THE

H U M A N - E N V I R O N M E N TA L S Y S T E M

GROUP 4
 What is THE
HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT SYSTEM

Combine both human and natural

components to show complex
interactions, and feedback
between them.
The most internationally accepted
framework for studying such systems
is the DPSIR model (drivers,
pressures, state, impact, response).
This framework for human-
environment systems recognizes the
human activities which place
pressure on the environment and how
these pressures modify the current
state of the atmosphere, hydrosphere,
lithosphere and biosphere.
 This leads to impacts on
the environment as well as
on social and economic
systems. In turn, human
society attempts to
problem-solve in order to
remove, reduce or prevent
the drivers and pressures,
restore the state of the
environment and mitigate
impacts.
W H AT I S
CHANS
The human-environment system, also referred
to as the “coupled human-environment
system” or the “coupled human and natural
system” or CHANS. The science of CHANS
builds on but moves beyond previous work
such as human ecology, ecological
anthropology, and environmental geography.
W H AT I S
CHANS
It characterizes the dynamical two-way
interactions between human systems

This coupling expresses the idea that the

evolution of humans and environmental
systems may no longer be treated as
individual isolated systems.
CHANS acknowledges the fact that humans, as users,
actors, and managers are not external, but integral
elements of the human-environment system. (Schrter D.
et. al. 2004, 11). As integral parts of the human-
environment system.
 Human-environment system
recognizes that the social,
economic and cultural well-
being of people depends not
only on their relations with
other, but with the physical and
biological environment as
stocks of resources to the
capacity of the environment to
function as a life support
system.
T H E F O L L O W I N G A R E T H E T H R E E C E N T R A L F E AT U R E S O F
HUMAN- ENVIRONMENT SYSTEM:

1 Focuses on the patterns and processes that link human and natural systems.
T H E F O L L O W I N G A R E T H E T H R E E C E N T R A L F E AT U R E S O F
HUMAN- ENVIRONMENT SYSTEM:

2
Research such as integrated assessment of climate change, emphasizes reciprocal
interactions and feedback, both the effects of humans on the environment and the
effects of the environment on humans.
T H E F O L L O W I N G A R E T H E T H R E E C E N T R A L F E AT U R E S O F
HUMAN- ENVIRONMENT SYSTEM:

3
Understanding within scale and cross-scale interactions between human and
natural components
THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF
HUMAN ENVIRONMENT
INTERACTION:
·The way people depend on the environment
for food, water, timber, natural gas etc.
·The way people adapt the environment to
fulfill their own needs.
·The way people modify the environment
positively or negatively like drilling holes,
building dams and etc.
 socio-cultural
conditions

Beliefs, attitude, and values

related to material possessions and
the relation to humanity and
nature are often seen as lying at
the root of environmental
degradation.
 economic conditions

Economic growth for the first time in

human history, economic activity is so
extensive that it produces environmental
change at the global level; the prospect
of further economic growth arouses
concern about the quality of the global
environment.
 political conditions

The global environment responds to the

actions of markets, governments, and the
international political economy. Markets are
always imperfect, and the impact of
economic activity on the environment
depends on which imperfect market method
of environmental management is being used.
W H AT I S
A SYSTEM
It is a collection of components that interact
with each other to form some aggregated
whole.

These components all interact with each

other to form the course. The components
can also be thought of as systems.
As the concept of the human-
environment landscape clearly shows,
humans impact the environment, and
the environment impacts humans.
These impacts happen in many
different ways. In other words, there
are very many interactions between
humans and the environment. In order
to help us keep track of all these
interactions, and to learn from them, it
is very useful to use a systems
perspective.
OVERSIMPLIFIED SYSTEMS DIAGRAM SHOWING A HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT
SYSTEM IN WHICH HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT BOTH IMPACT EACH
OTHER:

Simple Human-Environment Systems Diagram: Both humans and the

environment impact each other.
This phenomenon of system components
both impacting each other creates a
feedback loop. Feedback is an impact to a
system component that is a consequence of
an action performed by that component.

There are two basic types of feedback:

positive and negative. A positive feedback
loop is a circumstance in which performing
an action causes more performances of the
action.
NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE
FEEDBACK LOOP
A circumstance in which performing an
action causes fewer performances of the
action.
It is important to understand that for
feedback loops, the terms "positive" and
"negative" do not mean good and bad. A
positive feedback loop can be a bad thing,
and a negative feedback loop can be a good
thing or vice versa. Whether or not any
given feedback loop is positive or negative
is ultimately an ethical question.
H U M A N - E N V I R O N M E N TA L I N T E R A C T I O N S
Human social systems and ecosystems are complex adaptive systems
(Marten, 2001). Complex because ecosystems and human social systems
have many parts and many connections between these parts. Human-
environment interaction focuses on three main ideas. These are how
society depends on, adapts, and modifies the environment.
Elements of
HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT
INTERACTION

• climate change
• D E F O R E S TAT I O N
• ENERGY RESOURCES
• WAT E R U S E
• WA S T E
• POLLUTION
Elements of
HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT
INTERACTION

• TO U R I S M
• U R B A N E X PA N S I O N
HUMAN SOCIAL SYSTEM

In order to analyze Human Environmental Interactions it is important to

be aware of specific characteristics of the human social system. The
type of society strongly influences peoples attitude towards nature, their
behavior and therefore their impact on ecosystems.
HUMAN SOCIAL SYSTEM

People modify the environment for their purposes and obtain benefits
(Ecosystem Services) from it. These Ecosystem Services are essential for
human well-being and include for example the provision of resources like
water, timber, food, energy, information, land for farming and many more.
Obviously by using these resources people affect the environment in a lot of
ways. Furthermore people often reorganize existing ecosystems to achieve new
ones that seem to be more effective in serving their needs.
C O E V O L U T I O N A N D C O A D A P TAT I O N

The terms coevolution and coadaptation describe the never-ending

process of mutual adjustment and change between human social
systems and the environment. Peoples actions have consequences on
the environment. But also the environment influences human activities.
STRENGTHS:
• the unity in terms of politics, economy or cultural references.

• Provides a bigger and wider view of looking at environmental issues.

• highlights the importance of synergy and interconnection or interdependence of the human

society and the environment

• looks at the human agency as not just a user of environmental resources but also protectors of
the environment and other species.

• Reforestation using clean energy, and protecting natural preserves and forests to maintain the
natural biodiversity.

• Protection of habitats and even supporting protected growth of endangered species has
allowed for some ecosystems to survive or prolong survival.
CRITICISMS:

• Human Environment system is in environmental way costly..you have to maintain lots of

things. You may need special training and fake orientation to survive there.

• Culturally or biologically or physically different people if they can, will have to adjust many
things in there, sometime critical life needs. This may not provide optimum condition to
survive. It cannot hold human diversity you see in the world.

• Human Environemt system may not allow you sense the optimal earth conditions and also
may not allow to gain experiences of some earthly phenomenon that enhance your survival
capacity.