The field in which I am involved is Natural Resource
Management. Simply, as the name implies, this is the management of natural
resources. These natural resources encompass everything from a small spring
coming out of the foothills to bigger issues such as oil and gas exploration,
climate change, and environmental regulation.
Generally there is a theme of environmentalism that runs through the discipline. Most who get into the field have aspirations of protecting the environment and natural resources but that is not always the case. In fact, those in the field could end up working for a company like BP or Barrick to help with mineral exploration and regulations. A lot of the environmental regulation work can include working out the details of the National Environmental Policy Act as it pertains to the project and integrating or adhering to the Best Management Practice Policies that minimize the impact of a project.
This also illustrates that although there is a prominent perspective of saving the environment and minimizing human impact, the field itself isn’t about halting progress. Not everyone involved in the management of natural resources is out to shut down big oil and industry. The goal in and of itself is to minimize detrimental impacts to the environment through scientific implementation.
That’s not to say that there are not those die hard activist in the field out there that believe any loss is unacceptable.
In this way the ultimate goal of the field would be to minimize the adverse side effects that the industrial and technological age has had on our planet. The event that had the most profound effect on me upon learning about it was the Cuyahoga River fire. The Cuyahoga River is located in northeast Ohio and at one point in 1969 became so polluted with industrial waste that it caught fire. Of course industry continues today, but now there are steps and measures taken to minimize pollutants to such a minute amount that their effects aren’t detrimental to the environment or human well-being.
This is an ongoing effort since nothing is ever constant. New technology impacts the world around us in new and unexpected ways. Old technology and techniques still plague us with severe problems. The problem with the Flint Water Crisis that has been in the news in recent months illustrates the later point. There are old lead pipe water systems built before lead was found to be hazardous, and often the details of old infrastructure gets forgotten in time. The officials should have consulted with regulators and professionals before switching water supplies from the current system to the older Flint water system. It is professionals and regulators in the field of natural resource management that work to prevent problems like this from arising in the first place.
It could also be argued that if environmentalist and natural resource managers had not come into prominence that the United States would be in the same bleak situation as China is with air and water pollution. It is beneficial to have this field and specialist in place to ensure that society has the resources to continue to function healthily.
Generally there is a theme of environmentalism that runs through the discipline. Most who get into the field have aspirations of protecting the environment and natural resources but that is not always the case. In fact, those in the field could end up working for a company like BP or Barrick to help with mineral exploration and regulations. A lot of the environmental regulation work can include working out the details of the National Environmental Policy Act as it pertains to the project and integrating or adhering to the Best Management Practice Policies that minimize the impact of a project.
This also illustrates that although there is a prominent perspective of saving the environment and minimizing human impact, the field itself isn’t about halting progress. Not everyone involved in the management of natural resources is out to shut down big oil and industry. The goal in and of itself is to minimize detrimental impacts to the environment through scientific implementation.
That’s not to say that there are not those die hard activist in the field out there that believe any loss is unacceptable.
In this way the ultimate goal of the field would be to minimize the adverse side effects that the industrial and technological age has had on our planet. The event that had the most profound effect on me upon learning about it was the Cuyahoga River fire. The Cuyahoga River is located in northeast Ohio and at one point in 1969 became so polluted with industrial waste that it caught fire. Of course industry continues today, but now there are steps and measures taken to minimize pollutants to such a minute amount that their effects aren’t detrimental to the environment or human well-being.
This is an ongoing effort since nothing is ever constant. New technology impacts the world around us in new and unexpected ways. Old technology and techniques still plague us with severe problems. The problem with the Flint Water Crisis that has been in the news in recent months illustrates the later point. There are old lead pipe water systems built before lead was found to be hazardous, and often the details of old infrastructure gets forgotten in time. The officials should have consulted with regulators and professionals before switching water supplies from the current system to the older Flint water system. It is professionals and regulators in the field of natural resource management that work to prevent problems like this from arising in the first place.
It could also be argued that if environmentalist and natural resource managers had not come into prominence that the United States would be in the same bleak situation as China is with air and water pollution. It is beneficial to have this field and specialist in place to ensure that society has the resources to continue to function healthily.
