ABSTRACT
Much has been written in recent decades about the need for sustainable practices if we are to oer future generations the same magnitude of benet from natural resource utilization enjoyed by past generations. In 1987, the United Nations (UN) Bruntland Commission dened sustainable development as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (United Nations General Assembly 1987). Natural resources must be consumed by mankind in such a way that water, food, heat, clean air, energy, and other basic goods are provided to all, with no human being, alive or as yet unborn, being deprived. Clearly, we have not yet achieved this goal. Although there is a wide diversity of points of view and many opinions regarding the various components of this debate, including the means to achieve that overarching goal, there is general agreement on several basic facts. First, the population of the world continues to grow. Second, people in developing countries wish to increase their standard of living (if possible, to levels now enjoyed in the developed world). ird, natural resources cannot sustain an unlimited “carrying” population load. Finally, technology has helped to increase nature’s population/load-carrying capacity.
