 Introduction and scope of Environment: Conservation of natural resources, i.e.

forest resources, water

resources, Mineral resources, Energy resources, Land, resource etc

Introduction and scope of Environment

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The word ‘Environment’ is derived from the French word ‘Environner’ which means to encircle, around or surround.
The biologist Jacob Van Uerkal (1864-1944) introduced the term ‘environment’ in Ecology. Ecology is the study of
the interactions between an organism of some kind and its environment. As given by Environment Protection Act
1986, Environment is the sum total of land, water, air, interrelationships among themselves and also with the human
beings and other living organisms. Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary field and requires the study of the
interactions among the physical, chemical and biological components of the Environment with a focus on
environmental pollution and degradation. Environment studies is a multidisciplinary subject where different aspects
are dealt with in a holistic approach.

The science of Environment studies comprises various branches of studies like chemistry, physics, life science,
medical science, agriculture, public health, sanitary engineering, geography, geology, atmospheric science, etc. It is
the science of physical phenomena in the environment. It studies the sources, reactions, transport, effect and fate of a
biological species in the air, water and soil and the effect of and from human activity upon these. Environmental
Science deals with the study of processes in soil, water, air and organisms which lead to pollution or environmental
damages and the scientific basis for the establishment of a standard which can be considered acceptably clean, safe
and healthy for human beings and natural ecosystems

The Environment is about the surrounding external conditions influencing the development or growth of people,
animals or plants; living or working conditions etc. This involves three questions ie., what is surrounded, by what is
surrounded and where surrounded. The answer to the first is living objects in general and man in particular. Human
life is concerned to be the main in the study of the environment. However, human life cannot exist or be understood
in isolation from the other forms of life like animal life and from plant life. The environment belongs to all living
beings and is thus important for all. Hence, environment refers to the sum total of conditions surrounding in space
and time. The scope of the term ‘Environment’ has been changing and widening by the passage of time. In the
primitive age, the environment consisted of only physical aspects of the planet earth ie., land, water and air as
biological communities. As of now, it includes social, economic and political conditions also. The answer for the
question of where surrounded is in nature that physical component of the planet earth, viz land, air, water etc.,
support and affect life in the biosphere.

1.2 DEFINITIONS OF ENVIRONMENT:

Some important definitions of the environment are as under:

1. According to Boring, ‘A person’s environment consists of the sum total of the stimulation which he receives from
his conception until his death.’ Indicating that the environment comprises various types of forces such as physical,
intellectual, mental, economical, political, cultural, social, moral and emotional.

2. Douglas and Holland defined that ‘The term environment is used to describe, in aggregate, all the external forces,
influences and conditions, which affect the life, nature, behaviour and the growth, development and maturity of living
organisms’.

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1.3 SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENT:

The environment consists of four segments of the earth namely atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere:

1. Atmosphere: The Atmosphere forms a distinctive protective layer about 100 km thick around the earth. A blanket
of gases called the atmosphere surrounds the earth and protects the surface of earth from the Sun’s harmful, ultraviolet
rays. It sustains life on the earth. It also regulates temperature, preventing the earth from becoming too hot or too
cold. It saves it from the hostile environment of outer space. The atmosphere is composed of nitrogen and oxygen
besides, argon, carbon dioxide and trace gases.

The atmosphere has a marked effect on the energy balance at the surface of the Earth. It absorbs most of the cosmic
rays from outer space and a major portion of the electromagnetic radiation from the sun. It transmits only ultraviolet,
visible, near infrared radiation (300 to 2500 nm) and radio waves. (0.14 to 40 m) while filtering out tissue-damaging
ultra-violate waves below about 300 nm.

2. Hydrosphere: The Hydrosphere comprises all types of water resources oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams,
reservoirs, polar icecaps, glaciers, and ground water. Oceans represent 97% of the earth’s water and about 2% of the
water resources is locked in the polar icecaps and glaciers. Only about 1% is available as fresh water as surface water
in rivers, lakes, streams, and as ground water for human use.

3. Lithosphere: Lithosphere is the outer mantle of the solid earth. It consists of minerals occurring in the earth’s crusts
and the soil e.g. minerals, organic matter, air and water.

4. Biosphere: Biosphere indicates the realm of living organisms and their interactions with environment, viz
atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.

The scope of environmental studies is very wide and it deals with many areas like i) Conservation of natural resources,
ii) ecological aspects, iii) pollution of the surrounding natural resources, iv) controlling the pollution, v) social issues
connected to it, and vi) impacts of human population on the environment.

Elements of Environment

The environment is constituted by the interacting systems of physical, biological and cultural elements interrelated in
various ways, individually as well as collectively. These elements are:

(1) Physical elements

Physical elements are space, landforms, water bodies, climate, soils, rocks and minerals. They determine the variable
character of the human habitat, its opportunities as well as limitations.

(2) Biological elements

Biological elements such as plants, animals, microorganisms and men constitute the biosphere.

(3) Cultural elements

Cultural elements such as economical, social and political elements are essentially man- made features, which make
the cultural background.

1.4 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES: IMPORTANCE

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environmental studies make us aware about the importance of protection and conservation of our mother earth and
about the destruction due to the release of pollution into the environment. The increase in human and animal
population, industries and other issues make the survival cumbersome. A great number of environment issues have
grown in size and make the system more complex day by day, threatening the survival of mankind on
earth. Environment studies have become significant for the following reasons:

1. Environmental Issues are being of Global concern:

It has been well recognized that environmental issues like global warming and ozone depletion, acid rain, marine
pollution and biodiversity are not merely national issues but are global issues and hence require international efforts
and cooperation to solve them.

2. Development and Environment:

Development leads to Urbanization, Industrial Growth, Telecommunication and Transportation Systems, Hi-tech
Agriculture and Housing etc. However, it has become phased out in the developed world. The North intentionally
moves their dirty factories to South to cleanse their own environment. When the West developed, it did so perhaps in
ignorance of the environmental impact of its activities. Development of the rich countries of the world has undesirable
effects on the environment of the entire world.

3. Explosive Increase in Pollution

World census reflects that one in every seven persons in this planet lives in India. Evidently with 16 per cent of the
world's population and only 2.4 per cent of its land area, there is a heavy pressure on the natural resources including
land. Agricultural experts have recognized soil health problems like deficiency of micronutrients and organic matter,
soil salinity and damage of soil structure.

4. Need for an Alternative Solution

It is essential, especially for developing countries to find alternative paths to an alternative goal. We need a goal as
under:

1. A true goal of development with environmentally sound and sustainable development.

2. A goal common to all citizens of our planet earth.

3. A goal distant from the developing world in the manner it is from the over-consuming wasteful
societies of the “developed” world.

It is of utmost importance for us to save humanity from extinction because our activities constrict the environment
and deplete the biosphere, in the name of development.

5. Need for Wise Planning of Development

Our survival and sustenance depend on resource availability. Hence Resources withdrawal, processing and use of the
products have all to be synchronized with the ecological cycle. In any plan of development, our actions should be
planned ecologically for the sustenance of the environment and development.

6. Misra (1991) recognized four basic principles of ecology,:

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(i) Holism, (ii) Ecosystem, (iii) Succession and (iv) Conversation.

Holism has been considered the real base of ecology. In hierarchical levels at which interacting units of ecology are
discussed, are as under:

Misra (1991) has recognised four basic requirements of environmental management as under:

1. Impact of human activities on the environment,

2. Value system,

3. Plan and design for sustainable development,

4. Environment education.

Keeping in view of the goal of planning for environmentally sustainable development, India contributed to the United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also referred to as “Earth Summit” held at Rio de
Janeiro, the Capital of Brazil, 3rd-14th June, 1992.

