ECOSYSTEM AND THE BIOSPHERE: Metaphors for Human- Induced Material Flows

Long-term sustainable development (Clark and Munn 1986) requires an understanding of the interaction between human activities and natural processes. Displacement of materials by industrial and agricultural activities causes the most severe anthropogenic stress on the natural system. Hence, the understanding of human-induced material flows and the comparison of those to natural flows is a major step toward the design and evaluation of sustainable development.