8.Explain the concept of sustainable development and its
importance for the conservation of natural resources.
Human
activities have been altering the natural environment to such an extent that
few natural ecosystems remain unaffected.Natural resources are subject to
depletion,and environmental conditions are subject to undesirable changes.These
are threatening the diversity of organisms and the quality of human life.
Sustainable
development refers to the way of development which meets the present needs without
compromising the needs for a good quality of life in our future generations.To
achieve sustainability,humans should minimize their impact on the environment
during their activities,which include agriculture,industrialization and
urbanization.
Sustainable development involves the implementation
of the following:
-Compact development
To meets the
needs of the growing human population,residential places should grow upwards
rather than outwards.This results in an increase in population density and
spaces are saved for other purposes.This also allows energy to be ulitized more
efficiently,such as the use of mass transport instead of private vehicles.
-Conservation of
natural habitats and preservation of biodiversity
Wetlands,meadows,marshes
and mangroves are sources of beauty.They provide habitats for wildlife,keep air
fresh,remove pollutants and provide flood control.The protection of these
habitats is important to the maintenance of biodiversity.In fact,the conflicts
between development and environmental protection are challenging most
governments.
-Cautious development
plans
Some natural
areas should be protected,otherwise serious pollution problems will be
resulted.Cautious developmental planning can help to protect the environment.
-Plantation
Plantation can
improve air quality,moderate the climate,stabilize the soil,and restore
degrading lands.Trees also provide habitats for wildlife.The natural resources
of timber can also be generated for our future use.
-Conservation of
water
Thrifty use of
water and effective measures to prevent the contamination of fresh water are
important for the conservation of limit water resources.
-Reduction in the use
of motor vehicles
Motor vehicles
consume a lot of energy.The exhaust gases contain a large quantity of air pollutants.Further,a
considerable amount of lands have to be used for parking.Reduction in the
number of motor vehicles can reduce the problems of air pollution,depletion of
fossil fuels,and land use in urbanization.
-Recycling of wastes
Recycling of
wastes helps to reduce the consumption of natural resources.Domestic refuse can
also be used to generate power in power stations.
Conservation of
Natural Resources
With an
increasing rate of population growth,the conservation and management of natural
resources are becoming more and more important.
Conservation
does not mean stopping or rationing the supply of natural resources.It refers
to the wise management and use of natural resources,and the exploration of
alternative resources.
Efforts
through partnerships between governments and the community can help to conserve
natural resources and protect our environment to a considerable extent.People
should be mobilized to participate in conservation activities,such as
afforestation and waste recycling programs.