MAN-ECOSYSTEM IMBALANCE:THE CASE FOR ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
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Date
2016
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Publisher
Faculty of General Studies, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State.
Abstract
An ecosystem describes a distinct ecological unit that consists of both the living and non-living elements. When this is able to thrive and support itself without outside influence or assistance, it is termed sustainable ecosystem. In ideal sustainable ecosystems, everything is already provided for life to survive. Modifications to any of the ecosystem driving processes, through human activities, automatically change other processes and thereby lead to ‘ecosystem imbalance’ (EI) upon which this study is premised. To overcome this imbalance, certain mechanisms are required to help the ecosystem cope with changes in other to ensure its sustainability. The study identified ‘Environmental Education’ (EE) for the promotion of environmentally friendly lifestyles, as one of such mechanisms. Achieving sustainability is not merely about a series of technical fixes, about re-designing humanity or re-engineering nature, in our continuing desire to compete in the global economy. Even the best technologies, policies, and regulations will not put society on a sustainable course without a fundamental shift in our thinking and actions, along with extensive engagement of all concerned citizens. The paper observes that if man does not control his interaction with the environment, the imbalances in the ecosystem will continue such that it will not be able to sustain itself. It is to this means that the existing means of providing Environmental Education require a reorientation towards sustainability at the various levels of formal, non-formal, and informal education at all levels of society. This will involve the development of curriculum and enlightening programs capable of changing people’s perception of the value of the natural world and how to change their environmental behaviour. The paper concludes that this effort will create a society that is aware of, and concerned about the environment and its associated problems arising from ecosystem imbalance; and which has the knowledge, skills, attitudes, motivations and commitment to work individually and collectively towards solutions of current problems and prevention of new ones.
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Keywords
Man, Ecosystem, Imbalance, Sustainability, Education
Citation
Ajibade,L.T., Afolayan, O.S. & Abdulraheem M.O.(2016). Man-Ecosystem Imbalance: The Case for Ecological Sustainability through Environmental Education. The Gazelle.A Multi-disciplinary Journal 1(1):1-15