Modern Concept Science and Technology 7

Modern Concept Science and Environment - 7 292393

FACT WITH REASON

Watersheds are very important for preventing depletion of groundwater. Give reason.
Watersheds absorb water during rainy season. Destruction of watersheds will cause more
amount of runoff and decrease in ground water level. Thus, watersheds are very important
for preventing depletion of groundwater.

Conservation of watershed
Humans meet most of their demands by exploring the resources of watershed. But,
regular and overuse of resources is destroying the watershed areas day by day.
Different types of human activities like deforestation, pavement tiling, water pollution,
urbanization etc. has affected watersheds badly. Therefore, conservation of watershed
is necessary. Some of the ways to conserve watersheds are:

i) Government should declare special watershed areas as protected areas.

ii) Deforestation should be stopped and afforestation should be encouraged.

iii) Plotting cultivable land and turning into settlement areas should be stopped.

iv) Awareness raising programs should be conducted.

v) Water pollution should be controlled.

vi) Drainage should be built in urban areas.

vii) Houses should have places for draining water properly.

Wetlands

Wetlands are the areas filled with water temporarily or throughout the year which
grows aquatic plants, shrubs or trees. In simple words, wetlands are marshy or
swampy areas of land with moist soil or soil covered with water. All the sources of
water cannot be considered as wetland.

Nepal has 242 wetlands among which 163 wetlands Ghodaghodi wetland, Kailali
are in Terai and 79 wetlands are in the hills and
mountains of Nepal. 18 wetlands of our country are
listed as Ramsar sites. Some of these Ramsar sites
are: Phewa lake, Begnas lake, Rupa lake, Dipang
lake, Koshi Tappu, Gosaikunda, Ghodaghodi of
Kailali, Maipokhari of Ilam etc.

Importance of Wetlands

Wetlands are not only important for animals and plants, but they are very important
for humans as well. Below are some of the major importance of wetlands.

i) Wetlands are the homes of many plants and animals.

294 Environment and its Balance

ii) The plants in the wetlands give us food and medicines.
iii) Animals found in the wetlands like fishes provide food for us.
iv) Wetlands are the sources of water for domestic purpose, industrial processes,

hydroelectricity, irrigation etc.
v) They attract tourists and produce national income.
vi) Wetlands control flood by storing excess flood water.
vii) Wetlands maintain natural environment and beauty of the place.

ACTIVITY 4

Visit a nearby wetland and list the names of four major animals, birds and plants
each found in that wetland.

22.4 Elements of Environment

Everything that surrounds us is the environment. These things can be artificial/
natural or living/non-living. The natural environment is made up of various living
and non-living components. Living components include plants and animals. Living
components are called biotic components. Non-living components include air, water,
sunlight, soil, etc. They are also called abiotic components.

Abiotic Components

The non-living components of the environment

are known as abiotic components. It includes Air Light
air, water, land, sunlight, etc. Some of the major Wind Temperature
abiotic components are given below:

a) Air Gases

Air is the mixture of gases. It is composed

of 78.08% of nitrogen, 20.95% of oxygen,

0.095% of inert gases, 0.03% of carbon Water

dioxide and 0.02% of other gases.

Nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide are

the three main gases which are important Abiotic components

for the living organisms. Oxygen is the most important gas for living beings

because it is needed by the body for respiration. Similarly, carbon dioxide is

required by plants for photosynthesis and nitrogen is essential for the growth

of the plants. But, air pollution is degrading the quality of air day by day. The

amount of carbon dioxide, methane and other harmful gases are increasing in

the air. Remember that carbon dioxide is important to the plants for making

food. But, if the amount of carbon dioxide in the air is increased, it is harmful for

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the earth. Air pollution causes different health problems in human. The gases
that the vehicles, industries and factories produce cause diseases like asthma,
bronchitis, lung cancer etc. in humans.
b) Water
Water is the most important element of environment. About three-fourth of the
earth’s surface is covered by water alone. All living beings need water for their
existence. About 60%-70% of the human body is made up of water. Water helps
to transport food materials to all parts of living beings. It is also the habitat of
different aquatic animals and plants. The mixing of unwanted substances in water
like garbage, plastics, dung, soap etc. causes water pollution. Water pollution
affects the survival of living organisms. It also causes various diseases to humans.
So, water should be made free of pollution and also should be conserved.
c) Land
Land is the solid part of the earth’s surface that is not covered by water. It is
made up of soil and rocks. Soil and rocks are made up of different minerals. It is
also an important abiotic element of the environment. Land is the source of
nutrients for the living beings. Plants absorb minerals and water from land.
Land is also the home for plants and all terrestrial organisms. Throwing garbage,
use of fertilizers and insecticides etc. pollute the land. The fertility of the land is
destroyed due to pollution. Thus, the productivity is also lost. Therefore, land
pollution should be controlled.

FACT WITH REASON

Why is land called an abiotic component of environment?
Land is non-living matter so it is called abiotic component of environment.

Biotic Components

Living components of the environment are Hawk Fox
Snake
known as biotic components. It includes

plants, animals and microorganisms. Tarantula Scorpion Lizard

There are three types of biotic components:

producers (plants), consumers (animals)

and decomposers (microorganisms).

a) Producers Insects Lizard Rodents
Producers are the green plants of the

environment that can prepare their

own food by themselves. They are Biotic components
also known as autotrophs. Producers

have chlorophyll (green coloured pigments) in their leaves. The chlorophyll

296 Environment and its Balance

absorbs sunlight and makes food. The raw materials that green plants use to
make food are carbon dioxide, water and minerals. The process of food making
by plants is called photosynthesis. Producers are eaten by consumers. The
only way that consumers get food is from the producers. All green plants are
producers. Non-green plants are not producers.
b) Consumers
Consumers are the animals that depend upon producers either directly or
indirectly for their food. They cannot prepare their own food and therefore
known as heterotrophs. Consumers are divided into three levels. They are
primary consumers, secondary consumers and tertiary consumers.
i. Primary consumers: Primary consumers are those animals that directly feed

on producers. They are herbivores. Examples are goat, horse, deer, rabbit, etc.
ii. Secondary consumers: Animals that feed on primary consumers are called

secondary consumers. They are carnivores. Examples are snake, leopard,
fox, fish, etc.
i. Tertiary consumers: Animals that feed on secondary consumers are
called tertiary consumers. Examples are lion, tiger, leopard, eagle, whale
etc. They are also carnivores. Consumers like human, crow, etc. eat both
producers and consumers. They are also called omnivores.

