New Creative Science and Environment Book 7

i. World Wildlife Fund 247

WWF is the leading organization in
wildlife conservation and the protection of
endangered species. It is an international
non-governmental organization. It is working
on issues regarding conservation, research
and restoration of the environment. It is the
world’s largest independent conservation
organization. It was founded on 29 April,
1961. Its head office is in Switzerland.

ii. International Union for Conservation of Nature

It was founded in 1948. It is the world’s
first global environmental organization.
Its headquarters is located in Gland, near
Geneva, in Switzerland. It is a neutral forum
for governments, NGOs, scientists, business
men and local communities to find practical
solutions to conservation and development
challenges.

iii. National Trust for Nature Conservation

NTNC was established in 1982. For over two
decades, the trust has successfully undertaken
over 200 small and large projects on natural
conservation, biodiversity as well as cultural
heritage. It is working for natural protection,
ecotourism and sustainable development.
The trust has also started work on urban
environmental conservation with the Bagmati
River conservation project.

iv. United Nations Environment programme

It is an international institution. It coordinates
the United Nation’s environmental
activities, assisting developing countries in
implementing environmentally sound polices
and practices. It was founded as a result of the
United Nations conference on the Human and
environment in June, 1972. Its headquarters is
in Kenya. It has six regional offices.

Environmental Derg adation and Its Conservation

Visit a near-by environmental organization and collect information about
the activities being performed by the organization.

1. List any four causes of deforestation.
Ü Four causes of deforestation are:

i) To expand agricultural land.
ii) To get fire wood, timber and fodder.
iii) To exploit mineral resources present in the forest.
iv) Development work like construction of roads, canals, bridges, etc.

2. What is a volcano? Draw a diagram of a volcano.
Ü A volcano is an eruption of hot magma along with

gases into the earth surface.

3. Name any four non-governmental agencies which are involved in
environmental conservation.

Ü The four non-governmental agencies are
a. World wildlife fund (WWF).
b. International union for conservation of nature.
c. National trust for Nature conservation.
d. United Nation Environment program.

F Environment means the surrounding that includes physical, biological
and sociocultural activities.

F Deforestation means cutting down trees in large numbers.
F Urbanization can be classified as planned and unplanned urbanization.
F Vegetation includes herbs, shrubs and trees.
F Diesel, kerosene, coal, fire wood, sun are some of the sources of energy.
F Land is the solid surface of the earth.

248 New Creative Science and Environment; Book 7

F minerals are metallic or non-metallic substances found on land.

F A sudden lateral or vertical movement of rocks along a rupture surface
causes an earthquake.

F Volcanic activities frequently occur at the boundaries of the earth’s
surface.

F Sanitation simply means the process of cleaning the surrounding.

F Sanitation can be done by reusing, recycling and reducing materials
needed in our day to day life.

A. Fill in the blanks.
a. Deforestation means cutting down __________ in a large number.

a. animals b. grasses

c. trees d. crops

b. Land is needed for ____________

a. washing b. drinking

c. cultivation d. none

c. An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of ______________.

a. pressure b. energy

c. force d. shaking

d. A volcanic eruption frequently occurs at the boundaries of the earth’s
tectonic _________

a. part b. plates

c. layers d. surface

e. WWF was established in ____________

a. 1861 b. 1961

c. 1761 d. 1862

f. __________ is the world’s first global environmental organization.

a. WWF b. UNEP

c. NINC d. GEF

249

B Short answer questions :

a. Define environmental degradation.

b. What do you mean by industrialization?

c. What does environmental sanitation mean?

d. List out causes of deforestation.

e. How is environment affected by urbanization?

C. Write a short note on:

(a) Air (b) WWF
(c) Minerals (d) UNEP
(e) Vegetation (vi) NINC

D. Long answer question.
a. List out the agencies and organizations involved in environmental
conservation.
b. Explain the environmental sanitation in detail.
c. Describe the causes and effects of an earthquake and a volcano.
d. What are the effects of deforestation? List them out in points.
e. Discuss the local efforts on environmental conservation.

sanitation : cleaning
habitat : the place where animals and plants live
conservation : saving

250 New Creative Science and Environment; Book 7

23 Environment and Sustainable
Development

After completing this unit, the students will be able to:
Æ explain the concept of development.
Æ describe the concept of sustainable development.
Æ list the efforts for sustainable development in Nepal.
Æ explain the nature friendly development.

Concept of Development

Development is the systematic use of scientific and technical knowledge to
meet specific objectives or requirements. It is the process of economic and social
transformation. Development is a positive change. It contributes to mobilize and
manage resources. It greatly helps to improve the quality of life. It is related to
the economic development of a nation. Many people get jobs when development
activities are conducted. Such employed people are independent. They can easily
fulfill their needs. As a result they have a standard life.

Development and Environment

Environment and development are two sides of the same coin. They
are closely interrelated to each other. Development activities are conducted
with the help of environmental resources. Water resource, mineral resource,
forest resource, land resource are needed to carry out any kind of physical
infrastructure development. Whatever materials are utilized in development
work, they all are obtained form the environment. In that sense, we can say that
development is impossible without environmental resources. It should be noted
that development activities are conducted in the environment. We build houses
on land. We construct roads on land and so on.

