8. Explain the concept of sustainable development and its importance for the conservation of natural resources.

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:

1. Compact development.
To meets the needs of 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 utilized more efficiently, such as the use of mass transport instead of private vehicles.

2. 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.

3. Cautious development plans.
Some natural areas should be protected. Otherwise, serious pollution problems will be resulted. For example, urban development should be avoided in valleys. It is because the topsoil in valleys is fertile and suitable for agricultural uses and it is vulnerable to erosion. Therefore, cautious developmental planning can help to protect the environment.

4. 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.

5. Conversation of water.
Thrifty use of water and effective measures to prevent the contamination of fresh water are important for the conservation of limited water resources.

6. 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.

7. Recycling of wastes.
Recycling of waste helps to reduce the consumption of natural resources.