The principles of ecology: laws, problems and tasks

As the basis of any science, the most important provisions are selected, 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, as well as ideas.

If we talk about ecology, then in connection with its integrity and generalizing nature, the allocation of these bases is difficult. 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. Kommoner (1974) and N.F. Reimers (1994).

Monographs of Commoner and Reimers

These two scientists have made a significant contribution to the formation of the ecology base. This process can be successful when the immediate object and subject of ecology is determined and its definition as a science is formulated. But what is more problematic is the selection of 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 allocation of methods and the definition of methodology.

N.F. Reimers, in his monograph Ecology. Theories, Laws, Rules, Principles, and Hypotheses, did a thorough job in these areas. But he could not 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 was able to count more than 250 laws, principles and rules of ecology, considered by many authors as the theoretical foundations of science.

Somewhat earlier, Barry Kommoner in his book "The Circle" proposed four laws of aphorism:

• Everything is connected with everything.
• Everything should go somewhere.
• Nature knows better.
• Nothing is given for nothing.

All of them are paraphrased 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 cite a different number of environmental principles. Some list almost all laws related to environmental protection, others single out only 4, like Commoner.

The third, which is the most reasonable, is chosen only by those that will allow us to structure the accumulated scientific knowledge, systematize and generalize empirical data in the field of human relations with the world around him. It is such an analysis that will make it possible to develop a sequence of human actions to implement an environmental paradigm. After all, the most expensive is the wrong design of anything.

Thus, it is the principles of ecology proposed below in the modern world that will best contribute to the practical implementation of a sound approach. In other words, this will help its implementation in the daily activities of each person.

Basic principles of ecology

1. The most important of them is the principle of sustainable development. Its essence is that the satisfaction of the needs of modern man should not adversely affect the ability to meet the same needs of future generations. Analysis of the current economic model of management showed that it does not comply with 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.
2. The need to form an ecological worldview of the population of the entire planet. Only in this way can anthropogenic impact on the environment be harmonized. Only if the ecological worldview becomes an integral element of universal human culture, earthlings will be able to reduce the negative consequences of their life on the planet. To implement this principle of ecology, a person needs to develop a global environmental ideology and at the state level to select mechanisms for the formation of environmental thinking that are suitable specifically for their population.
   
3. The law of the need for regulations when human exposure to the environment. In general, the ecological worldview is an integral element of the planetary 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 each of the levels of organization of modern society - from a specific individual to the whole planet.
4. The next principle of ecology is the development of the system due to its environment. Its essence boils down to the fact that any system is capable of developing exclusively at the expense of material and energy, as well as information resources of the environment. As a result of this, unavoidable disturbing anthropogenic impacts on it inevitably arise.
5. Inner dynamic equilibrium. This principle has the following formulation: substance, 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 amount of the qualities of the system. As a result of this, any change in the biosystem provokes the development of natural chain reactions, which are directed towards neutralizing the change. This phenomenon is called the principle of Le Chatelier in ecology, or the principle of self-regulation.
6. Physico-chemical unity of living matter. This law is formulated by Vernadsky and suggests that all living matter of the planet Earth is physically and chemically one. This means that any assessment of human impact on it must be carried out along the entire chain of consequences.
7. The principle of increasing ideality. The harmony of any relationship between the various parts of the system increases during evolution and historical development. Accordingly, humanity is obliged to develop and implement a set of actions aimed at eliminating contradictions in the environment.
   

Principle of sustainable development

It is a basic principle that defines the strategic goal of correlation of anthropogenic activity and fundamental laws of evolution of the human environment. Sustainable development as a concept was laid down in Rio de Janeiro (1992) in the program document Agenda 21. But there is no generalized definition that has been established in the scientific world to this day, despite the numerous references to this term in scientific works and all kinds of documents.

The concept of sustainable development owes its appearance to the combination 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 combination of relations arising in production, distribution, exchange and consumption. One of the leading goals of economic activity is called the creation of goods necessary for the development of society.