Development plays an important role in the conservation of environmental
resources. For example, Gabion Wall, Masonary Wall etc. prevent landslides and
soil erosion. Afforestation maintains greenery, natural process and the quality of
natural resources. The construction of reservoirs reduces the chances of floods.

Environment and Ssu tainalb e Developm ent 251

Whenever people conduct development work, environment is affected.
When we construct roads, we have to change geographical structure of the place
and we may have to cut down trees. Despite that, development activities should
be implemented in such a way so that there is a minimum adverse effects on the
nature or environment.

List the natural resources used to construct your house. Is it possible to
construct your house if there is absence of the resources?

Concept of Sustainable Development

Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the
present generation without compromising the ability of future generation to meet
their own needs. Sustainable development fulfills the needs of the present as well
as the future generation. The General Assembly of the United Nations in 1983 had
formed Brundtland commission. It is chaired by the primeminister of Norway.
The commission published a report named “Our common future in 1987”. The
concept of sustainable development was coined by that report. Sustainable
development is the long lasting development. It aims for a long period of time.
It suggests people about the proper use of resources. This development changes
knowledge, skills and the vision of people.

Efforts for Sustainable Development in Nepal

Sustainable development fulfills the needs of the present as well as the
future generation. Many sustainable practises are being introduced by different
organizations in Nepal. Government agencies, non-government agencies and

252 New Creative Science and Environment; Book 7

local organizations are contributing to sustainable development in Nepal. Some
of the sustainable practices are:

• Plantation/Afforestation
• Awareness about the importance of natural resources
• Providing environment education from school to university levels.
• Development of the concept of ecotourism.
• Establishment of community forest programmes
• Application of bioengineering while performing development work
• Establishment of protected areas

Environment and Ssu tainalb e Develomp ent 253

Nature Friendly Development

Development work is to be performed with time and population growth.
Buildings houses roads, electric transmission lines, dams, hospitals, schools,
halls etc. are to be constructed with population growth. If we observe our
surrounding we can find that the number of houses, roads are increasing . It
is unstoppable. But we should conduct development work nature friendly.
Here, nature friendly development work means the development work that is
performed without causing adverse effects on the environment. It is not possible
to conduct development work without disturbing the environment. We can
just minimize the adverse effects. For example, if we have to construct a road,
it changes land forms. We may have to cut down trees. We may affect water
resources. In such a case, we should adopt the measures through which adverse
effects can be minimized. We should pay attention to the following matters to
make development nature-friendly.

a. Reduce air pollution

When we establish industries, or run vehicles, gases are released into the
atmosphere. So, industries should be established far away from the residential
areas. Clean energy should be used. Machinery equipment should be kept in
good conditions. Old vehicles should be banned. Afforestation programmes
should be done.

b. Reduce water pollution

Water resource is polluted with development work or urbanization. People
mix industrial waste water and drainage into water bodies directly. They dump
solid waste near water resources. They use excessive amount of chemicals in
agricultural land. Such activities should be controlled. Waste water should be
treated well. Only then it should be mixed into water resources. Solid waste
should be managed properly in landfill sites or energy should be generated from
such waste.

c. Reduce land pollution

Land is polluted due to human activities such as the excessive use of
chemical fertilizers in agricultural land, releasing waste water directly into land,
dumping solid waste randomly, etc. Such human activities need to be controlled.
Organic farming should be promoted. Chemical fertilizers should be used in a
scientific way. The productivity of land should be maintained.

254 New Creative Science and Environment; Book 7

Observe development activities being performed in your locality. Identify
sustainable development activities among them. Give a logical answer why
they are sustainable.

1. Define sustainable development?
Ü Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the

present generation without hampering the future generation to meet their
own needs.
2. What is nature friendly development?
Ü The development work which is carried out without harming the
environment is called nature friendly development.
3. What is Brundtland commission?
Ü The general assembly of United Nation in 1983 had formed a committee
chaired by primeminister of Norway is called Brundtland commission.

F Development is the systematic use of scientific and technical knowledge
to meet specific objectives or requirements.

F Environment and development are the two sides of the same coin.
F Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of

present generation without compromising the ability of future generation
to meet their own needs.
F Ecotourism is an example of sustainable development
F Nature friendly development work means the development activities
which are conducted in such a way so that there is no adverse effects on
the environment.
F The General Assembly of the United Nations in 1983 had formed
Brundfland Commission.

Environment and Sus tainabl e Developm ent 255

A. Fill in the blanks.

a. Many people get ______________ when development activities are

carried out.

a. Jobs b. Unemployment

c. Employment d. All

b. We build our houses on _____________

a. land b. water

c. air d. sky

c. Brundtland commission published a report named

a. Our future b. Common future

c. Sustainable future d. Our common future

d. Sustainable development fulfills needs of _____________ as well as

future generation.

a. future b. past

c. present d. all

e. In _____________ Brundfland Commission had formed.

a. 1883 b. 1983

c. 1993 d. 1963

B Answer the questions.

a. What is development?

b. Define sustainable development
c. What do you mean by nature friendly development?

d. How are development and environment interrelated?

e. Discuss on efforts for sustainable development in Nepal.
f. How can nature friendly development work be performed?
g. What are the sustainable activities being performed in Nepal?

Acid rain : rain that contains dilute acids.
over use
Exploit : More than acceptable limit
Large ocean wave
Excessive : mixture of fog and harmful smoke
Environment friendly tourism
Tsunami :

Smog :

Ecotourism :

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