NATURAL RESOURCES AND THEIR CONSERVATION Chapter - 2 NATURAL RESOURCES AND THEIR CONSERVATION  2009 Jupiterimages Corporation

Natural Resources Natural resources are the substances which are inherent to earth and obtained from nature and utilized to create products and services which are useful for human beings. Forests, water, air, soil , etc. are natural resources.

Resources Natural resources are the materials that are needed to sustain life and livelihood on the earth

Renewable resources A renewable resource is a natural resource with the ability to reproduce through biological or natural processes and replenished with the passage of time. (water, air, soil, plants etc.) Non-renewable resources A non-renewable resource is a natural resource which cannot be reproduced, grown, generated, or used on a scale which can sustain its consumption rate, once depleted there is no more available for future needs.

Non renewable resources That can be recycled That can not be recycled Materials like copper, aluminium, iron etc. Fossil fuel

Our natural resources water, air forest, land, food and minerals.

Problems Associated with natural resources Unequal consumption of natural resources. Unequal distribution of natural resources leads Corruption for natural resources. Unexplored natural resources Unsustainable way of using natural resources. Water scarcity More land requirement for production of non-vegetarian diet.

Forest Resources

Classification of Forest Old growth/Frontier forest: uncut forest Second growth: Result from ecological succession that takes place when forest are cleared. Plantation: managed forest for commercially valuable tree.

They provide natural habitat to tribal people. Importance of Forests Direct Benefits Manure fuel wood Raw material Timber Edible product Medicinal plants They provide natural habitat to tribal people. Natural habitat to wild life Contribute to national income Tourism Employment opportunities.

Indirect Benefits They help in regulating hydrological cycle. They help in regulating the gases in atmosphere. Forests help in minimizing natural hazards. e.g. flood, drought etc They help in reducing soil erosion and siltation of downstream water bodies. They help in reducing desertification and land degradation. They help in maintaining biodiversity by providing habitat to wild animals.

Deforestation The term deforestation refers to the removal or reduction of forest cover Causes of Deforestation Encroachment of forest land for agricultural use Expansion of cities Construction of dams, canals, and highways Establishment of industrial areas Demand for firewood Mining Forest fires Commercial logging Paper Industries

Logging Leads To Deforestation

Forest Making Way For Farms

Impact or effect of Deforestation Deforestation exposes soils and shade species to wind, sunlight, evaporation, and erosion. Soil fertility goes down, topsoil is eroded and siltation in dams, rivers. The increased sedimentation harms downstream fisheries no regulation of the flow into rivers: So increases the intensity of flood Loss of natural habitat Extinction of some species Land degradation Loss of forest product

Impact of Deforestation (contd) Change in climatic condition Local and global climate changes can occur. Global warming Siltation of rivers and lakes Loss of revenue Change in water cycle and reduces rain fall

Erosion Forest Fire

Control of deforestation Reduce mining activity Tree Plantation Enforcement of environmental laws and legal provision Extension of forest through social forestry, agro forestry Public awareness

Villagers in Cherrapunji carting water from other areas

The Story of Cherrapunji Wettest place on earth 11.5 m of annual rain Yet drought in non-monsoon months Reason: Forests cut down

Control of deforestation Mining activity should be prohibited in the areas declared as protected forests Cutting of trees should be followed by massive plantation The environmental Laws and legal provision should be strictly enforced. Forest extension should be carried out through social forestry, agro forestry, recreation forestry etc. Public awareness regarding medicinal and other economic and environmental significance of forest should be created.

Participation of locals in forest conservation

The story of Chipko: The women who saved the trees March 26, 1974 in the forest next to Renni village in the Garhwal District of Himalayas. People action preventing destruction of environment

The Story of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands Contain some of the finest tropical evergreen forests in the world. Rich in biodiversity with a variety of known and unknown species of flora and fauna. Destruction: Timber extraction started by the British, continued after Independence Logging led to soil erosion, flow of sediments into ocean, killing of corals Andaman Trunk Road destroyed forests Marine species endangered Livelihoods of tribals affected Impact of 2004 tsunami

World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development (WCFSD) The main conclusions of the 1999 WCFSD Report: The world’s forests declined from 6.0 billion ha 8000 years ago to about 3.6 billion hectares in 1999 56 countries have lost 90-100% of their forests. Over the last two decades of the 20th century, 15 million ha of forests were lost annually, largely in the tropics. About 14 million ha of tropical forests have been lost each year since 1980 due to conversion into cropland. Forest decline threatens the genetic diversity of the world’s plants and animals. In developing countries alone, some US$ 45 billion per year is lost through poor forest management. In Europe, forests are declining due to drought, heat, pests, and air pollution.

UN Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 The key findings: Forests cover 31% of total land area (4 billion hectares) The rate of deforestation shows signs of decreasing, but is still alarmingly high. South America and Africa continue to have the largest net loss of forest. Legally established protected areas cover an estimated 13% of the world’s forests. Forests store a vast amount of carbon. 12% of the world’s forests are designated for the conservation of biological diversity.

UN Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 (contd) 30% of the world’s forests are primarily used for production of wood and non-wood forest products. Around 10 million people are employed in forest management and conservation, but many more are directly dependent on forests for their livelihoods. Significant progress has been made in developing forest policies, laws and national forest programmes. There are many good signs and positive trends towards sustainable forest management at the global level.

Saving the World’s Forests Recommendations of the World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development (WCFSD): Stop the destruction of the earth’s forests. Use the forest resources to improve life for poor people and forest-dependent communities. Involve people in decisions about forest use. Set the price of forests to reflect their full ecological and social values, and stop harmful subsidies to lumber companies. Apply sustainable forest management approaches.

Saving the World’s Forests (contd) WCFSD Recommendations (contd): Plan for the use and protection of whole landscapes, not the forest in isolation. Make better use of knowledge about forests, and greatly expand this information base. Accelerate research and training so sustainable forest management can become a reality quickly. Take bold political decisions and develop new civil society institutions to improve governance and accountability regarding forest use.