Search Post on this Blog

Management of Natural Resources

What is sustainable development?

The sustainable development method encourages a form of growth model that meets currents basic needs while preserving the resources for the needs of the future generation.
There is a two-way dependence on economic development, environment conservation, and people's welfare.
sustainable development
sustainable development


Sustainable living is not new to India?

Sustainable living and sustainable maintenance of resources are integral parts of Indian culture, Tradition, practices, customs, art, and craft, festival, food, belief, and ritual.
The famous phrase in Sanskrit "Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam" mentioned in "Mahaupanishad" which means "the entire earth is the one family. Here, the entire earth means both biotic and abiotic components of earth. Biotic components include plants, animals, microorganisms, bacteria,, and fungi. Abiotic components include soils, air, water, minerals, and sunlight.


What are the five "R"s to save the environment?

There are five "R"s to save the environment:

  • Refuse
  • Reduce
  • Reuse
  • Repurpose
  • Recycle


Refuse:
Refuse to purchase the products that are harming the environment. For example, refuse to purchase and use single-use plastics and carry bag.


Reduce: 
Useless or consume fewer resources. 
Save  electricity: switching off unnecessary lights and fans
Save water: by compulsory tapes in the water pipe and repairing leaky taps.
Do not waste food

Recycle:
First need to separate out the non-degradable waste that is plastic, glass, and metal items. Recycle these materials to make the required items.

Reuse: 
Simply use things again and again. This is actually better than recycling because in recycling it takes some energy. For example, the use of plastic bottles, food jar items.

Repurpose: 
No more be used for the original purpose, use it for some other useful purpose. Examples of reuse, broken bucket, or cracked cups can be used to grow small plants.


How do we conserve the environment?


  • Tanking Public transport
  • Using LED bulbs
  • Taking the stairs instead of the lift
  • Wearing an extra sweater instead of using heating devices
  • Increasing the efficiency of machines
  • Timely maintenance of machinery
  • Taking an environment-friendly decision in daily life.




What is coliform bacteria? 

A coliform is a group of bacteria that is naturally found in human intestines. The presence of Coliform in potable water indicates the disease-causing microorganism contamination. 


What are the major pollutants of Ganga? ,  What is the Ganga Action plan?

Ganga runs 2500 km from Gangotri( river head) to Ganga Sagar( river mouth).
Ganga action plan was started in 1985 due to poor quality of water and the presence of coliform bacteria.
Ganga pollution largely contaminated by untreated sewage that is:

  • Bathing
  • Washing of clothes
  • Immersion of ashes
  • Industries chemical effluents


In 2014, An integrated conservation mission that is "Namami Gange Programme" was started with twin objectives:

  • Abatement of pollution conservation
  • Rejuvenation of River Ganga




Why do we need to manage our resources?


  • Everythings that we need the things( i.e food, shelter, clothe) to live here are obtains from the earth, one thing we obtain from outside is energy from the Sun.
  • As we know the resources on earth are limited and the demand of all the resources is increasing at a high rate due to:
    • The human population is increasing at a tremendous rate
    • Industrial growth and exploitation of resource through machine
    • Luxury lifestyle.
    • For example, as per the current rate of fossil fuels( i.e coal and petroleum) consumption, petroleum will last in 40 years and coal will last in the next 200 years.
  • If we not planned, the resources will be lost, no resources will be left for future generations.
  • Manage resources could also ensure the equitable distribution of resources, not just for handful and for rich people.
  • During exploitation, the environment should not be damaged, for example, mining causes pollution and a large number of slags are generated. There are needs for safe disposal of these types of waste too.




What is Biodiversity?

Biodiversity is measured by two things:

  • The number of species found there; the higher the number of species higher the diversity.
  • Range of different life forms( bacteria, fungi, fern, flowering plants, insects, birds, reptiles, etc); higher the range of different life forms higher the diversity.


Forest are biodiversity hotspots and loss of diversity may lead to loss of ecological stability.

What are the stakeholders of the forest?

The following are the stakeholders of the forest;

  • Local People
  • Forest department
  • Industrialist
  • Wildlife and nature lover


Local people: 
The people who live in around forest are dependent on forest products for various needs of their life. For example, firewood, herbs, water, foods, shelter, etc

Forest Department: 
After the independence of Indian, the Forest department ignored the local knowledge and need of local people for forest conservation. They promoted the monoculture forest for industries need and ignore the need for fooder, food, firewood and herbs for medicine.

Industrialist: 
Use the Tendu leaves and paper mills

Wildlife and nature lover: Who wants to do research and conserve nature,



What are the advantage and disadvantages of a large dam?

The following are the advantages of a large dam:

  • Provide irrigation for large areas
  • For electricity generation

The following are the disadvantages of a large dam:

  • Social Problems: 
    • It creates social problems by displacement of a large number of former and tribal population
  • Economic problems: 
    • It swallows a large amount of public money without many generations of proportional benefits.
  • Environment problems: 
    • It creates:
      • Loss of biological diversity
      • Enormous deforestation
      • Submergence of the forest rotten in water and that become the hotspot sources of greenhouse gas "Methane". Renukoot and Singrauli are examples of Hotspot of Methane emission.




What is Watershed Management?

Aim of watershed management is to develop primary resources of land and water to produces secondary resources of plants and animals keeping in mind that no adverse effect of ecological balance. Watershed management serves mainly two purposes:

  • It increases the productivity and income of the watershed community.
  • It also mitigates drought & floods and increases the life of downstream dams.


What are the methods of water harvesting?
The following are the water harvesting methods:

  • Rooftop water harvesting
  • Dug small pits
  • Lakes
  • Builts small earthen dams
  • Construction of dikes
  • Ponds, wells 




What are Indigenous water saving methods?


  • In Rajashthan: 
    • Khadines
    • Tanks
    • Nadis
  • In Maharastra:
    • Bandharas
    • Tals
  • In Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh:
    • Bundhis
  • In Bihar:
    • Ahars and Pokharas or Pynas
  • In Himachal Pradesh:
    • Kultis
  • In Jammu and Kashmir:
    • Ponds
  • In Tamilnadu:
    • Eris (Pond)
  • In Kerala:
    • Surangams
  • In Karnataka:
    • Kattas

Previous
Next Post »