Earth,
air,
land and
water
In nature nothing exists alone.
Living things relate to each other as well as to their non-living,
but supporting, environments. These complex relationships
are called ecosystems. Each body of water is a delicately
balanced ecosystem in continuous interaction with the surrounding
air and land.
Ecosystems are comprised of four
basic components: water, land (rock and soils), air and living
things (plants and animals including humans). Everything in
an ecosystem is related to everything else. Consequently,
anything that occurs in one of these basic components will
have an effect on the other three. Thinking in terms of ecosystems
is key to achieving sustainability because an ecosystem approach
places equal emphasis on concerns related to the environment,
the economy and the community.
The organizations that have supported
this publication are concerned with our environment and committed
to making it better.
For more information:
• www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
• www.agr.gc.ca
• www.ec.gc.ca
• www.wonderofwater.ca
• www.cupe.ab.ca
• www.parc.ca
• www.cwra.ca
• www.alpac.ca
• www.ewmce.com
• www.calgary.ca
• www.edmonton.ca
• www.weyerhaeuser.com
• www.arc.ab.ca
• www.encana.com
• www.petro-canada.ca
• www.capp.ca
• www.albertanewsprint.com
• www.atcogroup.ca
• www.ducksunlimited.ca
• www.gov.ab.ca/env/water.html |
