Course: EEES 1130 - Down to Earth: Environmental Science

Reading:

Essentials of Environmental Science by Kamala Dorner

• CK - 12 Flex book (next generation textbook): Chapter 2 onEnvironmental Concerns,Dimensions, and Worldview

Topic: Environmental Ethics

Assignment: Reflection on Environmental Ethics

Question.1

Pretend you graze sheep on the same land with 9 other farmers. You sell each sheep at the end of the summer for $10 each. Each farmer (including you) has 10 sheep (total of 100 sheep). So each farmer makes a total profit of $100.

Each sheep that is added above the existing 100 makes all the other sheep thinner and reduces the price of each sheep by $0.20. For example, when 1 extra sheep is added each sheep is worth $0.20 less ($9.80) and when 2 extra sheep are added each sheep is worth $0.40 less ($9.60).

(1a).How did the profits change if you add 5 extra sheep? ($10 - (5*$0.20)) = $9.00 new price per sheep... you have 15 sheep for a total profit of $135. Good for you!

(1b).How did the profits change if you keep 10 sheep, but one of your neighbors adds 5 extra sheep? ($10 - (5*$0.20)) = $9.00 new price per sheep... you have 10 sheep for a total profit of $90. Not so good for you!

(1c).What is your profit if you and the other 9 farmers each add 5 extra sheep? ($10 - (50*$0.20)) = $0 new price per sheep...total profit for all farmers is $0. Not good for anybody!!

The following questions are about reducing the Tragedy of the Commons.

(2). List three strategies that could be used by an individual farmer to reduce their risk of losing money. Explain how each strategy reduces their risk.

(3). List three strategies that the farmers as a groupcould use to reduce their risk of losing money. Explain how each strategy reduces their risk.