The most important provisions are chosen as the basis of any science, which are reflected in all its theoretical fabrications and determine the methodology. Such logical elements are in ecology: principles (or laws), rules, basic concepts, theories, and also ideas.
If we talk about ecology, then due to its integral and generalizing nature, it is difficult to single out these grounds. This is due to the fact that this list should include many principles from biology, geography, physics, chemistry, geology and many other sciences. Do not forget about your own principles of ecology, which were once formulated in the works of B. Commoner (1974) and N. F. Reimers (1994).
Monographs of Commoner and Reimers
These two scientists have made a significant contribution to the formation of the basis of ecology. This process can be successful when the direct object and subject of ecology is defined and the definition of it as a science is formulated. But what is more problematic ishighlighting the basic laws and principles of ecology, the formation of a logical structure and the definition of its scientific directions. The third condition is the selection of methods and the definition of methodology.
N. F. Reimers in his monograph "Ecology. Theories, Laws, Rules, Principles and Hypotheses" did a thorough work in these directions. But he was unable to formulate a definition of ecology as a science, did not define its object and subject in a form suitable for universal recognition. And the structural constructions proposed by him are ambiguous and contain logical contradictions. Nevertheless, N. F. Reimers managed to count more than 250 laws, principles and rules of ecology, which are considered by many authors as the theoretical foundations of science.
Somewhat earlier, Barry Commoner in his book "The Closing Circle" proposed four laws-aphorisms:
- Everything is connected to everything.
- Everything has to go somewhere.
- Nature knows best.
- Nothing comes for free.
These are all paraphrased natural science dogmas that have been rightly used as the basic principles of ecology.
What is ecology based on today?
Modern authors in their monographs, scientific papers and textbooks give a different number of principles of ecology. Some list almost all laws relating to environmental protection, others highlight only 4, like Commoner.
Third, and most sensibly, choose only those that allowstructure the accumulated scientific knowledge, systematize and generalize empirical data in the sphere of human relations with the world around him. It is this analysis that will make it possible to develop a sequence of human actions to implement the ecological paradigm. After all, the most costly thing is designing something wrong.
Thus, it is the principles of ecology proposed below that in the modern world will best contribute to the practical implementation of a sound approach. In other words, it will help to integrate it into everyone's daily activities.
Basic principles of ecology
- The most important of them is the principle of sustainable development. Its essence lies in the fact that the satisfaction of the needs of modern man should not adversely affect the ability to meet the same needs of future generations. An analysis of the economic model of management that exists today has shown that it does not correspond to this principle. Society needs to develop a new model of economic development that will be consistent with the fundamental processes of evolution taking place in its environment.
- The need to form an ecological worldview of the population of the entire planet. This is the only way to harmonize the anthropogenic impact on the environment. Only if the ecological worldview becomes a constituent element of the universal culture, earthlings will be able to reduce the negative consequences of their life activity on the planet. To implement this principle of ecology, a person needsdevelop a global environmental ideology and, at the state level, select mechanisms for the formation of environmental thinking that are suitable specifically for their population.
- The law of the need for regulations on human impact on the environment. In general, the ecological outlook is an integral element of the global ideology of sustainable development, which is aimed at ensuring the preservation of a favorable environment in the environment not only for today's people, but also for future generations. This system should be implemented at every level of organization of modern society - from a specific individual to the whole planet.
- The next principle of ecology is the development of the system at the expense of its environment. Its essence boils down to the fact that any system is capable of developing solely at the expense of material and energy, as well as informational resources of the environment. As a result, unavoidable perturbing anthropogenic impacts on it inevitably arise.
- Internal dynamic balance. This principle has the following formulation: matter, energy, information and any dynamic qualities of individual biological systems (as well as their hierarchies) are so closely related that even a slight change in any one of these indicators leads to concomitant functional-structural quantitative and qualitative changes, while maintaining the total sum of the qualities of the system. As a result, any change in the biosystem provokes the development of natural chainreactions that are directed towards neutralizing the change. This phenomenon is usually called the Le Chatelier principle in ecology, or the principle of self-regulation.
- Physico-chemical unity of living matter. This law was formulated by Vernadsky and says that all living matter of the planet Earth is physically and chemically one. This means that any assessment of the human impact on it must be carried out along the entire chain of consequences.
- The principle of increasing perfection. The harmony of any relationship between the various parts of the system increases in the course of evolution and historical development. Accordingly, humanity is obliged to develop and implement a set of actions aimed at removing contradictions in the environment.
Sustainability Principle
It is the basic principle that defines the strategic goal of the correlation of anthropogenic activity and the fundamental patterns of evolution of the human environment. Sustainable development as a concept was laid down in Rio de Janeiro (1992) in the policy document "Agenda for the 21st Century". But there is still no generalized definition of it that has been established in the scientific world to this day, despite the numerous references to this term in scientific papers and various documents.