FOREST RESOURCES:

A typical tree produces commercial goods worth about Rs.30,000/- where as provides ecological services worth
more than Rs.10,00,000/-

Ecological uses of Forests

 Production of Oxygen- trees produce oxygen by photosynthesis and are considered as earth’s lungs.
 Reducing Global warming- the main greenhouse gas CO2 is absorbed by the forests as a raw material for
photosynthesis. The forest canopy acts as sink for CO2 gas and controls Global warming.
 Wildlife habitat- forests are homes for about 7 million species of flora and fauna.
 Regulation of hydrological cycle- forest watershed acts as big sponges, absorbing rainfall, slowing down
runoff and slowly releasing the water for recharge of springs. Moisture in the air also helps in evapo-
transpiration.
 Soil conservation- Forests bind the soil particles tightly with their roots and prevent soil erosion. They also
act as wind-breaks and controls soil-erosion.
 Pollution moderator- Forests can absorb toxic gases and keeps air pure. They prevent air and noise
pollution.

Deforestation, major causes and consequences:

Deforestation- Large scale cutting down of trees in the forests is known as deforestation.

Major causes for deforestation are

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1. Shifting cultivation- practice of slash and burn agriculture and clearing forests for shifting cultivation.

2. Fuel requirements- increasing demands of fuel wood by the growing population and increasing the pressure on the
forests.

3. Raw material for industrial use-wood, plywood, timber, pulp, rubber is some of the raw materials used to
manufacture goods. These materials are extracted from forests on a large scale.

4. Development projects- Major projects like hydroelectric power, dams, road construction, mining etc are creating
massive destruction of forests.

5. Growing food needs- to meet the demand for food from the growing population, agricultural lands and settlements
are created by clearing forests.

6. Over grazing-poor people depend on wood as a fuel leading to loss of tree cover and cleared lands turns into
grazing lands. Overgrazing by cattle also leads to degradation of these lands.

7. Commercial logging: which supplies the world market with woods such as teak destroys trees as well as opening
up forest for agriculture. Cutting of trees for fire wood and building material, the heavy lopping of foliage for fodder
and heavy grazing of saplings by domestic animals like goats. 8. The cash crop economy: Raising cash crops for
increased economy.

9. Forest fires- they may be natural or manmade

Major consequences

1. It threatens the existence of wildlife due to destruction of natural habitat.

2. Biodiversity is lost and genetic diversity is eroded.

3. Hydrological cycle gets effected and affects rainfall.

4. Soil fertility will be lost due to soil erosion

5. In hilly areas, it leads to landslides.

6. Capacity to absorb carbon dioxide decreases and the rate of global warming increases

Natural Resource Conservation

Conservation is the act of protecting Earth’s natural resources for current and future generations.

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Earth’s natural resources include air, minerals, plants, soil, water, and wildlife. Conservation is the care and
protection of these resources so that they can persist for future generations. It includes maintaining diversity of
species, genes, and ecosystems, as well as functions of the environment, such as nutrient cycling.

Conservation is similar to preservation, but while both relate to the protection of nature, they strive to accomplish
this task in different ways. Conservation seeks the sustainable use of nature by humans, for activities such as
hunting, logging, or mining, while preservation means protecting nature from human use.

This difference is illustrated by how the United States manages its public lands. The goal of National Parks, for
instance, is preservation with an emphasis on causing minimal change to the landscape or environment, meanwhile
National Forests can be used for cattle grazing, lumber, hunting, and recreation.

Continued human population growth has led to unsustainable rates of consumption of our natural resources,
resulting in a loss of Earth’s biodiversity. The main factors driving biodiversity loss include habitat destruction,
climate change, invasive species, overexploitation, and pollution.

Declining biodiversity is closely intertwined with species extinction. While extinction is a normal process of nature,
the rate at which it is happening today is not. Scientists estimate that current extinction rates are about a thousand
times higher now than would be expected based on the fossil record and that we may be experiencing a mass
extinction event, which is when 75 percent or more species are lost at a time.

The extinction of the passenger pigeon is a famous example of an extinction caused by human activity. It was once
the most abundant land bird in North America, with a population of approximately three to five billion when
Europeans arrived. Despite its vast numbers, this pigeon became extinct in the wild by the 1900s because of
overhunting. The last individual bird, named Martha, died in captivity in 1941 at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Forests as a Natural Resource

 Simply defined, a forest is a vast area including a large group of trees.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), A Forest is a minimum “Land spanning more than
0.5 hectares with trees higher than 5 meters and a canopy cover of more than 10 percent or trees able to
reach these thresholds in situ. It does not include land that is predominantly under agricultural or urban
use.”

Using FAO’s definition, Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 (FRA 2020) found that forests covered 4.06
billion or about 31 percent of the earth’s surface and in a study published in 2015 by Nature Journal it said, these
forests contain 3.04 trillion trees. However, forests exithe st in dry, wet, freezing cold, and scorching hot climates. A
forest ecosystem is a community of organisms living in a forest.

There are different types of forests, categorized largely based on their distance from the equator. And if we
understand the importance of forests, then we would know that a treeless world could spell doom for all lifeforms,
including humans. A recent study of Yale University found that there are 422 trees available now for every single
person. 1000 years ago there were 46% more trees compared to this estimate.

In that light, we look at some of the major benefits of forests. But before that, let’s explore the various types of
forests.

Various Types of Forests

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Forests are classified broadly by latitude, by the amount and seasonal distribution of precipitation, or by
macroclimate. Here we are discussing the three major types of forests classified by latitude – tropical, temperate,
and boreal forests. Also, these major types are divided further into location, climate, temperature, flora and fauna
and last but not the least, the sub-categories.

1. Tropical Forests

Tropical forests are basically rainforests since it rains more or less almost all year round. The average precipitation
is 60 mm every month here. The Amazon of South America is the largest tropical rainforest on earth. Tropical
rainforests have four characteristics which distinguish them from other forests.

 Very high annual rainfall

 High average temperatures
 Nutrient-poor soil
 High levels of biodiversity
Location: The tropical rainforests are found between latitudes 23.5o N and 23.5o S. These two are the Tropic of
Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Central and South America, western and central Africa, western India,
Southeast Asia, the island of New Guinea, and Australia are the seat for this kind of forest. Amongst them, Brazil
has the largest share of 3.17 million sq km.

Climate: Tropical rainforests boast the greatest diversity of species of all ecosystems on earth. They don’t
experience winter and normally receive 100 inches of rain annually.

Decomposition happens at an incredibly fast rate in these forests, thanks to the high temperatures and moist air.
High levels of rainfall normally result in leaching of nutrients from the soil. This explains why soils in tropical
rainforests are nutrient poor.

Temperature: The temperatures in these forests range between [20°C] 68o and [25°C] 77o Fahrenheit throughout the
year.

Flora and Fauna: Tropical rainforests are the habitat of two-third of the world’s plant species. Some of them are
100 million years old. These forests are dominated by broad-leafed trees, which grow between 82 and 115 feet tall.
Other vegetation includes vines, ferns, mosses, orchids, and palms.

The sun hardly reaches the lower levels of the forest, thanks to dense-growing trees that create a thick canopy. So,
most animals that inhabit tropical rainforests are adapted to living in the trees. You can find a wide variety of birds,
snakes, bats, and monkeys in these forests. It is estimated that about half of the world’s animal species call tropical
rainforests their abode.