The society itself (or society) is a combination of historically constituted types of interaction and forms of association of people. Its goal is the formation of non-conflict, harmonious social relations based on the principles of tolerance. In this case, tolerance is understood as following human values ​​in conditions of self-restraint, including with respect to the environment.

The structure of the environment, as well as its functions, in relation to this principle of ecology, are as follows:

• the habitat of all living things in general, and humans in particular;
• a source of various resources required by man;
• place of waste of human activity.

Green economy

In order to comply with the most important laws and principles of ecology, the concept of a "green economy" was created, aimed at eliminating the processes of degradation in the environment. It is based on three axioms:

• the impossibility of an endless expansion of the sphere of influence in a limited space;
• the impossibility of demanding the satisfaction of ever-growing needs with limited resources;
• on the surface of planet Earth, everything is interconnected with each other.

However, the most popular is the socio-market model of the economy, which requires private business and the state to serve the interests of society.

Social Responsibility and Ecology

In Russia, an important document is the international standard ISO 26 000, Guidelines on Social Responsibility, adopted in 2010. It summarizes the principles of social ecology and provides an explanation of the concept of social responsibility. It requires a supportive 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, as well as social requirements. Their most important purpose is to provide a comfortable physiological and social environment for human habitation. After all, this is precisely what is necessary for the progress of society.

Environmental Safety

Environmental safety is understood as a mechanism capable of providing permissible negative natural and anthropogenic impacts on the human environment and himself. The environmental safety system is functionally built from the following standard modules:

• integrated environmental assessment of the territory;
• environmental monitoring;
• management decisions that make up environmental policy.
  

Environmental safety is carried out at the following levels: enterprises, municipalities, subjects of the federation, at interstate and planetary. Today, the main problem in creating national and planetary environmental safety systems is internalization and institutionalization.

Internalization is the process of the transition of knowledge from subjective to objective for the whole society, so that it becomes possible to pass it on to future 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 can be a solution to the problem of transferring environmental knowledge. Its meaning is that it should not be limited to an analysis of pure economic categories or processes, but it is worthwhile to include institutions in this process and take into account non-economic factors - environmental ones. Moreover , institutionalization includes two aspects in its concept:

• institution - a sustainable association of people created for the evolution of society on the basis of 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, enormous work should be done to internalize existing environmental knowledge so that they can become an integral part of the worldview of every modern person and determine his behavior. This will entail inevitable institutionalization, manifested in the form of sustainable public and professional environmental associations of people, as well as the adoption of relevant documents.

Environmental principles

In accordance with Article 3 of the Federal Law "On Environmental Protection" (2002), these include:

• respect for human rights in favorable environmental conditions;
• rational use of natural resources along with their protection and reproduction are necessary conditions for preserving the environment and ensuring environmental safety;
• scientific substantiation of 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 ecology;
• the presumption of danger to the ecology of any economic activity;
• the mandatory assessment of environmental impact in the course of decision-making in favor of the implementation of economic activity;
• the mandatory implementation of the state environmental review regulations, relevant design and other documentation in cases of possible negative impact of the planned economic activity;
• priority conservation of natural ecological systems, natural landscapes and complexes;
• conservation of biodiversity.

Public Administration in Ecology

Environmental management is understood to mean the activity of certain authorized government bodies, local self-government, individual officials, or the activities of enterprises and citizens, regulated by legal norms, that is aimed at creating certain legal relations in the field of environmental protection, principles of rational nature management, in order to fulfill obligations.

The main principles of public administration in ecology are:

1. The rule of law. This means that management functions must be carried out in accordance with environmental legislation by a competent state body.
2. An integrated (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 nature users, called upon to fulfill environmental requirements, and during the formulation of administrative decisions by taking into account all types of harmful effects.
3. The combination of basin and administrative-territorial principles in the organization of environmental management. It can manifest in various forms.
4. Separation of economic and operational from control and supervisory functions in the course of organizing the activities of certain authorized government departments or bodies. By means of this principle, maximum objectivity in the sphere of control and supervision of the environment, as well as the effectiveness of legal actions in general, is ensured.