The concept of sustainable development owes its appearance to the union of three components: economy, society and ecology. The economy can be represented as the economic activity of human society. But at the same time, it is also a combinationrelations arising in production, distribution, exchange and consumption. One of the leading goals of economic activity is the creation of benefits necessary for the development of society.
Society itself (or society) is a collection of historically built types of interaction and forms of people's association. Its goal is to form non-conflict, harmonious social relations based on the principles of tolerance. In this case, tolerance means following universal human values in conditions of self-restraint, including in relation to the environment.
The structure of the environment, as well as its functions, in relation to this principle of ecology, are as follows:
- habitat for all living things in general, and humans in particular;
- source of various resources required by man;
- disposal site for human waste.
Green economy
In order to comply with the most important laws and principles of ecology, the concept of "green economy" was created, aimed at eliminating degradation processes in the environment. It is based on three axioms:
- impossibility of infinite expansion of the sphere of influence in a limited space;
- impossibility to demand satisfaction of endlessly growing needs with limited resources;
- on the surface of the planet Earth, everything is interconnected with each other.
However, the most popular is the social market model of the economy, which requires privatebusiness and government serving the public interest.
Social responsibility and ecology
In Russia, an important document is the international standard ISO 26 000 "Guidelines for social responsibility" adopted in 2010. It summarizes the principles of social ecology and clarifies the concept of social responsibility. It requires the provision of a favorable environment in accordance with an extensive list of requirements for its quality.
They include sanitary and hygienic indicators, toxicological and recreational standards, aesthetic, urban planning, and social requirements. Their most important purpose is to provide a comfortable physiological and social environment for a person. After all, this is precisely the necessary condition for the progress of society.
Environmental safety
Ecological safety is understood as a mechanism capable of providing acceptable negative natural and anthropogenic impacts on the human environment and himself. The system that ensures environmental safety is functionally built from the following standard modules:
- comprehensive environmental assessment of the territory;
- environmental monitoring;
- managerial decisions constituting environmental policy.
Environmental safety is carried out at the following levels: enterprises, municipalities, subjects of the federation, at the interstate andplanetary. Today, the main problem in creating national and planetary systems of environmental security is internalization and institutionalization.
Internalization is the process of transferring knowledge from the subjective to the objective for the whole society, so that it becomes possible to pass it on to the next generations. But at present they are mainly discussed in a rather narrow circle of specialists. If we talk about the scale of the planet, then this is the prerogative of the UN (UNEP, etc.). On a national scale, this is the responsibility of individual departments and institutions.
Institutional Approach
It could be a solution to the problem of environmental knowledge transfer. Its meaning is that one should not limit oneself to the analysis of pure economic categories or processes, but should include institutions in this process and take into account non-economic factors - environmental ones. At the same time, institutionalization includes two aspects in its concept:
- an institution is a sustainable association of people created for the evolution of society based on sustainable development;
- institute - fixing the basic principles and rules of ecology in the form of laws and institutions.
So, for the successful implementation of the principles of sustainable development, a lot of work should be done to internalize existing environmental knowledge so that it can become an integral part of the worldview of every modern person and determine his behavior. This will entail the inevitable institutionalization, manifested in the form of sustainable public and professional ecological associations of people, andalso accepting relevant documents.
Environmental principles
In accordance with article 3 of the Federal Law "On Environmental Protection" (2002), these include:
- respect for human rights in a favorable environment;
- rational use of natural resources along with their protection and reproduction are a prerequisite for preserving the environment and ensuring environmental safety;
- scientific justification for the combination of environmental, economic, and social interests of each person, as well as society and the state as a whole, while ensuring sustainable development and maintaining a favorable environment;
- presumption of danger to the environment of any economic activity;
- mandatory environmental impact assessment in the course of decision-making in favor of economic activity;
- obligation to comply with the regulations of the state environmental review, relevant project and other documentation in cases of possible negative impact of the planned economic activity;
- priority of conservation of natural ecological systems, natural landscapes and complexes;
- conservation of biodiversity.
Public administration in ecology
Under environmental management is understood the activity of various authorized authorities, local governments, individual officials, regulated by legal norms, or the activity of enterprises and citizens, which is aimed at creating certainlegal relations in the field of environmental protection, the principles of rational use of natural resources, in order to fulfill obligations.
The main principles of public administration in ecology are:
- The legality of governance. This means that management functions should be carried out in accordance with environmental legislation by one or another competent state body.
- Comprehensive (comprehensive) approach to environmental protection and nature management. It is determined by the objective principle of the unity of nature and the interconnectedness of the phenomena occurring in it. It manifests itself in the implementation of all functions arising from the legislation by all users of natural resources, called upon to fulfill environmental requirements, and in the course of formulating administrative decisions, taking into account all types of harmful effects.
- Combination of basin and administrative-territorial principles in the course of organizing nature management. May manifest in many forms.
- Separation of economic and operational functions from control and supervisory functions in the course of organizing the activities of certain authorized state departments or bodies. This principle ensures maximum objectivity in the field of control and supervision of the environment, as well as the effectiveness of legal actions in general.
