Integrated Framework: Pressures

In addition to creating Pressures on the state of the natural environment, economic sectors and social factors, such as governance or culture, can influence human behavior. Human behaviors (e.g. purchasing habits, commuting, recycling) can also influence the degree of environmental pressures created through the activities of economic sectors.

Environmental Pressures - Activities that alter the condition of the environment

• Landuse changes - alterations of the natural landscape, typically associated with population growth, including Coastal development, Land development, Shoreline alteration, Hydrologic modifications, Deforestation and devegetation. Many landuse changes result in the creation of impervious surfaces.
• Discharges - direct inputs of pollutants from the operation of industries or vehicles, or the diffuse distribution of contaminants from agricultural lands, roads, or lawns through ground-water or storm-water run-off; and includes Applied chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides, cleaners, or solvents, Atmospheric emissions including greenhouse gases, Waterborne discharges from point or non-point sources, and Solid waste disposal or littering.
• Contact uses - human activities that lead to a direct alteration or manipulation of the environment, and include Physical damage from dredging, filling, or trampling, Biological additions such as ballast discharges, release of non-natives, or creation of artificial habitat, Biological harvest such as harvesting or fishing

Human Behavior - individual human actions that contribute to personal vulnerability, risk of exposure, or influence the intensity of environmental pressures

• Mobility - includes walking, climbing, or utilization or any mode of assisted transportation (e.g., automobiles, planes)
• Self care - includes personal hygiene, housekeeping, or cooking habits
• Lifestyle choices - includes transportation choice, consumptive patterns, resource use & recycling, smoking, eating habits, or choice of housing