Summary

Approaches and Methods

Estimated Population by Month 2006-2010

Results

• Assess islands resources (water, food, space). • Assess historic population status and trends. • Assess limited resources.

Project Objectives

Acknowledgements

Build on Nantucket Island’s sustainability plan, establish collaboration with various student programs and internships; including help with greenhouses or locals sustainable farms on the island.

Next Steps

Nantucket’s Sustainability: How to measure a

Carrying Capacity for Humans? Timchi Khamdy

Timchi.Khamdy001@umb.edu

School for the Environment

The LivingLabs: Nantucket

Major: Biology

Carrying capacity is defined as the maximum number of a given individuals (species) that an area and it’s resources can sustain. Since roughly 60% of Nantucket’s land is under conservation, finding a carrying capacity could be helpful in facilitating sustainable practices and livelihood for the human population, so that the resources are not depleted or damaged. In order to assess available resources many studies established between 10-20 indicators to calculate and monitor sustainable carrying capacity for humans in certain areas. In this project I used the five following indicators: water, food, education, healthcare and traffic.

Dr. Anamarija Frankic, Dr. Robyn Hannigan, Dr. Ellen Douglas, Dr. Sarah Oktay, UMass Boston CAPS, Dr. Peter Morrison

Literature review, and Local community members interviewed include: • Melissa Philbrick from reMain Nantucket • Cormac Collier from the Nantucket Land Council • Eric Savetsky from the Nantucket Land Bank • Michelle Whalen from Sustainable Nantucket • Jay Bowen from the Cottage Hospital • Micheal Cozort, Superintendent of Public Schools • Dr Peter Morrison from the Public Policy Office

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hsl-Nantucket01-horses_and_people_in_street-closeup.jpg

Photo by Timchi Khamdy

http://www.planning.org/greatplaces/streets/2011/

Estimated Population by Month 2006-2010

• Current water use is not damaging the aquifer. • Sustainable Nantucket is working on more

agriculture and farms to support the Island • Elementary school needs more space • Hospitals are over capacity during the summer

months • Traffic is a major concern in the summer

months

Graph from Dr. Peter Morrison

Indicators Definition Comments

Water Is there enough water in the aquifer to sustain the population?

Nantucket has a sole source aquifer it is useful to see if that water is being used sustainably

Food Is there enough agriculture to support the Island’s population?

60% of Nantucket’s land is under conservation it is useful to see if that land can be used for agriculture

Education Are schools accommodating to a growing population?

There is only one public school on island (K-12)

Healthcare Is the Hospital accommodating to a seasonal population?

There is only one Hospital

Traffic Are there any regulations when it comes to having cars on-island?

It would be useful to explore parking remedies