322
T
he Sustainable Biosphere
Initiative (SBI) emerged in
1988 due to the efforts of
the Ecological Society of America
(ESA) to establish what scientific
research should be prioritized given
the limited funding available.
At this time, the field of ecology
was undergoing a transition
towards applied science—using
knowledge to develop practical
solutions relevant to contemporary
environmental issues. American
environmentalist Jane Lubchenco
led the SBI, and paved the way
for the ESA (and others) to promoteuseful ecological knowledge as
scientists raced to combat
environmental degradation.Prioritizing the planet
The scientists of the SBI set out a
new path for the field of ecology,
and determined which research
areas would be the most important
in the years to come. They sought
to prioritize three fields of research:
global change, biological diversity,
and sustainable ecological systems.
Studies of global change look at the
atmosphere, climate, soil and water
(including changes due to pollution),
and patterns of land- and water-use.
Research into biological diversity
focuses on the conservation of
endangered species and the study
of natural and manmade changes in
genetic and habitat diversity. Finally,
studies of sustainable ecological
systems analyze the interactions
between humans and ecological
processes in order for scientists to
find solutions to the stresses they
detect in ecosystems.
The SBI stressed the need for
funding for such research, and also
highlighted the importance of
sharing findings with those outside
the scientific community. It set out
a process for applied ecologicalIN CONTEXT
KEY FIGURE
Jane Lubchenco (1947–)BEFORE
1388 England’s Parliament
makes it illegal to throw waste
into public watercourses such
as ditches and rivers.1970s British scientist James
Lovelock and American
microbiologist Lynn Margulis
develop the Gaia hypothesis.AFTER
1992 Canadian ecologist
William Rees introduces the
concept of the “ecological
footprint” to describe human
impact on the environment.2000 Dutch Nobel laureate
Paul Crutzen popularizes the
idea that the world has entered
a new geological epoch known
as the Anthropocene, or “Age
of Man.” This era recognizes
the monumental and often
dangerous ecological impacts
humans make on the planet.THE CAPACITY
TO SUSTAIN THE
WORLD’S POPULATION
SUSTAINABLE BIOSPHERE INITIATIVE
The SBI has stimulated
improvements in
understanding and in
advancing connections
between ecological
knowledge and society.
Jane LubchencoUS_322-323_Sustainable_Biosphere_Initiative.indd 322 12/11/18 6:26 PM