THE 7 ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES
ENVIRONMENT
The term “environment” is commonly known as the immediate surroundings of an object
or an individual. It includes living things like plants and animals as well as non-living things such
as air, water and soil. In a more specific term, environment is the general term for everything
that surrounds human beings. It therefore includes the:
a. Biophysical environment, such as the plants and animals as well as the land and
water bodies and the air around us;
b. Socio-cultural environment or set of beliefs, customs, practices, and behavior that
exists within a population; and
c. Politico-economic environment in which people exchange materials and ideas.
Knowing how the environment works is considered the most important way to help
maintain its perfect nature and function. Learning how the environment functions will help
human beings find solutions in solving its problems and issues. To fully appreciate and
recognize the role of the environment, one needs to grasp principles behind which the
environment works. These principles are gathered largely from the realm of biology and natural
science.
No. 1: Nature knows best. (Balance of Nature)
Nature has its own laws and processes to maintain itself. It is capable of self-maintenance;
self-regulation and self- cleansing. This principle is exemplified by the following:
a. Material Cycling – Materials in the environment are not lost. They only change from one
form to another. Nature supplies all living things with all the needed materials basic for
life (i.e. nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon). These materials are brought back to nature
through a process of decomposition aided by living and non-living things.
, Examples:
1. Plants give oxygen for the animals; then animals produce carbon dioxide for the plants’
photosynthesis.
2. The plants absorb nutrients from the soil; the plants are eaten by animals; the animals bring
back the nutrients to the soil when they die or excrete waste.
b. Reproduction – Living things have the ability to multiply through the process of
reproduction. This ensures the continuous existence of species in nature. Each organism
has a role in maintaining the energy flow which is necessary for life.
ENVIRONMENT
The term “environment” is commonly known as the immediate surroundings of an object
or an individual. It includes living things like plants and animals as well as non-living things such
as air, water and soil. In a more specific term, environment is the general term for everything
that surrounds human beings. It therefore includes the:
a. Biophysical environment, such as the plants and animals as well as the land and
water bodies and the air around us;
b. Socio-cultural environment or set of beliefs, customs, practices, and behavior that
exists within a population; and
c. Politico-economic environment in which people exchange materials and ideas.
Knowing how the environment works is considered the most important way to help
maintain its perfect nature and function. Learning how the environment functions will help
human beings find solutions in solving its problems and issues. To fully appreciate and
recognize the role of the environment, one needs to grasp principles behind which the
environment works. These principles are gathered largely from the realm of biology and natural
science.
No. 1: Nature knows best. (Balance of Nature)
Nature has its own laws and processes to maintain itself. It is capable of self-maintenance;
self-regulation and self- cleansing. This principle is exemplified by the following:
a. Material Cycling – Materials in the environment are not lost. They only change from one
form to another. Nature supplies all living things with all the needed materials basic for
life (i.e. nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon). These materials are brought back to nature
through a process of decomposition aided by living and non-living things.
, Examples:
1. Plants give oxygen for the animals; then animals produce carbon dioxide for the plants’
photosynthesis.
2. The plants absorb nutrients from the soil; the plants are eaten by animals; the animals bring
back the nutrients to the soil when they die or excrete waste.
b. Reproduction – Living things have the ability to multiply through the process of
reproduction. This ensures the continuous existence of species in nature. Each organism
has a role in maintaining the energy flow which is necessary for life.
