Between the sustainability strategies for natural resource management highlight the regional commitment to environmental protection, knowledge of local natural capital and individual actions that we can all take to conserve the environment.
Sustainability or sustainability can be defined as property of the sustainable development, which implies "Satisfy the needs of present generations, without compromising the possibilities of future generations to meet their own needs". This presents the dimensions: environmental, social and economic.
This definition of sustainable development has been controversial because of its anthropocentrism. In addition, there is incoherence in not raising one of the central problems of the global environmental crisis. The crisis is centered on the fact that the planet's natural resources are limited and finite, and cannot sustain a population like the human population, which grows unlimitedly..
Development, understood as economic growth with a permanent increase in the consumption of natural resources (intensive exploitation) and the production of polluting waste at rates higher than those of natural replacement and sanitation, cannot be sustainable..
Among experts on the subject, the term sustainability is often used instead of sustainability to distinguish it from a vision based on biocentrism, which considers that all living beings have the right to exist and develop without existing supremacy of some over others..
According to the biocentric point of view, the natural resources of the planet do not belong to the human being. Humanity has a moral duty to adapt and limit its resource exploitation activities to the maximum capacity of nature to sustain and recover from these activities..
From biocentrism, sustainability is incompatible with unlimited economic and population growth, which leads to overexploitation and contamination of natural resources until their depletion.
According to the UN, strategies to achieve sustainability are framed within the 17 sustainable development goals (SDG) established in the 2030 agenda for sustainable development..
The SDGs seek to end poverty, protect the planet's natural resources and build a world of peace and prosperity for all people.
Regarding the management of natural resources, we can summarize some strategies proposed in the framework of the SDGs:
The interaction of the world's governments and environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with international organizations such as the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CDS) is essential..
The CSD fulfills the functions of coordination between the UN and the nations to achieve the transition towards sustainable development. This is generated through the design of public policies for the conservation of national, regional and local natural resources, such as:
- Surface and underground water bodies.
- Soil.
- The air.
- The forests.
- Biological diversity.
- The integrity of existing ecosystems.
The existence of alliances between governmental and private organizations, NGOs and civil society in general, ensures the continuity of regional environmental conservation programs..
There must be legislation in each country that promotes good industrial and urban practices, to avoid pollution and environmental overexploitation.
There must also be agencies to monitor and control all activities that involve possible environmental damage..
The conservation and rational use of natural resources begins with a rigorous study of their availability in the environment, which is called a baseline study..
This type of study allows to know the existing natural capital and its state (polluted, depleted or not). In this way, it is possible to estimate the carrying capacity of the environment and the possible exploitation rates, seeking to ensure that they are in equilibrium with their natural replacement rates..
Continuous campaigns to disseminate pertinent environmental information should be established to generate receptivity and sensitivity in the population regarding this issue..
These campaigns should disseminate local baseline studies and generate a commitment to improve environmental conditions with short, medium and long-term programs..
For example, it can be very useful to carry out reforestation campaigns with native species and to disseminate ways of saving electricity and water.
The sum of small local daily actions generates true global transcendental changes.
How can we support the transition to sustainability? Informing us and sharing information related to the preservation and good use of natural resources. We can consider the following concrete actions, such as:
- Install solar panels and promote the use of clean, environmentally friendly energy.
- Replace energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs.
- Use power strips and disconnect them when connected electrical equipment is not in use.
- Turn off equipment and lights while they are not needed.
- Reduce the use of hair dryers, clothes dryers, washing machines and electric ovens.
- Insulate doors and windows to use less heat, and set the thermostat higher in the summer than in the winter.
- Take short showers, avoid using bathtubs and use less water in the toilet.
- Optimize dishwashing and laundry with full loads and washing with minimal amounts of water.
- Reduce the use of paper by printing what is strictly essential.
- Plant native trees and care for them until they develop.
- Protect forests from logging, burning and deforestation.
- Support with our consumption those companies that have proven to use sustainable practices. To do this, we must seek information about goods and services and their life cycles..
- Consume local and natural products, as little processed and packaged as possible. Our goal is not to generate waste; therefore, we must avoid purchasing too many products.
- Consume less meat and fish, the production of which involves a very high expenditure of resources.
- Know our carbon footprint -which can be calculated on various available web pages- and adopt non-polluting means of transport (such as walking, cycling or using public transport).
- Promote the use of clean energy sources, such as solar panels.
- Comply with our local recycling program; if it does not exist, promote its implementation. For example, organic matter can generate compost for soils, and paper, plastic, glass and aluminum can be recycled by specialized companies..
- Be a guarantor of the proper functioning of government, private and NGO organizations through joint participation in audits, actions and local campaigns.
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