Ecology is the study of how living things interact with one another. Damage to one part of the ecosystem can affect people in other locations. The destruction of the rain forest may impact others on the planet through the disturbance of the ecological balance of nature. The need for balance between economic and environmental considerations is called sustainable development. Sustainable development refers to development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Poverty is an underlying cause of environmental degradation.
People who lack food, shelter, and basic amenities misuse resources just to survive. For this reason, protecting the environment will require providing a decent standard of living for all of the world's population. Economic development must be accomplished in a sustainable manner. Renewable resources are water, arable land and forest - that can naturally be replenished. Many of the renewable and non-renewable resources are being used at rates that are not sustainable.