Chapter 9: Humans and the Natural Environment

Keywords

1. conservation
2. exploitation
3. garbage
4. natural resources
5. non renewable
6. pollution
7. recycling
8. renewable
9. reuse
10. sustainable development goals

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

a) understand that there is a world-wide focus on sustainability and its importance.

b) know and give examples of natural resources found in Uganda.

c) appreciate and describe natural factors and human influences that may have an impact on ecosystems, and make suggestions about how to preserve the natural environment for all living things.

d) understand the sources, effects and control of air, land and water pollution.

Introduction

In the previous chapter, you learnt that organisms interrelate in different ways with one another including man.

You already know that Uganda is called the Pearl of Africa because of its position in the heart of Africa and its environment with many natural resources. You have also heard of the United Nations Organisation, a body that brings together all nations for peace and posterity.

In this chapter, you will get to know about the worldwide focus on sustainability and its importance, know the natural resources of Uganda, appreciate natural factors and human influence that have an impact on ecosystems and make suggestions about how to preserve the natural environment and understand the sources, effects and control of air, land and water pollution.

9.1 Sustainability and its importance

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or global goals as they are currently called are a collection of 17 interlinked goals designed to be a basis to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They were developed in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by 2030 by all UN member nations.

Activity 9.1 Finding out information about Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s)

Key question

What are the Sustainable Development Goals?

What you need Computer with internet connection connection Posters/ charts on Sustainable Development Goals Notebook and pen

What to do

1 In groups, research and discuss on:

any of the following SDGs 7, 13, and 15

the importance of these goals in relation to conservation of natural resources of Uganda.

2 Make a report and present it to the class.

3 Harmonise your work and pin it up on the class noticeboard.

9.2 Natural resources of Uganda

A natural resource is anything natural that is useful to humans. In this activity you are going to discuss the natural resources of Uganda and how human activities have impacted on them and ways of conserving them.

Figure 9.2: A natural setting reflecting various resources

Activity 9.2 Discussing natural resources of Uganda

Key question What natural resources exist in Uganda?

What you need

Computer with Computer with internet connection

Geography and Biology textbooks •

Atlas of Uganda or East Africa

What to do

1 In your group, research and discuss on natural resources.

Develop a list of natural resources of Uganda. Classify the resources into renewable and non-renewable resources. Identify human activities and natural factors that have affected the natural resources either negatively or positively. Suggest ways of conserving Uganda’s natural resources.

2 Write a report and share it with members of the class

3 Harmonise your information and pin it up on the class noticeboard.

9.3 Pollution

Pollution is the release of harmful wastes into the environment that is to the air, soil or water, Many of these are harmful to humans and other life.

In the next activity you are going to research about sources of pollution and how it is being tackled in Uganda and elsewhere in the world. Figure 9.3 shows a polluted area in Uganda.

Activity 9.3 Finding out information on air, land and water pollution

Figure 9.3: Pollution of the environment

Key question

What are the main sources of air, land and water pollution?

What you need

Computer with Computer with internet connection

Geography and Biology textbooks

What to do

1 In your groups research and discuss on:

• the main sources of air, land and water pollution affecting the environment in Uganda. effects of the pollution.

the strategies being used to address these forms of pollution.

2 Report to the rest of the class your findings and conclusions.

3 Harmonise and pin up your work on the class noticeboard

9.4 Garbage management

Garbage is a collection of unwanted material generated in homes or work places e.g. peelings, packaging materials like cans, bottles, bags, cardboard and domestic refuse. Their accumulation often causes an unpleasant sight, the smell from rotting matter is usually unpleasant yet their disposal is costly in terms of vessels, transport and dumping site construction and maintenance.

Figure 9.4: Garbage recycling for improving the environment

One solution to the garbage problem is the reuse of some of the items which are still of use and the recycling of materials instead of damping them. Recycling in particular has the advantage of reducing garbage accumulation and the pollution resulting from it, keeps down the cost of production of goods, economic use of natural resources e.g. recycling paper preserves trees. In this activity you are to describe ways of reuse and recycling of garbage.

Activity 9.4 Describing ways of reuse and recycling of garbage

Key question How can garbage be reused and recycled?

What you will need .

Computer with Computer with internet connection connection

Geography and Biology textbooks

Photographs/ charts on garbage

What to do

1 In your pairs research on and describe ways in which the different categories of garbage can be reused or recycled.

2 Share your findings with the class. 3 Pin up your findings on the class noticeboard.

Chapter Summary

In this chapter, you have learnt that: humans have interfered with the natural environment during their exploitation of natural resources to satisfy their needs. a natural resource is anything natural that is useful to humans.

Examples are air, water, soil, plants, minerals and animals. pollution of the air, water and soil is a consequence of the human interference of the natural environment which has a consequence on human and other organisms’ survival.

Uganda like other countries has its own natural resources which humans are expected to use in a sustainable way.

Sustainable Development Goals are global goals adopted by the United Nations member states in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.

the reuse and recycling of garbage is one way of minimizing the human impact on the exploitation of natural resources. conservation is sustainable use and protection of natural resources.

It also involves protecting forests, fuels, wildlife, minerals through strict laws and onservation areas e.g. national parks.

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