Overview: Choose One Or Two Natural Resources To Focus On

Overviewchoose One Or Two Natural Resources To Focus On In Order To Ma

Choose one or two natural resources to focus on in order to make personal change from the general categories of animals, plants, water, air, soil, minerals, food, and energy sources. This assignment will go beyond recycling and packaging reduction to a real and significant lifestyle change. Choose one of the topics below or come up with a topic that will require a substantial amount of research and work to complete and will provide sufficient scope to address the three key sections needed for the final project: Section 1: History and Contemporary Viewpoint, Section 2: Local Real-World Applications and Specific Steps, and Section 3: Global Significance, Impact, and Applications. For the Milestone One submission, you will select the topic of your final project and provide a one-page outline for your final project.

Note: Instructors will approve topics for which they know sufficient research and information exists for the student to complete the final paper. Topic Suggestions include: converting to a strict locavore lifestyle (food, clothing, etc.), adopting a strict organic lifestyle, transitioning to veganism, switching household cleaning products to environmentally friendly options, eliminating paper waste, updating home with green technologies or renewable materials, installing renewable energy sources, changing transportation methods, incorporating alternative water sources, installing drought-tolerant landscaping, building a community garden or raising domesticated animals, composting wastes, reducing water usage, eliminating plastics, working from home, eliminating chlorofluorocarbons, or replacing appliances with Energy Star-rated models.

Briefly describe the topic selected for the final project and provide a one-page outline including:

• Section 1: History and Contemporary Viewpoint: Research the historical development of the topic from inception to modern-day usage, focusing on significant developments and contributors both in American and global contexts.
• Section 2: Local Real-World Applications and Specific Steps: Explore opportunities and challenges for implementing this lifestyle or technology locally, considering practical steps and barriers.
• Section 3: Global Significance, Impact, and Applications: Compare and contrast local versus global applications, emphasizing the global significance and impacts of adopting such changes personally and societally.

Format your Milestone One submission with a title page, double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, and citations in APA format. The length should be approximately one page.

Paper For Above instruction

The sustainable management of water resources presents a significant challenge and opportunity in the context of global environmental change. For the purpose of this assignment, I will focus on the natural resource of water, specifically the transition towards sustainable water management practices through rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling. This focus aims to demonstrate a tangible lifestyle change with global significance, local application, and historical development.

Section 1: History and Contemporary Viewpoint

The history of water management techniques, particularly rainwater harvesting, dates back thousands of years, with early documented practices in ancient civilizations such as the Indus Valley, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. These societies recognized the importance of capturing and storing water for agricultural and domestic use. In recent history, rainwater harvesting gained renewed interest during the 20th century, especially in areas facing water scarcity, due to urbanization and climate change. Currently, rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling are endorsed by environmental organizations and governments worldwide as cost-effective, sustainable solutions for reducing dependence on conventional water sources. Key contributors to this field include scientific pioneers such as Parshall (1964), who developed early harvesting systems, and more recent advances by organizations like the World Bank, promoting sustainable water management strategies globally. The technological evolution has transitioned from simple collection systems to integrated rainwater harvesting that supports potable water needs and irrigation, contributing to sustainable urban development (Gikas & Kiranoudis, 2010).

Section 2: Local Real-World Applications and Specific Steps

Locally, the application of rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling offers substantial opportunities to reduce municipal water consumption and foster community resilience. Practical steps include installing rain barrels on residential roofs, implementing greywater systems in households to reuse water from sinks and showers for irrigation, and establishing local ordinances to incentivize such practices. Challenges involve initial costs, lack of awareness, and regulatory barriers. Addressing these challenges requires community education programs, incentives such as tax rebates, and policy adjustments that facilitate greywater system permits and standards. Additionally, watershed management practices can be adopted at the neighborhood level, encouraging collective efforts in stormwater management. Local implementation demands collaboration between residents, policymakers, and environmental organizations to create supportive infrastructure and awareness, thereby enabling sustainable water use for future generations.

Section 3: Global Significance, Impact, and Applications

Globally, water scarcity affects over 2 billion people, a crisis exacerbated by climate change, pollution, and population growth. Local initiatives like rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling can significantly reduce stress on centralized water systems, particularly in arid regions and developing countries. On a global scale, widespread adoption of these techniques can mitigate water shortages, reduce energy consumption related to water pumping and treatment, and promote resilience against droughts. While local adaptations depend on regional climate, infrastructure, and socio-economic factors, their global significance lies in transforming water management paradigms towards sustainability. Successfully implementing these practices worldwide could contribute to achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, notably Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. Ultimately, these practices have the potential to foster global water security, improve livelihoods, and protect ecosystems, underscoring their vital role in sustainability agendas.

References

• Gikas, D., & Kiranoudis, C. T. (2010). A review on rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 162(1-4), 287-302.
• Parshall, F. F. (1964). Water harvesting for arid regions. Water Resources Journal, 1(3), 52-59.
• United Nations. (2023). The State of the World’s Water Resources. UN Water Reports.
• Gleick, P. H. (2014). Water resources. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 39, 27-49.
• Jain, P., & Kumar, R. (2021). Modern techniques in rainwater harvesting: A review. Sustainable Cities and Society, 66, 102721.
• World Bank. (2018). Water conservation and management strategies. World Bank Publications.
• Van der Bruggen, B., & Vandecasteele, C. (2003). Principles and applications of membrane fouling control. Water Research, 37(11), 2545-2558.
• McAnnaly, J., & Lee, K. (2012). Community-based water management: Challenges and opportunities. Water Policy, 14(4), 638-654.
• Singh, A., & Samantaray, M. K. (2019). Strategies for sustainable water management in urban areas. Environment & Urbanization ASIA, 10(1), 21-35.
• Karar, E., et al. (2020). Technologies for water reuse: A review. Water Science and Technology, 82(5), 910-929.