FACT WITH REASON

Without producers, no consumers live. Give reason.
Producers are the only organisms that can prepare food. Consumers get food from the producers.
Without food, no consumers can live. Therefore, consumers cannot be alive without producers.

c) Decomposers
The organisms that feed on dead and decayed organic matter are called

decomposers. Fungi and bacteria are the examples of decomposers. Decomposers
feed on dead and decayed matter and convert them into simpler substances.
These simpler substances get mixed in the soil and now act as nutrients for
the plants. Plants absorb the nutrients for their growth and development.
Without decomposers, no living organisms can decompose easily. Therefore,
decomposers are most important living organisms for recycling of nutrients in
the environment.

FACT WITH REASON

Why are decomposers also called nutrient recyclers?
Decomposers are called nutrient recyclers because they break down complex materials from
dead body into simpler materials and mix in environment.

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Differences between producers and consumers.

S.N. Producer S.N. Consumer

1 Producers are the green plants of the 1 Consumers are the animals that

environment that can prepare their depend upon producers directly or

own food by themselves. indirectly for their food.

2 Producers have large amount of food 2 Consumers have fewer amounts of

and energy. Example: green plants. food and energy. Example: animals.

ACTIVITY 5

Visit a grassland in your surrounding. Categorize the plants and animals found there in
terms of producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers and tertiary consumers.

22.5 Human and Environment

Human is a member of the environment. Humans gets oxygen, food and shelter
from plants. They receive water from different sources like well, tube well, tap, river
etc. Humans perform development activities on the earth. They tame animals and
grow crops on land. They are capable of producing energy from different sources like
water, fossil fuels, sun, wind etc. We use medicinal herbs from forests to manufacture
medicines. Medicines cure diseases. But, while doing development activities, humans
are degrading the environment and over exploiting the natural resources.

Effects of human activities on Environment

We are continuously exploiting the environmental resources to meet our needs and
demands. Also, our activities are increasing environmental pollution. We throw
garbage, vegetable wastes, waste water, etc. on land and in water. Our industries,
factories and vehicles add smoke and harmful chemicals to the air every day. We
humans are using fertilizers, insecticides and chemicals in excessive manner. Our
cities have been excessively urbanized and industrialized. The rate of deforestation is
also higher. Due to these various activities, the environment is degrading day by day.
Thus, we can say that human beings are responsible for disturbing the balance in the
environment.

Effects of Environmental Degradation in Humans

The activities of humans degrade the environment and cause various environmental
problems. In turn, humans themselves also get affected. Some of the effects of
environmental degradation in humans are mentioned below:

a) The air around us becomes unfit for breathing. It causes various diseases.

b) Our water sources become polluted and unfit for drinking, bathing, washing etc.

298 Environment and its Balance

c) Due to land pollution, the productivity of crops decrease.
d) Due to the overuse of natural resources, energy crisis may occur in the future.
e) Natural disasters occur more frequently and devastatingly.
f) The aquatic life is killed. This affects us directly.
g) Human should face environmental problems like climate change, global

warming, Glacier Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF), ozone layer depletion etc. It
might someday kill us all.

Role of Humans to Conserve Environment

If humans can degrade the environment, they can also conserve the environment.
Human beings meet their needs and demands from the environment. Therefore,
conserving the environment and its resources is very important. It is also the
responsibility of humans to conserve these resources. Some of the ways to conserve
the environment are:
a) Controlling deforestation and encouraging afforestation and reforestation.
b) Controlling air, water and land pollution. Pollutants should be reduced. The

concept of reduce, reuse and recycle should be adopted. Vehicles and industries
which cause more pollution should be banned.
c) We should not use chemical fertilizers and insecticides. Instead, we can use
organic substances as fertilizers and insecticides.
d) Awareness should be raised in people about the importance of environmental
conservation.

STEPS EXERCISE

STEP 1

1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.
a) ……………….. and ……………….. national parks are enlisted by the
UNESCO as world heritages.

b) ……………….. conservation area is famous for its diversity of
rhododendron.

c) Marshy, swampy or other area of land with moist soil or soil covered with
water is called ………………..

d) Jagdishpur Reservoir of ……………….. district of Nepal is a Ramsar Site.

e) ……………….. body is composed of 65% of water.

f) Producers are also known as ………………..

g) Animals that feed on primary consumers are called ………………..
consumers.

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2. Write True for the correct and False for the incorrect statements.
a) Fossil fuel is a renewable natural resource.
b) Chitwan National Park is the first national park of Nepal enlisted by the
UNESCO as a world heritage site.
c) Red panda is found in Langtang national park.
d) Annapurna Conservation Area is the largest conservation area of the
country.
e) Water is a biotic component of the environment.
f) Bacteria are examples of decomposer. .

3. Match the following.
a) Perpetual i) Abiotic component
b) Air ii) Biotic component
c) Non-renewable iii) Sunlight
d) Shey Phoksundo N.P. iv) Fossil fuels
e) Animals v) Largest national park

STEP 2

4. Answer the following questions in one word.
a) Which one is the oldest national park of Nepal?
b) Which one is the smallest national park of Nepal?
c) How many wetlands are listed as Ramsar sites in Nepal?
d) What kind of consumer is tiger?
e) What are the small channels in a watershed called?

5. Write any two differences between:
a) Renewable resources and non-renewable resources
b) National parks and conservation areas
c) Abiotic components and biotic components
d) Autotrophs and heterotrophs
e) Primary consumers and secondary consumers

6. Give reasons.
a) Sunlight is a perpetual natural resource.
b) Grass is an example of renewable resource.
c) Minerals and fuels should be used wisely.

300 Environment and its Balance

d) Government declares protected areas.
e) Nepal is rich in water resources.
f) Land is called an abiotic component of environment.
g) Decomposers are also called nutrient recyclers.

7. Complete the table below:

Protected Areas Area Date of establishment/ District/s

(sq.km) Listed in UNSECO/Ramsar

a. Chitwan N.P.

b. Sagarmatha N.P.

c. Langtang N.P.

d. Parsa N.P.

e. Annapurna C.A.

f. Manaslu C.A.

g. Koshi Tappu W.L.R.

STEP 3

8. Answer the following questions
a) What are renewable and non-renewable natural resources? Mention any
four importance of natural resources.
b) What is a national park? List the names of national parks, wild life reserves
and conservation areas in Nepal.
c) Name the four major watersheds (river basins) of Nepal.
d) Define a wetland. Write the name of few wetlands in Nepal that are listed
as Ramsar sites.
e) Explain the role of abiotic components in the environment.
f) What are producers, consumers and decomposers?
g) What is a national park? Write in short about Chitwan national park.
h) What is a conservation area? Explain in short about Kanchenjunga
conservation area.
i) Describe the role of human beings in conservation of environment.

