robin (2002). Zero Waste. Frontier weekly. pp. 1–3.
- ^ Bang, Jan Martin (2005-09-01). Ecovillages: A Practical Guide to Sustainable Communities. New Society Publishers. ISBN 978-0-86571-538-7.
- ^ Barton, Hugh (2000). Sustainable Communities: The Potential for Eco-neighbourhoods. Earthscan. ISBN 978-1-85383-513-1.
- ^ Miller, Frederica (2018-07-10). Ecovillages around the World: 20 Regenerative Designs for Sustainable Communities. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-84409-763-0.
- ^ Benninger, Christopher Charles (2002). "Principles of intelligent urbanism: The case of the new Capital Plan for Bhutan". Ekistics. 69 (412/413/414): 60–80. ISSN 0013-2942.
- ^ Harrison, R. M. (2015-11-09). Pollution: Causes, Effects and Control. Royal Society of Chemistry. ISBN 978-1-78262-560-5.
- ^ Mraihi, Rafaa; Harizi, Riadh; Mraihi, Talel; Bouzidi, Mohamed Taoufik (2015-03-01). "Urban air pollution and urban daily mobility in large Tunisia׳s cities". Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 43: 315–320. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2014.11.022. ISSN 1364-0321.
- ^ Goel, P. K. (2006). Water Pollution: Causes, Effects and Control. New Age International. ISBN 978-81-224-1839-2.
- ^ Haryanto, Budi (2012-08-22). Air Pollution: A Comprehensive Perspective. BoD – Books on Demand. ISBN 978-953-51-0705-7.
- ^ Longcore, Travis; Rich, Catherine (2004). "Ecological light pollution". Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 2 (4): 191–198. doi:10.1890/1540-9295(2004)002[0191:ELP]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 1540-9309.
- ^ Antico, Federico C.; Wiener, María J.; Araya-Letelier, Gerardo; Retamal, Raúl Gonzalez (2017). "Eco-bricks: a sustainable substitute for construction materials". Revista de la Construcción. Journal of Construction. 16 (3): 518–526. doi:10.7764/RDLC.16.3.518. ISSN 0718-915X.