Ecosystems and Sustainability
In 1987 the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) issued its first report, the Brundtland Report (from the name of the Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland who at the time was President of the Commission). In 1992 was called the World Conference on Environment and the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro; on both occasions, the principle of “sustainable development” was officialized on a global scale. Sustainable development aims not to compromise the possibility of future generations of complying with their own development and counting on the same amount of resources we currently enjoy. This is possible only preserving the quality and quantity of our heritage and natural resources. Agenda 21 is the twenty-first century action plan and the official document approved by all the nations of the world in Rio de Janeiro. Since then, the United Nations “Commission on Sustainable Development” reviewing the implementation of Agenda 21 directives in all countries which have subscribed to the action plan.
Herman E. Dally, economist at the World Bank, in 1991 outlined sustainable development according to three essential aspects regarding the use of natural resources by mankind:
- using renewable resources at rates that do not exceed their capacity to renew themselves
- emitting slag and pollutants in the atmosphere without exceeding the carrying capacity of the environment
- stocking non-renewable resources on a regular basis over time
Special reports
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9 May 2022
Pollination, a perfect alliance between plants and animals
Firmly rooted in soil, over the course of their evolution plants have had to develop biological mechanisms for feeding and…
20 October 2021
Chapada Diamantina: a treasure beyond gemstones
Discovering the Diamond Plateau, one of Brazil's most unique naturalistic jewels ...
30 July 2020
Holidays, yes! but they must be sustainable!
We have been speaking of sustainable behaviours to apply to our daily life, but what happens when we unplug and…
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23 June 2020
The Last Wild Valley. In defence of the Cime Bianche
The Vallone delle Cime Bianche or Courtaud Valley rises at the top of the Val d'Ayas, in Valle d'Aosta. It…
10 February 2020
Coral turns pale!
The coral reef is one of the ecosystems with the richest biodiversity...
7 January 2020
Urban woods
When walking along a tree-lined avenue in a crowded and traffic-congested city, wrapped up in our daily commitments, we do…
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6 February 2017
Robotics: environmental monitoring and more
More than 830 events were organised in 30 countries during the European Robotics Week (18-27 November)
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9 May 2022
Pollination, a perfect alliance between plants and animals
Firmly rooted in soil, over the course of their evolution plants have had to develop biological mechanisms for feeding and…
20 October 2021
Chapada Diamantina: a treasure beyond gemstones
Discovering the Diamond Plateau, one of Brazil's most unique naturalistic jewels ...
-
30 July 2020
Holidays, yes! but they must be sustainable!
We have been speaking of sustainable behaviours to apply to our daily life, but what happens when we unplug and…
23 June 2020
The Last Wild Valley. In defence of the Cime Bianche
The Vallone delle Cime Bianche or Courtaud Valley rises at the top of the Val d'Ayas, in Valle d'Aosta. It…
-
10 February 2020
Coral turns pale!
The coral reef is one of the ecosystems with the richest biodiversity...
7 January 2020
Urban woods
When walking along a tree-lined avenue in a crowded and traffic-congested city, wrapped up in our daily commitments, we do…
-
9 May 2022
Pollination, a perfect alliance between plants and animals
Firmly rooted in soil, over the course of their evolution plants have had to develop biological mechanisms for feeding and…
-
20 October 2021
Chapada Diamantina: a treasure beyond gemstones
Discovering the Diamond Plateau, one of Brazil's most unique naturalistic jewels ...
-
30 July 2020
Holidays, yes! but they must be sustainable!
We have been speaking of sustainable behaviours to apply to our daily life, but what happens when we unplug and…
From the Multimedia section
Facts
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13 May 2011
A super-milk
Some protozoa have attracted the interest of the biotechnological research world...