9. Draw a map of Nepal showing the location of 12 national parks.

UNIT Estimated teaching periods TheoMryoderPnraCcotniccaepl t Science and Environment - 7 303101
12 3

23 Environmental Degradation and its
Conservation

Syllabus issued by CDC Volcano

 Introduction to environmental degradation and conservation
 Deforestation and its effects
 Urbanization and industrialization
 Degradation of natural resources and its effects
 Natural disasters (earthquake and volcano)
 Environmental sanitation
 Local efforts on environmental conservation
 Organizations and agencies involved in environmental conservation

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this unit, students will be able to:
 explain the causes of deforestation.
 describe the degradation of natural resources and explain its effects on the environment.
 explain the effects of natural disasters (earthquake and volcano eruption) and

describe preventive measures of those disasters.
 demonstrate knowledge regarding three aspects of environmental sanitation, viz.

reduce, reuse and recycle and apply them.
 explain the local and national efforts on environmental conservation.

Key terms and terminologies of the unit

1. Environment: Everything that is around us and that can influence us is

called environment.

2. Environmental degradation: Environmental degradation is the destruction of the

resources of the environment like water, air, land,

forest, landforms, wildlife etc.

3. Deforestation: The process of loss or removal of trees from forested

area is called deforestation.

4. Urbanization: Urbanization is the process of development of rural

areas into urban areas.

5. Industrialization: Industrialization is the process of mass production of

goods or services using raw materials.

6. Natural Disaster: A sudden violent destructive activity caused by nature that

destructs life and property is called a natural disaster.

302 EnvironmentalDegradationanditsConservation

7. Earthquake: An earthquake is a violent shaking of the Earth’s crust.

8. Focus or hypocentre: The point inside the earth’s crust from where the earthquake
originates is called focus or hypocentre.

9. Epicentre: The point on the surface of the earth just above the hypocentre
is called epicentre.

10. Volcano: A volcano is an opening on the earth’s surface or under water
that ejects hot molten material.

11. Reduce: Reduce means to decrease the amount of waste.

12. Reuse: Reuse means use of same material again and again.

13. Recycle: Recycle means change or modification of the wastes into new
ones.

23.1 Introduction

Everything that is around us is called environment. It is made up of both living and
non-living components. A natural environment is composed of abiotic and biotic
components. When any of the abiotic and biotic components of the environment get
disturbed, the environment is said to be degraded. Environmental degradation is the
deterioration of quality of the resources of the environment like water, air, land, forest,
landforms, wildlife, etc. due to the natural or human activities.

Both natural and human-activities are responsible for degradation of the environment.
But, human activities are the main causes. Some of the natural activities that degrade
the environment are earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, landslides, forest fires etc. Flood,
landslide and forest fires are also caused due to human activities. The human activities
that degrade the environment are deforestation, hunting and poaching of wildlife, over
exploitation of plants and animals, industrial activities, emissions from vehicles, solid
waste, industrial wastes, excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides etc. All
these activities are conducted by humans to meet their needs and fulfil their demands.
These human activities either deplete the natural resources or degrade their quality.

Some of the major human causes that are responsible for degradation of the
environment are briefly discussed below.

Deforestation

The process of permanent loss or removal of trees from
forested area is called deforestation. Since the global
population is increasing day by day, human needs also
are growing. Humans destroy the forest to build houses
and for fulfilling energy needs. Globally, deforestation

Deforestation

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is taking place rapidly. Dense rain forests of our earth are being destroyed in the name
of development. Deforestation is a common environmental problem in developing
countries. In Nepal, forest covers about 29% of total land area.

FACT WITH REASON

Deforestation is the main cause of environment degradation. Give a reason.
Deforestation is the main cause of environment degradation because deforestation causes
barren eroded land, dried spring and river, hot air, disturbed water cycle etc.

Causes of Deforestation
There are many causes of deforestation. Some of the major causes are listed below:
i) Deforestation is done to obtain fuel wood, fodder and timber for domestic

purposes.
ii) Deforestation is done for settlement purposes.
iii) Deforestation is done to get timber for sawmills and other wood processing

industries.
iv) It is done to obtain raw materials that are needed for making medicines, food,

clothing, paper, etc.
v) It is done for expansion of urban areas.
vi) It is done for the development works like construction of industries and factories,

hydropower stations, roads, bridge etc.
vii) It is done for the extraction of minerals by mining.
viii) It happens due to natural or human induced forest fires.
ix) It is happened due to natural disasters like landslides, floods etc.
x) It is done due to overgrazing of trees, saplings and grass by cattle.
Effects of Deforestation
Deforestation disturbs all these natural processes and causes various effects. Some of
the major effects of deforestation are:
i) Deforestation causes the loss of wildlife, plants and their habitat.
ii) It causes the loss of biodiversity.
iii) Deforestation increase the temperature of the surrounding places.
iv) Deforestation increases the chances of occurrence of natural disasters like

landslide, flood, desertification etc.
v) Due to deforestation, surface water and ground water dries up which affects the

water cycle.
vi) Increment of the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leads to greenhouse

effect and global warming.

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All of the above mentioned effects of deforestation threaten the survival of life on
the earth. Therefore, conservation of forest is the most important step to reduce
deforestation as well as to be safe from their effects. Conservation of forest is also the
main step to reduce the environmental degradation.

Urbanization

Urbanization is the process of development of

rural areas into urban areas. Urbanization is

another cause of degradation of the environment.

Unplanned urbanization leads to deforestation of

forest, occupation of land near water resources,

loss of open spaces, loss of fertile land, excessive

use of water resources etc. Therefore, while

planning urbanization, we should also consider Urbanization

the damage it does to the environment. Development activities which are carried out

by damaging the environment are of no use.

Industrialization

Industrialization is the process of mass production

of substances from raw materials. The goods and

services that we use in our daily life are produced

by industries. The clothes we wear, the electronic

goods, the machines etc. are manufactured in

an industry. Industries require large amount of

fuel and raw materials for its operation. The raw

materials are the basic substances from which

products are made. While producing goods, Industrialization

industries harm the environment. They emit harmful gases, produce large quantity of

waste and garbage that pollute air, land and water bodies. In this way, industrialization

is also one of the major sources of degradation of the natural environment.

Differences between industrialization and urbanization.

