Ecosystems
Channel: Brain 0
Date: 2017-02-03

Explain what an ecosystem is and what makes one up. For instance, you’ll learn what communities, populations, and habitats are, and why animals tend to be well-adapted to their environment — like desert species being well-adapted to hot, dry, conditions, while species living in the taiga are well-adapted to the cold.

"Here’s an interesting way to protect the environment: giving ecosystems the same legal rights as individuals. 

In 2006-2007, several communities in Pennsylvania passed laws giving the environment legal standing. The first was the township of Tamaqua, PA, which prohibited corporations from dumping waste inside its boundaries on the grounds that dumping would violate the inherent rights of the town’s ecosystem. 

Meanwhile, Blaine Township, PA has attempted to ban mining by calling upon the same principle. “We have a complex ecological treasure here,” said Michael Vacca, the vice-chair of Blaine's planning commission. “So the logical step was to pass ordinances to preserve what we have.” 

It’s hard to tell whether these laws will stand; since land owned by corporations is legally theirs, courts might rule that the laws violate the corporations’ right to own private property. Be sure to check the news in the coming months to see how this one turns out!"