Sub-Categories: Different categories of tropical forests include:

 Evergreen: Evergreen forests receive rain year-round and have no dry season
 Seasonal: They have evergreen vegetation and short dry season
 Dry: These forests have long dry season in which trees lose leaves
 Montane: Known as cloud forests as they receive most of the precipitation from mist or fog that rises from the
lowlands
 Tropical and subtropical coniferous: These forests have a dry and warm climate with conifers adapted to
variable weather.
 Subtropical: Sub-tropical forests are located north and south of tropical forests. Trees here are adapted to
resist summer drought

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2. Temperate Forests

Temperate forests are the second largest biome on this planet. They cover almost 25% of the world’s forest area.
Five characteristics tell apart which forests are temperate forests. And these are,

 A long, warm growing season

 Abundant moisture
 Typically, rich soil
 Tree leaves are arranged in strata
 Trees stop photosynthesis during winter and enter a dormant period.
 Flat and broadleaf trees
Location: Temperate forests are located between the latitudes of 25° to 50° in both hemispheres. The countries
covering this kind of forest are, the eastern United States, Canada, France, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, and the
Czech Republic, China, Japan, South Korea and parts of Russia.

Climate: Temperate climate is characterized by cold winters, hot-wet summers and precipitations all year
round. The average rainfall in temperate deciduous forests is between 30-60 inches, while in temperate coniferous
forests is between 50-200 inches annually. Soils are moist and rich

3. Boreal Forests

The term boreal came from Boreas, the Greek God of the north wind. Boreal forests, also known as Taiga forests,
are defined as forests growing in freezing temperatures in which trees can reach up to 5 meters minimum, with a
canopy cover of 10%. The characteristics that separate boreal or taiga forests from other forests are,

 Evergreen trees
 Cold weather
 Dry climate
 Thin layer of soil
 Short growing season
Location: Boreal forests are located between latitudes 50o and 60o N. You can find them in Siberia, Canada,
Northern Asia, and Scandinavia. It is worth noting that about 28% of the boreal forests are found in Canada, which
is the largest share among the total boreal region

Climate: Taiga forests are characterized by short summers and long winters. They receive between 15 and 40 inches
of precipitation annually, most of which comes in the form of snow. These forests normally have thin soil, thanks to
the cold temperatures that undermine the rate of decomposition.

Temperature: Temperature in boreal forests ranges from 21° C in summer to -54° C in winter.

Flora and Fauna: Trees in Boreal forests are largely evergreen. Examples of the trees include spruce, fir, pine,
tamarack, trembling aspen, balsam poplar, and birch. The forest floor has limited vegetation, thanks to the dense
canopy.

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Animals that live in these forests normally have thick fur and are adapted to long, cold winters. You should expect
to find animals such as moose, snowshoe hare, beaver, black bear, elk, snowshoe hare, woodland caribou, wood
bison, lynxes, yellow perch, northern pike, walleye, wolves, and wolverines, and a plentiful number of shorebirds,
songbirds and raptors.

Major uses of forests

Forests have its own Commercial and Environmental uses.

Commercial uses- raw materials like timber, pulpwood, plywood, wax, fuel wood, rubber, gum, sediments,
minerals, drugs, medicines, fruits, beverages, resins, non edible oils, railway sleepers, packing materials etc.

 Half of the timber cut each year is used as a fuel for heating and cooking

 One third of the wood harvest is used for building materials as lumber, plywood and hardwood, particle board and
chipboard.

 One sixth of the wood harvest is converted into pulp and used for paper industry.

 Many forest lands are used for mining, agriculture, grazing, and recreation and for development of dams.

Ecological uses of forests

 Production of Oxygen- trees produce oxygen by photosynthesis and are considered as earth’s lungs.
 Reducing Global warming- the main greenhouse gas CO2 is absorbed by the forests as a raw material for
photosynthesis. The forest canopy acts as a sink for CO2 gas and controls Global warming.
 Wildlife habitat- forests are homes for about 7 million species of flora and fauna.
 Regulation of hydrological cycle- forest watershed acts as big sponges, absorbing rainfall, slowing down
runoff and slowly releasing the water for recharge of springs. Moisture in the air also helps in evapo-
transpiration.
 Soil conservation- Forests bind the soil particles tightly with their roots and prevent soil erosion. They also
act as wind-breaks and controls soil-erosion.
 Pollution moderator- Forests can absorb toxic gases and keeps air pure. They prevent air and noise
pollution.
Deforestation, major causes and consequences:

Deforestation is large scale cutting down of trees in the forests.

Major causes for deforestation are

1. Shifting cultivation- practice of slash and burn agriculture and clearing forests for shifting cultivation.

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2. Fuel requirements- increasing demands of fuel wood by the growing population and increasing the pressure on the
forests.

3. Raw material for industrial use-wood, plywood, timber, pulp, rubber is some of the raw materials used to
manufacture goods. These materials are extracted from forests on a large scale.

4. Development projects- Major projects like hydroelectric power, dams, road construction, mining etc are creating
massive destruction of forests.

5. Growing food needs- to meet the demand for food from the growing population, agricultural lands and settlements
are created by clearing forests.

6. Over grazing-poor people depend on wood as a fuel leading to loss of tree cover and cleared lands turns into
grazing lands. Overgrazing by cattle also leads to degradation of these lands.

7. Commercial logging: which supplies the world market with woods such as teak destroys trees as well as opening
up forest for agriculture. Cutting of trees for fire wood and building material, the heavy lopping of foliage for fodder
and heavy grazing of saplings by domestic animals like goats. 8. The cash crop economy: Raising cash crops for
increased economy.

9. Forest fires- they may be natural or manmade

Major consequences

1. It threatens the existence of wildlife due to destruction of natural habitat.

2. Biodiversity is lost and genetic diversity is eroded.

3. Hydrological cycle gets effected and affects rainfall.

4. Soil fertility will be lost due to soil erosion

5. In hilly areas, it leads to landslides.

6. Capacity to absorb carbon dioxide decreases and the rate of global warming increases

How to conserve Forests

 Regulated and Planned Cutting of Trees:

One of the main reasons for deforestation is the commercial felling of trees. According to an estimate, about 1,600
million cubic metres of wood have been used for various purposes in the world. Although trees are considered a
perennial resource, when exploited on a very large scale, their revival cannot be possible.

Therefore, cutting should be regulated by adopting methods like:

(i) Clearcutting,

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(ii) Selective cutting, and

(iii) Shelter wood cutting.

The clear-cutting method is useful for those areas where the same types of trees are available over a large area. In
that case, trees of the same age group can be cut down in a selected area and then marked for replantation. In
selective cutting, only mature trees are selected for cutting. This process is to be followed in rotation. Sheker
woodcutting is where first of all useless trees are cut down followed by medium and best quality timber trees.

The time gap between these cuttings is helpful in the re-growth of trees. In regulated cutting only one-tenth of the
forest area is selected for use and a rotational system is always followed for their protection. The forest can be
managed in such a way that a timber crop may be harvested indefinitely year after year without being depleted. This
technique is called the ‘sustained yield’ method adopted by many countries.

2. Control over Forest Fire:

Destruction or loss of forest by fire is fairly common; because trees are highly exposed to fire and once started it
becomes difficult to control. Sometimes, the fire starts by a natural process, i.e., by lightning or by friction between
trees during speedy winds, while in most cases it is also by man either intentionally or unintentionally.

According to an estimate, during the period from 1940 to 1950, in the US alone, fires consumed an average of 21.5
million acres of timber yearly and as many as 1,175,664 cases of forest fires occurred from 1955 to 1964 period. In
US forests fire is very common and the main cause of the loss of forests.