S.N. Industrialization S.N. Urbanization

1 Industrialization is the process of 1 Urbanization is the process of

mass production of substances from development of rural areas into

raw materials. urban areas.

2 Industrialization helps to supply 2 Urbanization gives easy access to

necessary products for consumers facilities for people.

(people).

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FACT WITH REASON

Alternative sources of energy should be encouraged for use, why?
Alternative or other source of energy should be encouraged for use because current fossil fuel is
going to finish one day and cannot be renewed again. They are also polluting the environment.

23.2 Degradation of Natural Resources and Its Effects

Environment is being degraded by the activities of human. Those activities are either
due to over exploitation of natural resources or due to pollution. Natural resources
like air, water, land, plants, animals, minerals etc. are degraded already. Forests
are deforested, minerals are extracted and lands are left barren. The food we eat is
polluted by very high amounts of insecticides and fertilizers.

Some of the natural resources and effects of their degradation are given below:

a) Vegetation

Vegetation is the important natural resource for us. We get food, fabrics, medicines,
timber, fodder, fuel woods etc. from the vegetation. Plant based industries like wood
processing industries, pharmaceutical industries, paper industries, fabric industries
etc. exploit large quantity of vegetation like trees, herbs and shrubs. We over use plants
for grass and fodder for cattle. We also use fuel wood and timber. Such activities
deplete vegetation in such a way that they do not get time to renew. Some of the
effects of destruction of vegetation are:

i) It disturbs the natural composition of air by decreasing oxygen and
increasing carbon dioxide.

ii) It may cause the extinction of certain plants.
iii) It results in the loss of habitat of wildlife and microorganisms.
iv) It triggers natural disasters like landslide, flood, etc.
v) It converts forests or grasslands into open barren land.
vi) It disturbs food cycle in the natural environment and cause imbalance in

environment.

b) Animals

Animals are also the important resource for human beings. Animal resources include
wildlife, domestic animals, birds, insects, fishes and other living creatures. They give
us food in the form of meat and eggs. The body parts of animals like leather, fur,
bones etc. are used in industries and factories for manufacturing. Some animals like
camel, horse, bull etc. are used in transportation and agriculture. Different animals
have different uses. But, we are depending on the animals more than before for food.
This has increased a number of animal slaughters and killings. If more animals are

306 EnvironmentalDegradationanditsConservation

killed, the nature gets unbalanced. Humans also hunt and poach wildlife to get their
valuable body parts. These activities of humans have affected the food chains in
ecosystem. If this continues, then many animals can go extinct.

c) Air

Air contains oxygen which is a life supporting MEMORY PLUS
gas. All living beings need oxygen for respiration. Air pollution is the  fourth largest
Air also contains gases like nitrogen and carbon threat to human health, behind high
dioxide. Nitrogen helps in the growth of the plants. blood pressure, risks from unhealthy
Similarly, carbon dioxide is used up by the plants food and smoking.

for photosynthesis. But, the air pollution caused by human activities is degrading

the quality of air. The production of harmful gases from industries and vehicles has

polluted air to a large extent. Such harmful gases include carbon dioxide, carbon

monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides etc. Polluted air is also responsible for

many effects like climate change, greenhouse effect, acid rain etc.

d) Water

Water is another important natural resource. All living beings need water for survival.
Humans use water for drinking, cleaning, bathing, irrigation, producing electricity
and for recreation. Activities such as dumping garbage, draining sewage, mixing
industrial wastes etc. into rivers, lakes and ponds has caused water pollution. Using
polluted water for drinking and domestic works can cause various water borne
diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, jaundice, typhoid, skin diseases etc. It also affects
the growth and development of aquatic plants and animals. Water is also polluted
by insecticides and factory made fertilizers. These chemicals increase the number of
unwanted plants in agricultural land. They consume all the oxygen from water and
affect the growth of other important plants and animals. Thus, it kills fish and other
aquatic animals and disturbs the ecosystem.

FACT WITH REASON

Water should be purified before drinking, why?
Water should be purified before drinking so that bacteria and chemicals collected by water
are removed.

e) Land

We live on the land. Land is the home to terrestrial animals and plants. It is the source
of nutrients for plants. Apart from living, humans use land for agriculture, setting up
industries, building infrastructures, extraction of minerals etc. Human activities like
dumping of waste, unplanned construction, use of pesticides and insecticides etc. has
degraded the quality of soil and has caused land pollution. Polluted land threatens
the health and survival of humans as well as plants and other animals.

Modern Concept Science and Environment - 7 303707

f) Fossil fuels

Fossil fuels like coal, petroleum products and natural gases are the most important
resources for the economic development of the country. These fuels are used for
running industries and factories, producing electricity, running vehicles, household
activities and so on. These are non-renewable natural resources. Our earth has fixed
deposit of these resources. Continuous and unwise use of these fuels can cause scarcity
of these fuels. Lack of fossil fuels can affect the economic growth and development of
a country. It may result into energy crisis. Therefore, these fuel resources should be
used wisely. The use of alternative sources of energy like solar energy, wind energy,
geo-thermal energy etc. should be encouraged.

g) Minerals

Minerals are also very important non-renewable resources. Minerals are either
metallic or non-metallic. They exist inside the earth’s crust freely or in combined state.
Uranium, iron, gold, copper, etc. are metallic minerals while silicon, phosphorus,
sulphur, diamond etc. are non-metallic minerals. Minerals occur in mines and have
fixed deposit. If we use them unwisely and haphazardly, they will finish one day.
Depletion of mines can affect the development process because we use minerals like
iron, copper, gold, nickel etc. for various industrial purposes. Absence of these useful
minerals can stop the development process. Therefore, minerals should be used
wisely.

ACTIVITY 2

Name some minerals that are present in your locality. Mention their names, state of
occurrence and their major uses.

23.3 Natural Disaster

A sudden violent destructive activity caused by nature that destructs life and property
is called a natural disaster. Earthquake, volcano, flood etc. are some of the examples of
natural disasters. Floods, landslides and droughts are the common natural disasters
caused due to human activities. Natural disasters can cause huge loss of life and
property in a very short time. This section briefly discusses the causes and effects of
two natural disasters: earthquake and volcano.

Earthquake

An earthquake is a violent shaking of the Earth’s Earthquake destroyed house
crust that may cause destruction to building and
other man made infrastructures. Earthquakes are
caused by the movement or breaking of earth plates
present inside the crust. The point inside the earth’s

308 EnvironmentalDegradationanditsConservation

crust from where the earthquake originates is called focus or hypocentre. Similarly,
the point on the surface of the earth just above the hypocentre is called epicentre. The
magnitude of earthquake is measured by an instrument called seismograph. It is
measured in Richter scale.

