How do environmental field studies apply to society? or to the 'real world' at all?

Question

how do environmental field studies, like collecting data via quadrats, line transects, and the catch and recapture method (etc) apply to society and the real environmental world?

any ideas or suggestions would be great!

thanks

Answer 1

They only apply in so far as they correctly model the real world. Lack of correspondence will nullify the study.