Throughout the world forest fire is common and in most cases, they were begun by man. As John D. Guthrie, former
fire inspector of the US Forest Service has written: “To stage a forest fire you need only a few things a forest, the
right atmospheric conditions, and a spark either from a lightning bolt or a match in the hands of a fool or a knave.
The formula is simple the larger the forest, the drier the air, the bigger the fool, the bigger the fire you will have.”

In order to save forests from fire, it is necessary to adopt the latest techniques of firefighting. Some of the fire
suppression techniques are to develop three-metre wide fire lanes around the periphery of the fire, backfires,
arrangement of water spray, and fire retardant chemicals should be sprayed from the back tank and if possible by
helicopters. There must be a trained staff of firefighters to control the fire.

3. Reforestation and Afforestation:

The sustained yield concept dictates that whenever timber is removed, either by block cutting or by selective cutting,
the denuded area must be reforested. This may be done by natural or artificial methods. Similarly, any forested land,
which has been destroyed by fire or mining activities, should be reforested. In rugged terrain, aerial seeding is the
method of choice.

Besides all this, fresh afforestation programmes should be started. New plantations will not only increase the forest
cover but also help in making up the eco-balance. For afforestation, the selection of trees should be done according
to local geographical conditions and care must be taken during the initial growth of the trees.

4. Check over Forest Clearance for Agricultural and Habitation Purposes:

Most of the present-day agricultural land was once forested and then cleared for the use of agriculture. But now it
has reached the stage where further clearance will be dangerous for the entire ecosystem. There are tribes in some
parts of Asia, Africa and South America, where shifting cultivation is still a part of their system of land
procurement.

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According to an estimate, about 40 million sq km of land is used for this purpose by 200 million tribes of the world.
For the conservation of forests, this should be checked and an alternative method should be devised. Similarly, for
the development of villages, towns and cities, forest lands have been cleared and this process continues to this day
causing loss of forest cover. This also should be checked and green belts around cities are developed.

5. Protection of Forests:
The existing forests should be protected. Apart from commercial cutting, unorganized grazing is also one of the
reasons. There are several forest diseases resulting from parasitic fungi, rusts, mistletoes, viruses and nematodes
which cause the destruction of trees. The forests should be protected either by the use of chemical spray, and
antibiotics or by the development of disease-resistant strains of trees.

6. Proper Utilisation of Forest and Forests Products:

Generally, trees are cut for logs and the rest, including stumps, limbs, branches and foliage, etc., is left out as
worthless debris. Further waste occurs at the sawmills. There is thus a need to utilise this waste material. Today,
several uses have been developed and products like waterproof glues, boar r etc., can be obtained.

Similarly, forests can be used or developed as tourist centres. By using them as tourist centres the country can earn
substantial foreign exchange. This practice has been adopted by many countries, both developed and developing.
The concepts of ‘national park’ and ‘game sanctuary’ have now become popular and every country has developed its
unique forest area as a ‘national park’. In India alone, there are as many as 92 national parks and game sanctuaries.
This is a good method of forest conservation.

7. Role of Government in Forest Conservation:

Although the government of every country is very particular about the conservation of its forest resources and has
several rules and laws for the protection of forests but, they are not implemented in an effective manner.

Both national and provincial governments can take some steps in this direction, such as:
(i) Pass acts for the conservation of forests,

(ii) Survey of the forest resources,

(iii) Categorization of forest areas and proper delimitation of reserved forest areas,

(iv) Find out the areas where reforestation can be done,

(v) Regulate the commercial use of forest products,

(vi) Protect forest from fire, mining and other natural calamities,

(vii) Develop national parks,

(viii) Encourage forests developmental activities like social forestry, agro-forestry, etc., and

(ix) Prepare master plans, both for long-term and short-term period, etc.

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Water as a Natural Resource

Conservation of water

Water conservation is the careful use and preservation of water supply, and it includes both the quantity and quality
of water utilized. Water is an essential asset for the nourishment of all life. The fundamental demand for all activities
appropriate local use to the agricultural industry.

With the regular expanding weight of the human population, there has been serious tension on water resources.
Negligence of customary water bodies like tanks and lakes, unpredictable abuse of groundwater, and incorrect
preservation of surface water systems have bothered the issue. Still further and is no doubt going to grow in the
years to come.

There are various approaches to making your water last nowadays. One simple yet often disregarded strategy to cut
your water bill is to use your water twice. Unlike electricity, you can reuse water again and again. That's the idea of
water conservation.

Key Facts about our water:

Water is the most important natural resource that living things need. But at the same time, it has also been misused
and wasted. To better grasp the full significance of water conservation, take a look at the few yet key facts about
water:

 The average adult human body comprises 50-65 percent of water. They are averaging around 57-60 percent.
With infants, they have a higher percentage. Often around 75-78% water, dropping to 65% by one year.
 The Earth has a limited amount of water. The water we have now is all we get, and it is recycled repeatedly.
The water cycle can help you understand this condition.
 Water is the basic demand for every food. It grows our fruits and vegetable, and each livestock consumes it.
 A plant's life is dependent on water. Plants help the ecosystem and produce the oxygen necessary to keep us
healthy. Additionally, trees are generally used for housing, paper, and a lot more.
 Ninety-seven percent (97%) of all water on Earth is saltwater- that is not suitable for drinking.
 Only three percent (3%) of water on Earth is freshwater. Only 0.5% is available is suitable for drinking.
 The other 2.5% of freshwater is found in glaciers, ice caps, the atmosphere, soil, or under the Earth's surface
or is too polluted for consumption.

 What is Water Conservation?

 Water Conservation is the practice of efficiently preserving, controlling, and managing water resources.
 Water conservation has become an essential practice in every part of the world, even in regions where
water appears to be enough. It is the most practical and environment-friendly approach to lessen our need
for water. Likewise, using less water puts less weight on our sewage treatment facilities, which use an
ample amount of energy for heating water.

Main reasons to conserve water:

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  Conserving water saves energy. Energy is important to filter, heat, and pump water to your home, so
lessening your water use likewise decreases your carbon traces.
 Consuming less water keeps more in our environments and aids with keeping wetland habitats best for
creatures like otters, water voles, herons, and fish. This is particularly significant during dry season periods.
 Conserving water can save you money. If you have a water meter, the less water you use, the less you might
be charged by your water company.

What are the Water-Related Problems?

The main problems with water are water shortage, shortages of clean water, and waterborne diseases. A lack of
access to safe water caused 80% of all deaths worldwide. More than 5 million people die each year from water-
related diseases such as hepatitis A, dysentery, and severe diarrhea.

Approximately 900 million to 1.1 billion people worldwide lack clean drinking water, and 2.4 billion lack basic
sanitation. Water demand is increasing at a rate faster than population growth. Over the past 70 years, while the
world's population has tripled, water demand has increased sixfold. The United Nations estimates that in 2025 that 5
billion of the world's 8 billion people will live in areas where water is scarce. Many of these people will have
difficulty accessing enough water to meet their basic needs.

Increasing populations, growing agriculture, industrialization, and high living standards have boosted water
demand. All this while drought, overuse, and pollution have decreased the supplies. To make up for this shortfall,
water is often taken from lakes, rivers, and wetlands, causing serious environmental damage. According to a 2003
United Nations report, "Across the globe, groundwater is being depleted by the demands of megacities and
agriculture, while fertilizer runoff and pollution are threatening water quality and public health."