Earthquakes of 1990 B.S., 2045 B.S. and 2072 B.S. Fault scarp
are some of the major earthquakes of Nepal. These
earthquakes have destroyed many lives and property. Fault Epicenter
An earthquake which occurred in the Gorkha district Focus
of Nepal on Baisakh 12, 2072 was a very devastating
earthquake. Its magnitude was 7.6 Richter scale. It Hypocenter and epicenter
killed about 8,500 people, injured 16,033 people and
destroyed 416,359 houses.

Causes of earthquake
i) Movement of large rock masses below the earth’s crust (tectonic activities)

ii) Large scale landslides MEMORY PLUS
iii) Explosion of volcanoes The most powerful earthquake ever
iv) Testing of nuclear weapons recorded on Earth till 2017, was
v) Explosion of bombs during construction in Valdivia, Chile, in 1960. It had a
magnitude of 9.5 Richter scale.
activities

vi) Vibrations from heavily loaded vehicles, construction vibrators etc.

FACT WITH REASON

Open spaces are needed in home or in community, why?
Open spaces are needed in home or in community so that we can gather in such spaces
during natural disasters. In other times, children can have a place to play.

Effects of earthquake
1. Earthquake destroys life and property.
2. Earthquake destructs and damages infrastructures of development like

buildings, roads, bridges etc. and cause large economic loss.
3. It damages historical and cultural monuments.
4. It changes landscape of an area.
5. It can cause landslides and floods.
6. Earthquake under ocean may cause tsunami.
7. It disrupts water supply, gas pipeline, communication etc.

Modern Concept Science and Environment - 7 303909

Safety measures during earthquake
An earthquake cannot be prevented or controlled. But, we can minimize the damage
it does to life and property. Some of the safety measures that we should adopt during
an earthquake are:
1. Construction of earthquake resistant buildings and bridges.
2. Developing earthquake safety plans and practicing it regularly.
3. Leaving at least 30% open space while constructing houses.
4. Generating awareness among people regarding earthquake safety ways.
5. Hiding under strong furniture and door frames during an earthquake.
6. Avoiding running and jumping during an earthquake. If outside the building,

reaching to a safe place is important. If inside the building, we should remember
the three ways: Duck, Cover and Hold.

Volcano

A volcano is a naturally occurring opening on the Volcanic bombs Ash, steam and gas
earth’s surface which ejects hot lava, volcanic ash
and gases during explosion. It is also a type of Crater Secondary cones
natural disaster which destroys life and property. Main vent Secondary vent
Lava
How does volcano erupt? Magma chamber
Magma
The interior of the earth contains hot molten Volcano
material. When this material expands, it pushes
the loose part of the earth upwards. Due to this
pushing force, the hot molten material creates huge
pressure and ejects outward with an explosion.

The pressure of the ejected material converts a volcano into a dome shape. The hot
molten material which flows inside the volcano is called magma. The magma comes out
of the large opening. The mouth of the volcano is called the crater. The magma flows
outward through numerous cracks and underground path. These cracks and paths are
called vents. The hot molten magma that flows outside a volcanic mountain is called
lava. The lava solidifies into different types of rocks called igneous rocks.

FACT WITH REASON

Japan is called country of volcanoes.
Japan is called the country of volcanoes because it experiences a lot of volcanoes every year.

Effects of volcano

1. It causes adverse effects on human health from its toxic smoke and ashes.
2. It destroys infrastructures like buildings, roads, bridges etc.

310 EnvironmentalDegradationanditsConservation

3. It destroys forests and productive agricultural land.

4. A volcanic explosion may cause an earthquake. MEMORY PLUS
5. It pollutes air and water sources.
6. It affects flight of aeroplanes. The tallest volcano on the Earth
7. It also causes climate change. is Hawaii’s Mauna Kea, with an
elevation of 4,207 meters.

Differences between an earthquake and a volcano.

S.N. Earthquake S.N. Volcano
1 1
Earthquake is a violent shaking of A volcano is a naturally occurring
2 the Earth's crust that may cause 2 opening on the earth’s surface
destruction to buildings and other which ejects hot lava, volcanic
human made infrastructures. ash and gases during explosion.
Earthquake occurs due to the Volcano occurs due to the heat
movement of tectonic plates. present in the interior part of the
earth that flows outward through
cracks in the crust.

ACTIVITY 3

Prepare a page report on one of the earthquakes you or your family members have felt
in their lifetime. List its date of occurrence, epicentre, magnitude and effects on life and
property.

23.4 Environment Sanitation

Environment sanitation means maintaining clean and healthy surrounding that is
needed for a healthy life. Talking simply, it is the cleanliness of the environment. The
wastes produced by the human and their activities are responsible for environmental
degradation. Wastes like plastics, papers, scrap metals, unused clothes, food wastes,
waste water from kitchen and bathroom etc. degrade the sanitation status of the
environment. Therefore, we need to maintain environmental sanitation by managing
the waste we produce.

Waste management can be done by several ways. Some of the 3R’s
ways are composting, burning, land filling etc. If the wastes are
managed or reduced at their sources, then we can save time and
money in managing them later on. Waste management locally
at source level is very cheap and easy to practice if we follow
‘3R Principle’. 3R means reduce, reuse and recycle.

Modern Concept Science and Environment - 7 31311

Reduce

Reduce means to decrease the amount of wastes. We should use resources only in
required amount. The resources should not be over exploited. It is based on the
principle – “Prevention is better than cure.” If the production of waste is low, the
pollution is also low.

Reuse

Reuse means use of same material again and again.

Materials should be reused again as far as possible. This

limits the amount of waste in the community. Items such

as drink bottles, plastics, metals, etc. can be reused again

if possible. Items that were designed for one purpose can

be reused for another purpose. For ex- plastic wrappers Reuse of plastic bottles
can be used for decoration. Used plastic containers and

bottles can be reused as small plant vases. Waste paper can be used to make envelopes.

Recycle

Recycle means change or modification of materials into new ones. Non degradable
wastes can be recycled. Plastic, paper, glasses, metals etc. can be recycled. Recycle of
materials reduces the consumption of raw materials. Plastic bags can be recycled into
different plastic materials.

Applying the 3R principle does not only lead to a clean environment but also the
control over use of natural resources. It also saves time and money that is spent for
managing waste and buying unnecessary items.

ACTIVITY 4

Make a list of items in your household that can be treated by using 3-R Principle.

