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History is littered with examples of civilizations, some built over thousands of years that declined rapidly after disturbing the balance with natural resources. This phenomenon is well documented in “Collapse” by Jarad Diamond and “A Green History of the World” by Clive Ponting by presenting portraits of decline based on major scientific data. From the Middle East to the Mayans, people have consistently pushed the limits of sustainability to bring prosperous societies to ruin.
Perhaps the most stunning example is of Easter Island some 2,000 miles off the coast of South America. The Polynesian people who inhabited this island migrated originally from Asia in the fifth century. They traveled in long, sea-going double canoes designed to carry and transport supplies needed for colonization including plants, animals and food. They settled in small households organized into larger families and clans. Each group developed their own religious and ceremonial lineage.
As their chief food supply was yams and required very little work to grow and maintain, they spent time on ceremonial activities including rituals and monument-building. Burials and ancestor worship dominated their culture. The skill and labor to build ancient monuments was most certainly complex and time-consuming. All that remains now of the once flourishing and prosperous society are 600 giant carved stone statues, 20 ft. high and weighing many tons each.
The stone images provide a glimpse of how blatant disregard for natural resources pushed this society past sustainability limits bringing ruin to a once thriving society. It is a story worth repeating. If we ignore our dependence on the environment without keeping consumption in check, history shows negative outcomes. On Easter Island they ignored their every increasing reliance on native forests.
Originally, the island was covered in dense vegetation. With the rise in population to as many as 7,000 inhabitants by the early 1500s, the demands for wood increased dramatically due to agriculture, home construction, fuel for heat and cooking, canoe-building, and household goods. Most importantly, however, each clan was in competition to build increasing numbers of statues and secure more status and prestige. Massive numbers of trees were required as rolling devices for statue transport. Their immense use began to take its toll leading to a dramatic loss of habitat.
By 1600, the island was mostly deforested leaving a damaged watershed and disrupted civilized life. Increased sun exposure from deforestation left the soil depleted and eroded. The priestly hierarchy initially provided needed organization for the survival of the groups; however, the compelling need to outdo rival groups led to rising competition between clans. As forests disappeared, conflicts intensified. They pushed past their environmental boundaries by erecting massive sculptures around the island only by clear-cutting to move the giant statues.
As a result, crops surpluses declined and buildings were abandoned. People moved into caves, reed huts, and stone shelters. Resources for boat-building and fishing became more restricted. Eventually, warfare broke out over limited resources. Thousands of years of social, cultural, political and economic development failed to overcome the dire environmental consequences. The lack of their primary resource became an impetus of societal decline and eventual destruction.
As the trees were disappearing, the problems of resource loss had to be clearly evident. Established and habitual ways of thinking, along with ritualistic ideology, blinded them to the obvious consequences unfolding before them. Vital trees were steadily consumed and not replenished. In the end, environmental conditions destroyed their lives and their happiness.
In a real sense they were, like us, a wealthy and prosperous society. Over time, without careful planning and thoughtful environmental stewardship, however, Easter Island inhabitants failed to sustainably manage their precious resources. The parallels are clear.
We must maintain the long view, balancing our needs with a sensible use of our natural resources. For once they are consumed they cannot be replaced, hastening the decline in our quality of life, ushering in a destabilized economic system and conflicts as we search more intensely elsewhere for those natural resources.
Do we want to repeat the same mistakes?
-----------------------
Jeff Evans is a sales consultant for Simplicity Solar in Grand Junction. He writes on renewable energy and sustainable living issues and can be reached at jeff.ecolife@gmail.com.
Perhaps the most stunning example is of Easter Island some 2,000 miles off the coast of South America. The Polynesian people who inhabited this island migrated originally from Asia in the fifth century. They traveled in long, sea-going double canoes designed to carry and transport supplies needed for colonization including plants, animals and food. They settled in small households organized into larger families and clans. Each group developed their own religious and ceremonial lineage.
As their chief food supply was yams and required very little work to grow and maintain, they spent time on ceremonial activities including rituals and monument-building. Burials and ancestor worship dominated their culture. The skill and labor to build ancient monuments was most certainly complex and time-consuming. All that remains now of the once flourishing and prosperous society are 600 giant carved stone statues, 20 ft. high and weighing many tons each.
The stone images provide a glimpse of how blatant disregard for natural resources pushed this society past sustainability limits bringing ruin to a once thriving society. It is a story worth repeating. If we ignore our dependence on the environment without keeping consumption in check, history shows negative outcomes. On Easter Island they ignored their every increasing reliance on native forests.
Originally, the island was covered in dense vegetation. With the rise in population to as many as 7,000 inhabitants by the early 1500s, the demands for wood increased dramatically due to agriculture, home construction, fuel for heat and cooking, canoe-building, and household goods. Most importantly, however, each clan was in competition to build increasing numbers of statues and secure more status and prestige. Massive numbers of trees were required as rolling devices for statue transport. Their immense use began to take its toll leading to a dramatic loss of habitat.
By 1600, the island was mostly deforested leaving a damaged watershed and disrupted civilized life. Increased sun exposure from deforestation left the soil depleted and eroded. The priestly hierarchy initially provided needed organization for the survival of the groups; however, the compelling need to outdo rival groups led to rising competition between clans. As forests disappeared, conflicts intensified. They pushed past their environmental boundaries by erecting massive sculptures around the island only by clear-cutting to move the giant statues.
As a result, crops surpluses declined and buildings were abandoned. People moved into caves, reed huts, and stone shelters. Resources for boat-building and fishing became more restricted. Eventually, warfare broke out over limited resources. Thousands of years of social, cultural, political and economic development failed to overcome the dire environmental consequences. The lack of their primary resource became an impetus of societal decline and eventual destruction.
As the trees were disappearing, the problems of resource loss had to be clearly evident. Established and habitual ways of thinking, along with ritualistic ideology, blinded them to the obvious consequences unfolding before them. Vital trees were steadily consumed and not replenished. In the end, environmental conditions destroyed their lives and their happiness.
In a real sense they were, like us, a wealthy and prosperous society. Over time, without careful planning and thoughtful environmental stewardship, however, Easter Island inhabitants failed to sustainably manage their precious resources. The parallels are clear.
We must maintain the long view, balancing our needs with a sensible use of our natural resources. For once they are consumed they cannot be replaced, hastening the decline in our quality of life, ushering in a destabilized economic system and conflicts as we search more intensely elsewhere for those natural resources.
Do we want to repeat the same mistakes?
-----------------------
Jeff Evans is a sales consultant for Simplicity Solar in Grand Junction. He writes on renewable energy and sustainable living issues and can be reached at jeff.ecolife@gmail.com.