It seems there are alarming predictions every week related to water, such as disease, crop disasters, starvation,
famines, and war. Safe drinking water and sanitation are major challenges in many developing countries, from
shanty towns and areas to urban poor cities. At least in rural areas, the poor can dig wells and take care of the
sanitation in their fields

Water Pollution

The causes of much of the pollution in rural areas are untreated sewage resulting from a lack of toilets and sewers.
Salts, fertilizers, and pesticides from irrigated land contaminate the flowing water and groundwater supplies and the
saltwater entering overused aquifers. Places with sewers often have no wastewater treatment facilities while the
sewage becomes dumped right into the water supplies, a source from which people draw.

Agriculture-related pollution such as fertilizer, pesticides, animal wastes, herbicides, salts from evaporated irrigation
water, and silt from deforestation washes into the streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, and the sea. This agricultural runoff
sometimes severs creating "dead zones" in coastal water zones.

Industry-related water pollution comes from mining and manufacturing toxic chemicals and heavy metals. Power
plant emissions then create acid rain that contaminates the surface water.

People often bathe, wash their clothes, and swim in disgusting water. They also drink the water of uncertain quality
from ponds and streams used by animals.

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The water and air around the cities are polluted, and the water shortages and quality in rural areas are still rampant.

What Can You Do?

We have first to understand that the preservation of water is the obligation of each person. It is to be done as a
whole. No government authority or institution can help us save water unless we desire to. Right now is a high time
to do so.

Reducing water use reduces the energy required to process and deliver it to homes, businesses, farms, and
communities. Which in turn helps to reduce pollution and conserve fuel resources.

Cutting off the wastage of water will enable us to keep up the artistry of a city. Additionally, protecting our natural
ecosystems from further damage is critical, especially for the survival of some endangered species. The great pacific
garbage patch is a great example of the worst side of our wasteful practices.

There are many efficient approaches to preserve water in and around your home. Look through this rundown for
ways that will work for you.

Here are demonstrated means to conserve more water:

In the Kitchen

 Don't leave the water running for rinsing whenever you wash the dishes by hand—it is the ideal way. If you
have two sinks, fill one with rinse water. If you just have one sink, use a shower gadget instead of giving the
water a chance to run. This saves 200 to 500 gallons every month.
 When washing the dishes by hand, use a minimal detergent as much as possible. This limits the rinse water
needed. This saves 50 to 150 gallons every month.
 Make sure not to defrost frozen foods with running water. Either prepare in advance by putting frozen things
in the icebox or refrigerator overnight. Or defrost them in the microwave. This saves 50 to 150 gallons every
month.
 Make sure not to run the faucet while you clean vegetables. Wash them in a filled sink or container. This
saves 150 to 250 gallons every month.
 Keep a container or bottle of drinking water in the fridge. This beats the inefficient tendency for running tap
water to cool it for drinking. This saves 200 to 300 gallons every month.
 Cook foods in less water. This keeps the nutritional value of the food as well.

In the Bathroom

 When taking a shower, don't misuse the cold water while sitting tight for hot water to reach the showerhead.
In a container/ pail, catch that water to water the plants outside or flush in your toilet. This saves 200 to 300
gallons every month.
 Examine the toilet for leaks. Place dye tablets or food coloring into the tank. If the color shows up in the bowl
without flushing, there is certainly a leak that ought to be repaired. This saves 400 gallons per month.

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  Make doubly sure your toilet is an ultra-low volume flush model which utilizes only one and a half gallons
each flush.
 Make sure to turn off the water or faucet while brushing your teeth. This saves three gallons every day.
 Don't Use the Toilet as an Ashtray or Wastebasket. Every time you flush a cigarette butt, facial tissue, or other
small bits of trash, you're wasting gallons of water. Put them in the proper garbage bin.
 Take Shorter Showers. One way to cut down on water use is to turn off the shower after soaping up, then turn
it back on to rinse. A four-minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water.

In the Laundry Room

A high-efficiency washer is ideal for saving water in the laundry room. It uses less water than the traditional washer.
Likewise, it will eliminate more water from the clothes before drying, bringing about shorter dry times. Here are a
couple of different tips for saving water in the laundry room:

 Run the washer only when you have a full load.

 To cut your dry time, use wool dryer balls.
 Allow stained clothes to soak the sink in advance, so they don't have to be washed twice.

In the Yard or Garden

 Avoid watering the lawn on windy days. There's excessive evaporation. This can waste up to 300 gallons in a
single watering.
 It is better to water during the cool parts of the day. Preferably in the early morning to keep from the
development of an organism. This saves 300 gallons.
 If you have a pool, utilize a pool cover to eliminate evaporation. Likewise, it will keep your pool cleaner and
lessen the need to include chemicals. This saves 1,000 gallons every month.
 Using a pail of soapy water, clean the car and make sure to drive it onto a lawn. The water used can help
water the grass at the same time. Only use the hose for rinsing - this easy practice can save as much as 150
gallons when washing a car.
 Minimize watering on cool and cloudy days and not water in the rain. Change or deactivate automatic
sprinklers. This can save up to 300 gallons each time.
 Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. Pieces of bark, peat greenery, or rock gradually slow down
evaporation. This saves 750 to 1,500 gallons every month.

For Kids

 Avoid toys that need constant running water. Rather, use a little pool to enjoy water outside, or use sports-
related toys and remote-controlled gadgets.
 When washing hands, turn off the sink while kids are soaping up.

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  Try not to let children flush tissues or other things down the toilet. In addition to the fact that this is
inefficient, it can cause serious plumbing issues. Urge your children to use a wastebasket for tissues and other
daily essentials they might be lured to flush.
 If your children have a pet fish, reuse the water from the tank as food for your houseplants instead of draining
it.
 When washing the dog, ensure you wash them in an area of the yard that requires water so you can carry out
two tasks at once. Be sure the soap you use is safe for plants.
 Train kids to consistently turn the faucets firmly to avoid drips and unnecessary water waste.
 Tell your kids not to play with the garden hose. This saves 10 gallons every moment.
 Whenever you allow your kids to play in the sprinklers, ensure it's just when you're watering the yard.
Suppose it's not very cool around that time of day.

Saving Water in Special Conditions

At some point, it is necessary to use extra measures to reduce the amount of water you consume at home. Although
suitable for any situation, these techniques may be especially helpful. When water levels are high around your
house, your community water system temporarily loses the capacity to supply adequate amounts of water. You
should consider these changes:

 Use much around trees and shrubs and in garden beds. They significantly reduce the amount of water lost
through evaporation and reduce the need for watering.
 Consider using a drip irrigation system in your garden. It supplies water only to the root zones of plants and
reduces weeding because it doesn't water areas between crop rows and hills.
 Use only plant varieties that are well adapted to your locality and soil conditions. Less suitable varieties may
need more fertilizer or water to live.
 Use the water from your roof downspouts for watering your garden and flower beds.

Other Water Conservation Practices

Agricultural Water Conservation Practices

Water-saving irrigation system practices have three categories: field practices, management techniques, and system
modifications. These practices include the chisel plow aeration of highly compacted soils, furrow diking to keep
from uncontrolled overflow, and leveling of the land surface to distribute water equally.

Irrigation Scheduling

Improved irrigation scheduling can reduce the amount of water needed to irrigate a crop successfully by
decreasing evaporative losses and providing water when generally required by the irrigated plants. And applying the
water in a way most appropriate to the irrigated plants. A prudent decision of the irrigation rate and timing can help
farmers keep up yields with less water. In settling on scheduling choices, irrigators ought to consider:

 The unpredictable rainfall and the timing of crop water demands.

