Question

SUS 350 Sustainable Communities
Module 2 Homework Assignment
Learning Objectives:
· Explain different dimensions of sustainability
· Identify major ecosystem services and understand how societies rely on them
· Examine the role of a specific ecosystem service that impacts your local economy
Complete this assignment using week 1 and week 2 course materials.
Part 1: The Three Dimensions of Sustainability (15 pts)
From the Post Carbon Institute’s What is Sustainability:
Sustainability is often thought of as composed of three overlapping, mutually dependent goals:
a. To live in a way that is environmentally sustainable, or viable over the very long-term,
b. To live in a way that is economically sustainable, maintaining living standards over the 
long-term, and
c. To live in a way that is socially sustainable, now and in the future.
1. Explain the importance of each of these dimensions in your own words.
2. Which dimension(s) of sustainability were you most familiar with prior to starting this course?
3. Which dimension(s) would you like to prioritize in your own life moving forward?
Part 2: Reading Reflection (15 pts)
After reading Chapter 1 of The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity, document the following:
· Three take-away ideas that were new to you & important to understand
1.

2.
3.
· Two questions or concerns that came up for you
1.
2.
· One A-ha! moment (something you'd never thought about before or thought about in a new way)
1.
Part 3: The Importance of Ecosystem Services (30 points)
After reading about biodiversity and ecosystem services, identify specific ecosystem services that are 
especially important in your region. Choose three ecosystem services to write about and for each one:
a. Identify which category the ecosystem service belongs in based on the Millennium 
Ecosystem Assessment framework introduced in the module 2 readings.
b. Describe the importance of the ecosystem service to your regional economy
c. Consider the impacts to both the economy and the ecosystem if the environment was 
degraded and that ecosystem service were to diminish or disappear.
1. a.
b.
c.
2. a.
b.
c.
3. a.
b.
c

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 months ago

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