23.5 Local Efforts on Environmental Conservation

“Think globally, act locally” is one of the popular slogan used nowadays by
environmentalists. Environmentalists are people who are dedicated to conserve the
environment through various means. The efforts should be made in local, national
and international level to conserve the environment. It is because the earth is the home
for everyone, not just you and me. Some of the major local efforts that are necessary
for environmental conservation are listed below:

a. Awareness

The first step of environmental conservation is the awareness of local people. People
should be made aware about importance of environmental resources. Public awareness
can be done by conducting local level programs, using local communication media
like newspaper, radio and television, etc.

312 EnvironmentalDegradationanditsConservation

FACT WITH REASON

Awareness is an important local effort on environmental conservation. Give reason.
Awareness is important for environmental conservation. It makes people realize the importance
of environmental conservation. They change their behaviour and attitude towards environment.

b. Afforestation

Afforestation is the next step to the conservation of the environment. Tree plantation
controls environmental degradation. It maintains fertility of the soil. It also controls
flood, landslide, and soil erosion. Green plants add beauty to the nature. Plantation
should be done in barren hills slopes and unused open spaces. They regulate water
cycle and save us from draughts.

c. Resources conservation

Air, water and land are the important resources needed for humans. In local level,
sources of air pollutants like smoke, dust, dirt, etc. can be reduced by using renewable
sources like biogas, improved cooking stoves, etc. Similarly, cleaning of water sources
regularly, planting trees around water sources, controlling water pollution, etc.
can conserve water resources. In the same way, we can conserve land by planning
residential areas, using agricultural land wisely, avoiding encroachment in hilly areas
or river flood plain etc.

d. Environmental sanitation

Environment sanitation is also an important method of environment conservation.

Proper management and disposal of solid waste is an important step for maintaining
environmental sanitation. We can achieve environmental sanitation by:

a) Using biodegradable wastes as compost manure and using the 3R principle.

b) Keeping our surrounding areas like roads, gardens, latrines etc. clean.

c) Cleaning water sources timely.

d) Conducting forestation and reforestation MEMORY PLUS
works on open area, unused land and Environmental sanitation means
barren hill slopes. cleanliness of the surroundings.

e. Conservation of Cultural Heritages

Cultural heritages are important aspects of our environment. They represent our social
and cultural identity. So, they should be conserved. The heritages can be conserved by
their proper maintenance and renovation. Cleaning programs should be conducted in
the surrounding areas of cultural heritages. People should be made aware about the
religious, cultural and economic importance of cultural heritages.

Modern Concept Science and Environment - 7 313313

f. Public Participation

Public participation is very important if we want to involve everyone in environment
conservation. People should participate in programs like tree plantation, sanitation,
land and water conservation etc. that are organized in their local level. Until there is
participation of people in such activities, the goal of environmental conservation can’t
be achieved. Public participation can be achieved by effective public awareness.

ACTIVITY 5

What type of local efforts have been practiced in your community for conservation of
environment? List them and discuss with your friends in the class.

23.6 Organizations and Agencies Involved in Environmental Conservation

Local efforts may not be always sufficient in environment conservation. Also, some
of the environmental problems are too large to handle in the local level. Some of the
environmental resources are at an urgent need of conservation. In such circumstances,
there are organizations and agencies that work for environmental conservation not
just in local level but in national and international level also. These organizations may
be government bodies, non-government bodies or international agencies.

Governmental agencies

Governmental agencies are involved in developing environment related plans and
policies. They also conduct various programs to conserve the environment. The highest
levels of governmental agencies that are involved in environmental conservation are
Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (MoSTE); Ministry of Forest and
Soil Conservation(MoFSC); Ministry of Health and Population; Ministry of Federal
Affairs and Local Development, etc. These ministries have various departments and
programs that are involved in environment conservation works.

1. Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (MoSTE)

Ministry of Science, Technology and MEMORY PLUS
Environment is the core ministry that works Department of Environment is
in the environment sector of Nepal. It makes the major department under the
plans and policies related to the conservation ministry of science, technology
of environment. It also conducts large scale; and environment. This department
central level environment programs. The major enforces the environment plans and
objectives of the Ministry are: policies of the Government.

a) To promote sustainable development of the country through environmental
protection

b) To conserve the natural environment and cultural heritage and to create a
clean and healthy environment

314 EnvironmentalDegradationanditsConservation

c) To help in poverty alleviation through environment related research
activities

d) To encourage the involvement of academics, scientists and intellectuals in
environment related programs

e) To manage and coordinate the attempts to solve problems related to
climate change.

2. Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation (MoFSC)

Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation is another high level government

agency involved in environment conservation program. The goal of the Ministry

of Forest and Soil Conservation (MoFSC) is to help in poverty alleviation by

improving the living standard of people. The ministry aims to raise the living

standard through sustainable and participatory management of forests, plant

resources, watershed, protected area and biodiversity. It also aims to coordinate

in the problem solving in climate related issues. The main objectives of the

ministry are: MEMORY PLUS
Ministry of Forest and Soil
a) To manage forests and their resources Conservation has many departments
scientifically and encourage public among which Department of Forest,
participation Department of National Park and
Wildlife Reserve and Department
b) To help in poverty alleviation by of Soil Conservation are responsible
generating employment opportunities for conservation of environment
through the promotion of forest activities. and their resources.

Non- governmental agencies

Some of the major national and international non-governmental organizations
working in the sector of environment conservation in Nepal are briefly discussed
below:

1. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
is an agency of the United Nations. It coordinates the
environmental activities and assists the developing countries in
implementing environmentally friendly policies and practices. It
has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. UNEP has six regional
offices and various country offices. UNEP is involved in solving
any environment related problems caused worldwide due to
various activities. In Nepal, it is supporting the government to formulate plans and
policies and to implement projects in environment conservation.

Modern Concept Science and Environment - 7 313515

2. World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is one of the largest
international non-governmental  environmental organization. It
was founded on April 29, 1961 in Morges, Switzerland. It works
for environment conservation and reducing the impacts of
human activities on the environment. Its former name was World
Wildlife Fund. In Nepal, its country office was established in 1993
as WWF Nepal. Since then, WWF Nepal is supporting numerous
environmental projects related to forest, wildlife, water sources and natural landscapes.

3. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
was formed on October, 1948 in France. It provides knowledge
and tools to the public, private and non-governmental
organizations about human progress, economic development
and nature conservation. Currently, it is the world’s largest and
most diverse environmental network. It is composed of 1,300
member organizations and some 16,000 experts. It has been
working in Nepal with both government and non-government organizations since
1970. However, its country office in Nepal was established in 1994.