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  The restricted water storage limit of many irrigated soils.
 The limited pumping capacity of most irrigation systems.
 The cost of water and changes in water costs as extra operators increase water demand.
Irrigation Management

Management procedures include monitoring soil and water conditions and gathering water use and efficiency data.
The techniques incorporate estimating rainfall, determining soil moisture levels, checking pumping plant
productivity, and scheduling water systems. Usual system adjustments involve the expansion of drop tubes to a
center pivot water system, upgrading wells with smaller pumps, installing a surge or demand water system, and
building a tail-water or return flow recovery system.

Industrial and Commercial Consumers Water Conservation Practices

Water recycling is the reuse of water for a similar application for which it was initially used. Recycled water may
require treatment before it tends to be reused. Cooling water distribution and washwater recycling are the most
broadly used water recycling practices. The accompanying rules ought to be used when considering water reuse and
recycling in industrial and commercial applications:

 Identification of water reuse possibilities: Are there zones inside the manufacturing plant or in the production
process that presently use water just once that would be agreeable to reuse?
 Determination of the base water amount required for the given use: Are there areas inside the plant or in the
production process where more water is being provided than is expected to achieve the purpose?
 Identification of wastewater sources that fulfill the water quality standards: Does the process require
consumable water or water of lesser quality? Can a similar outcome be accomplished with lower-quality
water?
 Determination of how the water can be shipped to the new use: What adjustments, assuming any, all the while
or industrial facility might be expected to allow recovery and distribution/recycling of the water presently sent
to waste? What might different treatment be important to reuse this water? What is the general cost of the
necessary changes versus the cost of the raw water over the life of the adjustments?
Cooling Water Recirculation

Recycling water inside a recirculating cooling system can increase significantly less water usage by using similar
water to play out a few cooling activities. The water savings are commonly adequately significant to bring about a
general cost saving to the industry. Such savings can be considerably more prominent if the waste heat is used as a
heat source somewhere else in the production process. Three cooling water protection approaches are ordinarily
used to diminish water consumption: evaporative cooling, ozonation, and heat exchange.

Washwater Recycling.

Another usual usage of water by industry is using fresh or deionized water to eliminate contaminants from items
and equipment. Deionized water can usually be reused after its first use, even though the reclamation treatment cost
of reusing this water might be as extraordinary as or more noteworthy than the expense of buying raw water from a
manufacturer and treating it. Similar processes needed to create deionized water from municipal water can be used
to deliver deionized water from used washwater. It is also conceivable to mix used washwater with raw water,
which would bring about overall water saving. The reuse of once-utilized deionized water for an alternate

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application inside a similar factory should likewise be considered a water conservation choice. For instance,
used washwater might be worth washing vehicles or the factory premises.

Strategies to Support Water Conservation

Conserving water for individual use in urban areas (counting use by families and districts) needs an inspection—
both the supply and demand for water.

1. Rainwater harvesting

Rainwater harvesting is essentially a technique to store water and get it. This is for fair usage on the last day and
period. The system has unique units that incorporate rainwater transportation, filtration, and storing processed water.

It will be more beneficial to install a rainwater storing unit in our homes to spare more water.

 Rooftop rainwater harvesting (PDF)

 Micro-catchment water harvesting
 Recharge structures for wells and bore wells

2. Sustainable water usage

Sustainable water supply includes an arrangement of joined activities and not disconnected strategies. It relies upon
the person's ability to save water, administrative regulations, and changes in the building industry, industrial forms
production, land occupation, and so forth. The challenge is to make components of direction. How reasonable it is to
guarantee the sustainability of the system.

 Minimize domestic water consumption

 Recycling of wastewater
 Improved irrigation methods

3. Encourage natural regeneration of vegetation and supplementing with artificial regeneration

Regeneration is 'the renewal of a forest crop by natural or artificial means. Using crops by sowing, planting, and
may it be through artificial methods. These have a greater impact on conserving water. The natural and artificial
regeneration of vegetation is a dynamic procedure. Life recolonizes land when the vegetation has been somewhat or
completely devastated. Life restores the lost ground through the instrument of the progression of species.

4. Maintain and improve the quality of water

Water quality in a waterway impacts how communities use the water for drinking, swimming, or business purposes.
Particularly, the water might be utilized by the group to produce edible fish, shellfish and crustaceans, protect
aquatic ecosystems wildlife habitats, supply drinking water, and the like.

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  Collection and treatment of wastewater effluents (PDF)
 Pollution check

5. Raising awareness of water conservation

We all need to go hand in hand because water is a global priority. And it is imperative to save as much water we can
get in any way possible. If it is not for us, then for the generations to come, and if not for the generation, for the
world we live in, the Earth. Building awareness seems simple yet so hard to deliver to the human race. For sure, it is
the easiest to start it in our home, with ourselves. Rather than sitting tight for another person to begin conserving, let
us, as an individual, initiate in conserving.

Most importantly, we have to educate everyone about how essential water is. That is the very least way we can save
water. The more we educate people, the more water we save. Every leakage ought to be fixed in the drainage system
wherever available.

Wasting water has become a powerful environmental issue - both at consumer and industrial levels. It has turned
out to be essential for people and organizations alike to discover approaches to decrease water wastage and conserve
it.

There are various approaches to saving water. Conserving is one, and reusing it is another. Given that we live in a
zone lying down to dry season, it shows well to save each. This means we can, and using water twice is one great
approach to extend this valuable resource further.

Mineral Resources and Conservation

Mineral resources are basic resources required by all societies. They are the basis for almost every product and
material we use in our daily lives. They are the stuff from which modern industrialized society is built. Essentially
all are nonrenewable on a human time scale. Have a limited amount of them. Have to exploit them in a sustainable
fashion if we are not to run out.

Many forms of pollution result from the mining and processing of mineral resources. Is the benefit of their use worth
the pollution they produce? Can we exploit these resources with less pollution and in a more sustainable way?

I. Mineral Resources and Reserves.

A. What are mineral resources?

Any solid, liquid, or gas found in or on the earth's crust that can be extracted and processed into a useful material.
Can include rocks (often in crushed form), minerals (often crushed or cut), metals, other elements, groundwater, hot
water and steam, natural gas, petroleum, crude oil, coal (energy resources), and soil. Usually restricted to rocks,
minerals, and things derived from them (deal separately with energy, water, and soil resources).

Can be either identified (known location, quantity, and quality) or undiscovered (assumed to exist although not
certain where and how much).

If identified and economic (will make a profit) to exploit at the present time with present technology and market
conditions then considered part of the reserves. If market price of the material rises, more of the resource becomes
part of the reserves; total amount of the reserves does not change. Opposite is true (reserves shrink) if prices fall.

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The amount of the reserves, therefore, is often controlled by market forces and can fluctuate. This is often the
number that is quoted when asked how much of something do we have left. There is always much more of a
resource than reserves.

An ore is a rock that contains an economic amount of something (i.e. some part of the reserve). Amount needed
depends on cost to remove and value of material. This can be tens, hundreds, or even thousands of times the average
crustal value. Most elements are found in low abundances in the Earth's crust.

Measures to conserve minerals resources are as follows:

• Use of minerals in a planned and sustainable manner, recycling of metals.

• Use of alternative renewable substitutes.
• Improvising the technology so that low-grade ores can be used profitably.
• By re-using, recuperating, and recycling methods, materials can be manufactured from minerals, and by
replacing other materials as well. In many cases, the cost of recuperating and recycling is much higher than
continuing to extract and process minerals. At hand is a lot of material available on which how metals can be
recycled and why others aren’t.
• To find out new areas of minerals, one can always do innovative explorations for finding out the locations with
the help of latest technology. In case of the India sea floor, explora¬tion and mining may yield good dividend.

