California's Environmental Principles and Concepts
Humans and the natural world are deeply interconnected. The California Environmental Principles and Concepts (EP&Cs) present essential ideas surrounding this relationship in ways that foster student inquiry. Educators can help students make sense of the world around them by integrating the EP&Cs into their standards based curriculum.
Principle I
Humans Rely On Healthy Natural Systems
The continuation and health of individual human lives and of human communities and societies depend on the health of the natural systems that provide essential goods and ecosystem services.
The long-term functioning and health of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems are influenced by their relationships with human societies.