Humans and the environment

04.27.2020
09:02:13
Biology/ grade 10- Today’s topic-Conservation- course book - pages 307 to 309.
The topics include sustainable resources, recycling of glass, plastics, paper and metals.

Main points-
Sustainable resource: is one that is produced as rapidly as it is removed from the environment so that it does not run out.

Sustainable development: is development providing for the needs of an increasing human population without harming the environment.



Non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels need to be conserved because the stocks of them on the planet are finite.

It can be conserved in the following ways:

By increasing the use of renewable energy (wind energy, solar energy, hydroelectric power).
By improving the efficiency of energy use (better insulation, smaller car engines, more public transport).


Sustaining forest and fish stocks:

Some resources, such as forests and fish stocks can be maintained with careful management.
This may involve replant land with new seedlings as mature trees are felled and controlling the activities of fishermen operating where fish stocks are being depleted.
There are three main ways of sustaining the numbers of key species. These are:

1) Education
Local communities need to be educated about the need for conservation. One they understand its importance, the environment they live in is more likely to be cared for and the species in it protected.

2) Legal quotas
In Europe the Common Fisheries Policy is used to set quotas for fishing, to manage fish stocks and help protect species that were becoming endangered through overfishing.
Quotas were set for each species of fish taken commercially and also for the size f fish. This was to allow fish to reach breeding age and maintain or increase their populations.

3) Restocking
Where populations of a fish species are in decline, their numbers may be conserved by a restocking programme.
This involves breeding fish in captivity, then releasing them into the wild.
However, the reasons for the decline in numbers need to be identified first.
if pollution was the cause of the decline, the restocked fish will die as well, issue of pollution needs to be addressed first.


Recycling:
Products such as paper, glass, plastic and metal can be reused or recycled.

No homework.