• To reduce transport cost, processing plants should invariably be coated in mining areas. For weighty materials
like coal, it is better to convert it into coking coal or in electricity near the pit heads.
• People can conserve mineral resources by utilizing renewable resources. For example, using hydroelectricity
and solar power as sources of energy may conserve mineral resources such as coal.
• There is a great scope for the expansion of several mineral-based industries which open the new vista for
economic development.
• Mineral resources may also be conserved through recycling. A good example is recycling of scrap metal.
• One should make use of new technological methods of mining. Training of miners can be very helpful in
conserving mineral resources by ensuring minimal wastage during the mining. For e.g. minerals include iron,
oil, copper, salt, gold and lead.
• Substitution, one of the important way to conserve some minerals. One can substitute plentiful resources for
scarce ones. Mineral resources that require a small amount of power during refining, such as aluminium, should
be recycled.
• We know that refining activities and mining always have negative effects on the environment. It includes the
destruction of habitat land, air and water pollution. These negative impacts can be minimized through the
conservation of mineral resources.
• International relations suffers between nations because of mineral resources. The nations, where mineral
resources have been discovered, financial prudence have been improved expressively. For example, Africa and
UAE are the oil-producing countries which are well-thought-out rich. The main reason is the revenues
generated from oil and its products.

Conservation of Energy Resources

Energy is one of the most significant demands of our life. Without energy, humans hardly can perform their works
and tasks. The different resources of energy give a human a chance to improve his lifestyle. Although some non-
renewable resources are depleting, new renewable energy technologies are available now to provide choices for the
human to balance his demand. Without proper and efficient monitoring and conservation programs, controlling
resources can be challenging.
Different Demands of Resources

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 Humans use energy in many sectors, for example, home occupation, transportation, and industry section. In the
human occupation, energy is used for space heating/cooling, operating appliances, cooking and other demands.
Natural gas and electricity are the most widely used in commercial and residential buildings. In the industry section,
electricity, natural gas, and fossil fuels are the most resources utilized in this section. They are employed in different
industrials; for instance, power plants, Wastewater treatment plants, and food industries. Fossil fuels, natural gas,
and biofuels are used in the transportation section. Recently, electricity is considered a fuel for some new hybrid
cars. The climate is the primary factor, in my opinion, that can determine the uses of resources. In both hot and cold
areas, air-conditioning is used for space cooling/heating.

Energy Resources

They can be categorized into two categories: Non-renewable and renewable.

Non-renewable

They are mainly called fossil fuels such as Coal, Oil, and Natural Gas. Coal is an abundant solid resource - about 10
trillion metric tons (P. Cunnigham & A. Cunnigham, 2010), formed by the burial of plant fossils in sediments with
high temperature and pressure. There are three main types of coal: bituminous, anthracite and lignite. Oil is formed
from the remains of incident organisms in sedimentary where high pressure and temperature applied. It is the most
widely used in many sections. Two-Third of crude oil is found in the Middle East (McKinney, Schoch, and
Yonavjak, 2014). Natural Gas can be located in the same places as oil. It is the third-largest commercial fossil fuel
more abundant in the Middle East and the former Soviet Union. It is 24% of global energy consumption. Nuclear
Power is 5-6% of global commercial energy use as there are more than 430 reactors all over the world. The primary
element is Uranium. Uranium is abundant in Earth’s crust, so it is available for extraction. Fission and fusion
reactions can produce this energy.

Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and their production techniques

There are several RESs used nowadays in a wide range. Solar Energy, the sun is the source of this energy which is
available in all over the Earth’s surface. The energy is produced by converting sunlight into energy by using solar
cells. Geothermal Energy; heat generates from inside the Earth’s surface by volcanos or hot springs. It is an
abundant renewable resource. One-third of this energy use is found in the U.S. (McKinny, Schoch & Yonavjak,
2014). Wind Power; Wind is the primary source of this energy. Wind is available in many places, such as open areas
and mountains. Wind can be used to produce energy by using wind turbines. They convert wind’s kinetic energy
into mechanical energy, which is converted into electrical energy. The mechanism is when the wind blows; two
forces apply, lift – perpendicular to airflow, and drag – in the direction of airflow. Those two forces run the rotor
blades and shaft; then, the generator produces electricity — examples of wind farms: Milton Keynes in the UK and
Gansu Wind Farm in China. In Hydroelectric Power, electricity can be generated by the movement of water in
rivers, dams, and falls. High Dam in Egypt and Niagara Falls are famous examples. River and falls are available all
over Earth’s surface. By the movement of water, electrical power is generated by running the turbines. In dams,
water flows through a tunnel called penstock and runs the turbines. Turbines are connected to an electrical generator.
Biofuel is driven from biomass. The primary uses of this fuel are for the transportation sector. It is produced from
chemical materials that plant produces by photosynthesis and bio-wastes such as wood and animal wastes. Wood
and organism wastes are available all over the Earth.

There are many methods to produce biofuel; by converting vegetable oil that is extracted from soybean to produce
bio-diesel, from sugar: by turning the starch in sugar-containing plants into ethanol fuel, and from Bagasse: by
burning it to make steam. It can be used to operate turbines. Wave Power is produced by the movement of ocean

22
water. This action is used in wave turbines to generate electricity. We can obtain it from all over the ocean area in
the Earth. There are many ways to convert wave kinetic energy into electrical energy. For example, Oscillation
Water Column, Tapchans, Attenuators, Pendular, Rubber hose, and Salter Duck. Oscillation Water Column is a
coastal system. Electricity can be produced by the air compression that produced from moving the water up and
down in the column. The Rubber hose or Giant Rubber Snake technology uses water in the tube. When the tube
moves by waves, the water inside the hose will move, which impacts the turbine at the end of the hose. Marine
Current Technology is one of the best technologies in renewable electricity production as it uses the marine current
movement. It is also called Tidal Energy. It looks like wind-miles. A rotor exists in the deep marine. Once the
current exists, the rotor moves. The rotor is connected to a generator which generates electricity.

There are many advantages and disadvantages of renewable production.

They are clean and cheap sources. Almost all have no GHS emissions. Some are continuous resources, such as
Wave power and Marine current technologies. They help to reduce fossil fuel consumption, especially in the
transportation sector by using biofuels. Ethanol fuel provides fuel with high octane. They can be used in remote
places such as small solar cells and small wind turbines. They can also be used in many small houses.

The water stored in hydropower stations can be used for irritation. However, the impact on the ecosystem can exist;
for example, wind turbine blades can kill birds and rare golden eagles, tidal turbines can kill marine organisms, and
spill and leak from hydraulic parts in hydropower stations.

Dam failure is one of the hydropower station risks; it can cause a flood. In the dam reservoirs, the concentration of
salts and minerals is high.

Another environmental impact in biofuel production is cutting down trees and burn forests. Burning plants can
cause air pollution and reduce the soil’s fertility. In my opinion, although there are some drawbacks for renewable
energy, we can avoid some of these drawbacks, for example, we can install ultrasonic repellent to prevent the killing
of birds by wind turbines. The environmental impact of renewable energy compared to the GHS emission impact is
very minimal and can be avoided easily.

Conservation controls

Renewable Resources Use

Countries have to set policies and strategies to move toward renewable energy and improve their renewable
production techniques. It will help to reduce the pressure of demand on non-renewable resources.