4. Global Environment Facility (GEF)

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was established in 1992.
It invests to solve the planet’s biggest environmental problems. It
is working with 183 countries to solve these problems. The GEF
also works closely with the private sector around the world. It
receives continuous support from independent expert scientists.
Over the past 25 years, the GEF has supported establishment of
protected areas, conservation of landscapes, etc.

5. National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC)

The National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) was
established in 1982, in Lalitpur. It’s headquarter is located
at Khumaltar, Lalitpur. It was established as a not-profit
organization to work in the field of nature conservation,
conservation of Biodiversity and promotion of eco-tourism in
Nepal. Currently, it has started to work in energy and climate
sector too.

316 EnvironmentalDegradationanditsConservation

STEPS EXERCISE

STEP 1

1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.
a) ………….. gas is the source of amino acids which is the building block of
the body.
b) Cholera is a disease that is caused by intake of polluted …………..
c) Use of ………….. sources of energy like biogas, wind energy, solar energy
etc. should be encouraged.
d) Solid waste should be managed at their …….. than disposing them off later.
e) Public participation is one of the important local efforts for …………..

2. Write True for the correct and False for the incorrect statements.
a) Deforestation is the permanent loss of trees.
b) Magma in the mantle is at high temperature and pressure.
c) 3-R principle means repair, reload and reserve.
d) Public awareness is an important local effort for environmental conservation.
e) UNEP is the major national organization that works for environment
conservation.
f) Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) has been successfully
implemented by Ministry of Environment.

STEP 2

3. Answer the following questions in one word.
a) What percentage of total land of Nepal is covered by forest?
b) What is the main cause of earthquake?
c) What is the magnitude of Gorkha earthquake that occurred on Baisakh 12,
2072 B.S?
d) When was GEF established?
e) What is the point from which earthquake originates called?

4. Write any two differences between:
a) Urbanization and industrialization

Modern Concept Science and Environment - 7 313717

b) Earthquake and volcano
c) Recycle and reuse
5. Give reasons.
a) Deforestation is an important cause of environment degradation.
b) Water should be cleaned and purified before drinking.
c) Open spaces are needed in home or in community.
d) The use of alternative sources of energy should be encouraged.
e) Japan is called the country of volcano.
f) Awareness is an important local effort on environmental conservation.
6. Observe the figures and name these natural disasters:

a) b) c) d)

STEP 3

7. Answer the following questions
a) Define environmental degradation. What are the major causes of
environmental degradation? List them and explain any one.
b) What do you mean by natural disaster? Give any two examples.
c) Define earthquake. Mention any two major causes and three effects of
earthquake.
d) What is volcano? List two causes and two effects of volcano.
e) What do you mean by 3R principle? Explain each in brief.
f) Write the name of three government organizations and three non-
government organizations that has been working in the field of
environmental conservation.
g) Describe briefly how Ministry of Environment works for environment
conservation.
h) What do you mean by industrialization? Write its two harmful effects on
environment.

8. Draw a labelled diagram of a volcano.

318 En v i ro nEsmtime nattedatneadchSinugspteariiondas b lTeheDoeryv e lPorapcmticeanl t
UNIT 6 2

24 Environment and Sustainable
Development

Syllabus issued by CDC Albert Einstein
(1879-1955)
 Concept of development
 Development and environment
 Concept of sustainable development
 Nature–friendly development
 Efforts for sustainable development in the context of Nepal

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this unit, students will be able to:
 explain the concept of sustainable development.
 describe the need and importance of nature–friendly development.
 explain the efforts for sustainable development in the context of Nepal.

Key terms and terminologies of the unit

1. Development: Development is the process of transforming the
surrounding environment to achieve human needs
for easier livelihood.

2. Sustainable development: The long term development that is conducted by
protecting the environment in such a way that the
resources of the environment can be used by the
future generations too.

3. Nature friendly development: Carrying out the development activities with less
impact to the environment is called nature friendly
development.

24.1 Introduction

We know that environment is composed of living beings and non-living things.
Human beings utilize both these living and non-living components of the environment
for their survival as well as the development of mankind. Humans are using their
intelligence to invent newer tools and technology by depleting resources from the
environment.

Modern Concept Science and Environment - 7 313919

Concept of Development

Development is the process of transforming the surrounding environment to achieve
human needs for easier livelihood. Humans conduct various activities for development.
Building houses, construction of roads and railways, setting up industries and
factories to produce goods for human use, etc. are the some of the major development
activities. Other development activities are use of tools, techniques and chemicals
for food production, construction of irrigation canals, generating power from water,
sunlight, wind, minerals etc. All these development activities use vast resources from
the environment. This results in the degradation of the environment.

Development and Environment

There will be no physical development if there is no environment. All the resources
that are needed for development come from the environment. Industries and factories
use raw materials from plants and animals to produce different products. Fossil fuels
from the environment are used for running industries, factories and vehicles. Metallic
and non-metallic minerals are used for construction of infrastructures like roadways,
railways, bridges, buildings, etc. Rapid and haphazard use of resources for development
has led to environmental degradation. If the environment is degraded, it cannot produce
more resources from which our future generation can take advantages. Degraded
environment also disrupts development by causing floods, landslides, soil erosion, etc.

FACT WITH REASON

Development and environment are interrelated.
Development and environment are interrelated because humans live in the environment and
uses raw materials from environment for development but which may hamper environment
and human itself.

Differences between development and environment

S.N. Development S.N. Environment
1 1
Development is the process of Everything around us is called
transforming the surrounding environment.
environment to achieve human
needs for easier livelihood.

2 Development activities use vast 2 Resources that are needed for

resources from the environment development comes from the

resulting degradation of the environment.

environment.

320 Environment and Sustainable Development

24.2 Concept of Sustainable Development

The development activities that are carried out these days only focus on the short term
benefits of the present generation. It is degrading the environment without taking care
of the environment resources for future generation. To use the environment resources
wisely and conduct environment friendly development works, the concept of
sustainable development is introduced. The long term development that is conducted
by protecting the environment in such a way that the resources of the environment
can be used by the future generations too is called sustainable development. It simply
means while doing development works, we must consider using fewer resources
from environment so that it provides its resources for a long time.

The concept of sustainable development was recognized by international community
in 1972 A.D. for the first time at the United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment held in Stockholm, Sweden.

FACT WITH REASON

Sustainable development is the present need.
Sustainable development is the present need because it conserves natural resources for
future generation by relying on the renewing capacity of resources.

