In the context of sustainability science, the environment consists of interactions between physical, chemical, and biological systems in relation to the organisms within these systems. In the past, the world’s living and non-living systems were sustained through the environment’s complex redistribution of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and other elements. However, the dramatic increase of human resource exploitation in the last century has significantly strained the ecosystems we rely upon for survival.

Environmental resource management seeks to identify strategies for stabilizing the presently disruptive relationship between human culture and the living world. Understanding the environment in the context of sustainability science is the central distinguishing feature of Unity College’ Online Masters in Sustainable Natural Resource Management. Sustainability science is an increasingly popular and important academic discipline, designed to address complex real-world problems through transdisciplinary scientific approaches.

Here’s how sustainability science helps natural resource management students understand environmental complexity.

The Importance of Sustainability Science in a Natural Resource Management Masters

Traditional environmental science often divides uncertain aspects of the natural world into identifiable, simple problems that can be researched and explained in isolation. This specialization enables minute analysis of manageable hypotheses, but is insufficient for understanding how these pieces of the world relate to one another as a whole. Sustainability science seeks to innovatively address complex real-world questions by expanding the scope of individual scientific disciplines to encompass transdisciplinary processes and integrating the diverse stakeholders that are most affected by these problems.

Transdisciplinary processes are increasingly important to natural resource management

Transdisciplinary processes are increasingly important to natural resource management

This type of transdisciplinary thinking is proving increasingly necessary to even comprehend the extent of complex issues like climate change and habitat preservation. It’s also the only way to adequately offer solutions to these urgent problems. Environmental science thus incorporates ideas from sciences such as biology, chemistry, and geology as well as various social sciences and the humanities.

How Professionals with a Natural Resource Management Degree Approach Environmental Sustainability

Graduates with a Sustainable Natural Resource Management degree have effective skills and knowledge for managing species and social-ecological systems by understanding the impact of human societies on the environment. To sustain quality of life for all people and the beauty of the natural environment, these professionals aim to prevent threats from arising, protect the environment from these impacts, and reverse the damage already done.

Excessive consumption of non-renewable resources risks depleting them permanently

Excessive consumption of non-renewable resources risks depleting them permanently

Natural resources are being consumed more rapidly than ever. These include renewable resources like wind and timber that can be replaced or replenished eventually, and non-renewable resources like minerals and crude oils that are in finite supply. Resources such as soil, which isn’t recoverable in a human lifespan once lost, are sometimes incorrectly considered renewable, making them more likely to be overlooked by protection efforts. While even heavily harvested renewable resources can’t be replenished quickly enough to meet demand, excessive consumption of non-renewable resources risks depleting them permanently.

Extraction of non-renewable natural resources and expansions of industry and housing developments are particular areas where environmental sustainability may be vulnerable. In a Professional Science Master’s (PSM program), students learn to use economics, ethics, and social science to support decision-making regarding environmental systems issues. It’s the perfect education for developing advanced scientific training while developing the business and communication skills needed to advance your career and help protect the environment.

Are you interested in pursuing a Sustainable Natural Resource Management Masters?

Contact Unity College for more information about our world-class, affordable, and flexible online master’s degree programs.