Efficiency Improvement

It is the most preferable and cost-saving strategy. It is an excellent solution for countries that cannot afford
renewable production. For example, providing more fuel-efficient vehicles can conserve fuel. Another example is
using energy-efficient appliances and lighting applications.

Consumers Behavior

It can be achieved by changing consumer behavior and practices at homes, offices, and transportation. All
governments should establish energy campaigns on how to use less energy by switching off unused lights or share
care while going to work if the workers live in the same area and work in the same place.

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Reuse and recycling

It can be achieved by reusing old clothes or materials like oil barrels and drums after proper cleaning and treatment
and recycling some materials. Recycling saves energy as it reduces the need to extract and reproduce materials. It is
more energy-efficient than others as the energy used for recycling is less than that to reproduce the material. Also, it
helps to reduce environmental pollution.

Conclusion

Without energy conservation strategies and control, we cannot limit energy depletion. Move toward RE and energy
efficiency policies can balance energy use. Some organizations have plans to monitor energy consumption to help
policy-makers to find out a suitable strategy for balanced energy consumption

Land Resource Conservation

Land: “ Land is a delineable area of the earth’s terrestrial surface, encompassing all attributes of the Biosphere
immediately above or below this surface, including those of the Near Surface Climate, the SOIL and TERRAIN
FORMS, the Surface Hydrology (including shallow lakes, rivers, marshes and swamps), the near-surface
Sedimentary layer and associated Ground Water reserve, the plant and animal populations, the human settlement
pattern and physical results of past and present human activity (terracing, water storage or drainage structures, roads,
buildings, etc.). ” . Thus, a Natural Unit of Land has both: Vertical Aspect: from atmospheric climate down to
ground water resources and Horizontal Aspect: an identifiable repetitive sequence of soil, terrain, hydrological, and
vegetative or land use elements

Land Characteristic: An attribute of land that can be measured or estimated, for ex. Slope angle, soil depth or
mean annual rainfall. The land characteristics that are measurable properties of physical environment that affect the
land use and land qualities (both internal and external), which are practical consequences of land characteristics are
considered in land evaluation.

Land Evaluation: It is the process of estimating the potential of land for alternative kinds of use. These uses can be
productive such as i) Arable farming, ii) Livestock production, iii) forestry or other uses such as a) Catchment’s
protection, b) Recreation, c) Tourism, d) Wild Life conservation. It involves interpretation of surveys, climate, soils,
and vegetation and other aspects of land with the requirements of alternative land use.

Land Mapping Unit: It is mapped area of land with specific characteristics. These units differ with the level of
generalization. These units can be single plot of land, soil family, soil association, a physiographic unit or agro
climatic zone. These units form a basis for land evaluation.

Land quality: A complex attribute of land that affects its suitability for specific uses in a distinct way. For ex. The
land quality, availability of water is interaction of a number of land characteristics like rainfall, available water
capacity of the soil, potential evapotranspiration. Land Use Requirement: Land conditions necessary or desirable for
the successful and sustained practice of a given land use type includes crop requirements or plant growth
requirements, management requirements and conservative requirements. Land Use System: A land use system is a
combination of a land mapping unit and a specified (actual or alternative) land utilization type. Each LUS thus has a
land component and a use component. The land component of a LUS is described in terms of land characteristics
(e.g. length of growing period. % slope, soil texture etc.,). Land Use Type: It is a specific type of land use described
in terms of diagnostic or key attributes that may include: produce, management characteristics (e.g. the use of power
and machinery, material inputs and technology) and socioeconomic characteristics (e.g. market orientation, capital
intensity, labour intensity, technical knowledge, scale of operations and land tenure)

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Functions of Land

 Production function- Basis for many life-supporting systems (food, fibre, fuel, timber, other biotic
material for human use)
 Biotic environmental function: Basis of terrestrial biodiversity (providing biological habitats and gene
reserves for plants, animals and microorganisms, above and belowground)
 Climate regulative function- land and its area source and sink of greenhouse gases and form
codetermination of the global energy balance – reflection, absorption and transformation of radioactive
energy of the sun, and of the global hydrological cycle
 Hydrologic cycle- regulates the storage and flow of groundwater resources, and influences their quality
Storage function- Storehouse of raw materials and minerals
 Waste and Pollution Control Function-Has a receptive, filtering, buffering and transforming of
hazardous compounds
 Living space Function-Provides physical basis for human settlements, industrial plants and social
activities (recreation etc.,)
 Archive or Heritage function- Store and protect the evidence of the cultural history of mankind, and a
source of information on past climatic conditions and past land uses
 Connective space function- Provides space for transport

Land use Planning and conservation of land resources – Some options

Some of the important technical, policy and support systems and legal options, which need immediate attention and
action for furthering scientific land, use planning are:

a. Technological Options –

1. Land use data generation at the cadastral level with details about land tenure and land ownership to make
effective land use plans. There is needed to re-look to resurvey and reclassify the land records and data collection
mechanism at the grass root level.

2. The exploratory DSS and its importance in data integration and analysis in LUP processes to provide answers for
how, where, and when to grow different crops to enhance food production in the country.

3. Drought-prone areas need a sound land use plan to effectively utilize the limited biophysical resources. There is a
need for proper integration for a holistic outlook and the creation of a homogeneous drought management unit in the
land use methodology.

4. LUP is either prescriptive or exploratory at the regional (state/ district) level, which provides a window for
development options while LUP becomes increasingly participatory at the village and watershed level advocating
certain land uses in the region and taking care of the self-interest of the landholder.

b. Policy options

1. Land use planning has geographical aspects like geology, soils, climate, and socio-economic aspects, which need
to be synchronized in data integration processes. Land resources should be utilized as per their ecological capability.

2. State Land Use Boards have to be made more active and effective in the land use planning processes at the state
level in general, and agricultural plans.

3. Various policies and their importance in forest management and conservation, any LUP should have harmony
among the forest, agriculture and environment, which is possible through an integrated approach to achieve the
ecological security of the country.

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4. The district-level land use plans are good enough to capture the intra-district and inter-regional variability in
resource availability. LUP should also address the issues of Carbon fixation through different systems. Carbon
credits should be linked with incentives to make it remunerative. Land use in general and land use planning, in
particular, is closely linked to land tenure, land title, land rights land lease issues etc.

5. Delineation of core Rain fed Agro-economic Zones (RAEZs): In rain-fed agriculture, complex scenarios/issues
call for a shift in the present research and development paradigm to an entirely new target domain approach
delineating core rain-fed crop zones into ‘Rainfed Agro Economic Zones’. Here, the rain fed farmers’ livelihoods
improvement and sustaining the land resources would be focal, wherein all the issues related to production through
processing, profitability, improved livelihoods in harmony with conservation and maintenance of land resources in a
win-win situation is the strategy. Instead of individual and piecemeal interventions, the entire production system will
be targeted to develop as Rain fed Agro-Economic Zones (RAEZs) which would act as hubs of rainfed agriculture
development.

c. Legal options –

1. In view of land use, which was perceived as a matter of local concern, has become a matter of national concern
and therefore it’s as enshrined in the constitution every person has the right to own land.

Benefits of land conservation

 Reducing air and water pollution

 Preserving open and green spaces
 Preserving fish and wildlife habitats, endangered species, and biodiversity
 Managing and protecting watersheds and wetlands
 Maintaining scenic landscapes and recreational amenities
 Preventing soil erosion and improving soil quality
 Reducing the negative impacts of flooding
 Improving resilience to drought and invasive species
 Helping to sequester greenhouse gases
 Protecting sustainable capacities to produce food and fibre
 Limit fragmentation or parcelization

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