The importance of sustainable development includes:

1. Sustainable development helps in renewing the natural resources.

2. It is an environment friendly method of development. So, it does not harm the
environment.

3. It helps to meet the essential needs for jobs, MEMORY PLUS
food, energy, water, and sanitation.
The concept of sustainable
4. It helps to conserve the natural resources.
development was popularized
5. It ensures the ability of the future generation to
meet the needs of development by the World Commission on

Environment and Development in

its report "Our Common Future" that

was published in 1987. 

Sustainable development helps to conduct
development activities with minimal effect to the environment. If we follow the
principles of sustainable development, we can continue our development works
without harming the environment.

Modern Concept Science and Environment - 7 323121

24.3 Nature Friendly Development

Nature friendly development is one of the most important aspects of sustainable
development. Carrying out the development activities with less impact to the
environment is called nature friendly development. Our development works surely
affect the environment. Without any impact on the environment, no development
activities can be done. For example, if we build a house, we need to extract sand,
pebble, limestone (for cement), rocks, water, etc. Without these resources, building a
house is not possible. But, we can ensure minimum and wise use of such resources by
taking care of the nature. The impact on the environment should be minimum. This
is nature friendly development. Let us take another example, if a road passes through
a dense forest and large number of trees need to be cut, we can build underground
roads in such areas. Also, we can build a bridge for animals to connect two forests if
the road divides the forest.

Following are some of the important points to be considered for nature friendly
development.

1. Undertaking development works only after knowing the impact on the
environment : Before doing the development work, the concerned body has to
evaluate the damage that the development work does to the environment. This
is called environmental screening. Environmental screening helps to identify
whether the development works affects the environment or not. If it affects the
environment, Initial Environment Examination (IEE) and Environment Impact
Assessment (EIA) should be done.

2. Making environment a priority in development works : When any
development works is done, environment conservation should be on the first
priority. If any damage has to be done to the environment, the development
work should include some part of the budget in reversing the damage. If the
development work has some fund for environment, it can be used to mitigate
or control the impact. For example - the project that destroys trees should have
fund for plantation of trees.

3. Construction of many small projects than a large project : A large project
like that of a large hydropower dam creates many environmental problems. It
demands destruction of environment to a larger extent. So, instead of building
large power plants, the agencies have to focus on building small scale plants.
This minimizes the environmental damage.

4. Proper use of natural resources : Natural resources like plants, animals, soil,
rocks, water etc. should be wisely used. For example-packing of products
from industries needs much more paper or plastic. If packaging is removed or
reduced, then thousands of trees will be saved. Keeping some space open as
garden in your home can save tiles or other metals needed for pavement.

322 Environment and Sustainable Development

5. Reducing release of pollutants in the environment during development works :
We can reduce the amount of pollutants we produce every day. Construction
works produce huge amount of solid wastes like cement debris. These can cause
land and water pollution. Similarly, leftover harmful chemical after construction
also pollute land and water. The chemical pesticides and fertilizers that are
used in large scale agriculture also pollute land and water. Burning of fuels
in construction machines, burning fire wood, etc. during development works
release smoke and harmful gases in air. Therefore, we should use the resources
wisely and reduce pollution.

FACT WITH REASON

Nature friendly development should be encouraged. Why?
Nature friendly development should be encouraged because:
i. This concept does minimum damage to the environment.
ii. It supports the concept of sustainable development.
iii. It saves natural resources for future generation.

Efforts of Nepal on Sustainable Development

Every country carries on development projects regardless of its developed, developing
or underdeveloped status. Therefore, Nepal is also doing numerous development
activities based on the principle of sustainable development. Some of the efforts of
Nepal on sustainable development are:

i) Community forest programme

ii) Establishment of national parks, wildlife reserves and conservation area

iii) Watershed management programs

iv) Use of bio-engineering to make slopes stable

v) Poverty alleviation through sustainable agricultural practices

vi) Improving sanitation through Single-house-single-toilet policy

Apart from these, Nepal has committed to achieve sustainable development goals
(SDGs) which are planned for 2016-2030. There are 17 major goals along with their
targets in SDGs. The goals are no poverty; zero hunger; good health and wellbeing;
quality education; gender equality; clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean
energy; descent work and economic growth; industry, innovation and infrastructure;
reduced inequalities; sustainable cities and communities; responsible consumption
and production; climate action; life below water; life on land; peace and justice; and
partnership for the goals.

Modern Concept Science and Environment - 7 323323

Differences between development and sustainable development.

S.N. Development S.N. Sustainable Development

1 Development is the process of 1 The long term development that

transforming the surrounding is conducted by protecting the

environment to achieve human environment in such a way that the

needs for easier livelihood. resources of the environment can be

used by the future generations too is

called sustainable development.

2 Development activities use 2 Sustainable development does

resources from the environment minimum damage to the environment.

resulting in the degradation of

the environment.

STEPS EXERCISE

STEP 1

1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.
a) Human beings utilize both the living and non-living components of the
…………. for their survival as well as the development of mankind.
b) …………. activities uses huge amount of resources from the environment;
resulting in the degradation of the environment.
c) The concept of sustainable development was recognized by international
community in …………. for the first time.
d) Sustainable development helps to conduct development activities with
minimal effect to the ………….
e) All the resources that are needed for development come from the ………….

2. Write True for the correct and False for the incorrect statements.
a) Degraded environment does not support resources for further development
and creates resource crisis.
b) Environmental screening helps to identify whether the development
works affect the environment or not.
c) The chemical pesticides and fertilizers that are used in large scale
agriculture also pollute land and water.
d) There are 17 major goals along with their targets in SDGs.
e) The term sustainable development was used for the first time in 1972.

STEP 2

3. Answer the following questions in one word.
a) When was the term sustainable development introduced?

324 Environment and Sustainable Development

b) What is the term used for “the process of transforming the surrounding
environment to achieve human needs for easier livelihood”?

c) Which concept includes long term development and protecting the ability
of future generation to meet the demand?

d) What kind of development puts nature in priority?
e) Write one function of environment impact assessment in a word.

4. Write any two differences between:
a) Development and environment
b) Sustainable development and current development
c) Development and nature friendly development.

5. Give reasons.
a) Development and environment are interrelated.
b) Sustainable development is the present need of the world.
c) Nature friendly development should be encouraged.

6. Identify the following pictures as developmental activity, sustainable
development activity, nature friendly development, unmanaged urbanization and
industrialization. Then write the consequences of these activity in each picture.

a) b) c)

d) e) d) IEE e) EIA

STEP 3

7. Write the full forms for the following.
a) WCED b) SDGs c) MGDs