Environmental Planning and Ecological Possibilities

Date

1972-06

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

American Society of Civil Engineers

Abstract

It is reasoned that man faces an environmental predicament caused by the essential indeterminancy and unpredictability of outcomes of man's actions. As man's growing activities increasingly effect the entire biosphere, it becomes imperative that this predicament be incorporated into management strategies. It is reasoned that existing strategies of environmental management are poorly defined and inadequate to accommodate this predicament. Four levels of basic decision strategies are examined. An environmental strategy is developed which is based on the avoidance of large-scale irreversible change. This strategy calls for the preservation of environmental diversity. It is reasoned that such a strategy has the potential of reducing the chances of unanticipated environmental conditions and events which significantly destroy the quality of life. The importance of research priorities in developing suitable environmental strategies is reviewed.

Description

pages 572-592

Keywords

sanitary engineering, planning, natural resources, management planning, environmental surveys, environmental engineering, environmental effects, ecology, decisions

Citation

Bella, David A. and W. Scott Overton. " Environmental planning and ecological possibilities". Journal of the Sanitary Engineering Division, Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers. June 1972, pages 579 -592