Māris kļaviņŠ, azamat azizov, JĀnis zaļoksnis environment, pollution, development: the case of uzbekistan

Figure 4.13. 
Ecological 
succession in an aquatic 
environment

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58 
ENVIRONMENT, POLLUTION, DEVELOPMENT:  THE CASE OF UZBEKISTAN
and with more or less developed or reduced biological community. 
In accordance with the theory of succession, an ecosystem in the 
process of development works its way towards a definite final goal – 
an ecological climax. Once the climax is reached, the ecosystem 
does not develop any further.
Humans also are part and parcel of an ecosystem – one of the 
species of living organisms. However, humans surpass any other 
organisms in their ability to influence ecosystems most, to use the 
biological production of these ecosystems, to change the composition 
of species as they consider necessary. Needless to say, to manage the 
ecosystems successfully, a good knowledge of their functioning, the 
organisation of species within them are required.
With their actions, humans are capable of sustaining or 
destroy ing the ecosystems of the planet. Since the destruction of 
the biosphere would bring the very existence of human beings to 
an end, humans should be objectively concerned with sustainable 
development of ecosystems. When there is no sufficient knowledge 
on some ecosystem, we should act by observing the precautionary 
principle. In accordance with this principle, if there is a suspicion 
that certain actions could have harmful consequences, the actions in 
question are inadmissible. If an interference with the ecosystem does 
take place, it should be done step by step, carefully assessing the 
consequences of each step before taking the next one.