Ecosystems and human activities

Mussel farming

Mussel farming

Mitilicoltura

Marble quarry

Marble quarry

Cava di marmo

Mining activities

Mining activities

Attività estrattive

Ski touring

Ski touring

Sci alpinismo

Hiking

Hiking

Escursionismo

Bauxite quarry

Bauxite quarry

Cava di bauxite

Terraced salt pans Peru

Terraced salt pans Peru

Saline terrazzate Perù

Saline in Sicily

Saline in Sicily

Saline in Sicilia

Taiga and deforestation

Taiga and deforestation

Taiga e deforestazione

When ecosystems are exploited, their balance is modified. As a consequence, health and productive capacity are compromised. Each human intervention on the environment management should therefore be studied according to the consequences that it might have for the ecosystem well being and its productivity. Such a perspective requires the whole of the ecosystem to be considered.
Man has always thought he would be able to alter the environment in which he lives to fulfil his own needs. Often though, he has not considered the consequences of this behaviour, and actually man has acted to obtain a certain effect, achieving instead the absolute opposite. A typical example may be the destruction of very productive ecosystems, such as estuaries and swamps or the destruction of the tropical forest, to make room for farming.