Environmental Conservation

1. Recycling and re-use Emphasis is being put on recycling by buying reusable and biodegradable products as much as possible.
2. Afforestation and reforestation: Reforestation refers to establishment of a forest on land that had recent tree cover, whereas afforestation refers to establishment of a forest on a land that has been without a forest for much longer.
3. Rehabilitation of derelict land People engaged in quarrying and mining are encouraged to rehabilitate the land on which the activities have taken place.
4. Reducing the use of agrochemicals Farmers should be advised and encouraged to avoid dependency on agricultural chemicals (fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, etc).
5. Setting up organizations and institutions, many organizations have been set up for the purpose of conserving the environment. These organizations include international organizations, government ministries and agencies and non-government organizations
6. Legislation The laws that govern environmental conservation are being made and enacted. The laws aim at curbing environmental destruction by punishing or fining those individuals who destroy or litter our environment.
7. Education People are being educated about the importance of conserving the environment for their benefits and future generations- Environmental impact assessment

1. Plant more trees at home and farm fields, school and village forest. Do not cut down trees because doing so leaves the soil bare and vulnerable to soil erosion.
2. Always dump litter in areas designated for waste disposal and in litterbins. Do not just throw dirt anywhere and carelessly.
3. Do not start fires near forests. Farmers should not prepare their farm fields by burning the vegetation because the fire can spread and destroy trees and nearby forests.
4. Do not harm domestic and wild animals by any means. Be kind to animals and treat them humbly.
5. Convey environmental conservation education to all people. Let them know the importance of conserving and living in a clean environment.
6. Participate in environmental conservation programs and tasks. These include World environment Day (June 5, every year) and clear-up exercises in the local area or town.

Human population and settlements, we learned in detail about the extent and causes of rapid population and urban growth.

1. Decline in the death rate The fall in death rates, that is, a decline in mortality rate is one of the fundamental causes of overpopulation. Owing to the advancements in medicine, man has found cures to the previously fatal diseases.
2. Rise in the birth rate Medicines of today can boost the reproductive rate in human beings. There are medicines and treatments, which can help in conception.
3. Migration Immigration is a problem in some parts of the world. If the inhabitants of various countries migrate to a particular part of the world and settle over there, the area is bound to suffer from the ill effects of overpopulation.
4. Lack of education Illiteracy is another important cause of overpopulation and lack of family planning is commonly seen among the illiterates. Those lacking education fail to understand the need to prevent excessive growth of population.

1. A lack of employment opportunities in the countryside is among the driving forces of urban growth.
2. Better paid jobs in the cities, an expected higher standard of living, and more reliable food attract people to the city.
3. People who migrate to towns and cities tend to be young and so have higher birth rates in that age range.
4. Better medical conditions compared to the countryside mean births that are more successful and a better life expectancy.

1. Accumulation of waste Due to overpopulation; the rate of generating waste is higher than the local council; city or municipal authorities can remove it.
2. Deforestation: Fast population growth leads to an increase in demand of land for settlement and agriculture.
3. Soil and water pollution; To feed the ever-growing human population, farmers use diverse agrochemicals to produce more food to feed the population.
4. Loss of biodiversity Due to his destructive activities, man has extracted more and more minerals from the Earth. Animals have been hunted and plants have disappeared
5. Climate change: The gases produced by industries and automobile exhausts accumulate in the air and cause greenhouse effect which contributes to global warming with its adverse effects to the environment and living organisms, including humans.

1. Poverty is one of the main causes of forest and woodland degradation developing countries, especially in Africa, and it is both a consequence and a cause of this degradation. A degraded environment produces less, so people become more vulnerable, for example, to waterborne and other diseases.
2. Poverty leads to deforestation through inappropriate use of wood and other resources for cooking, heating, housing and crafts. This is because people cannot afford cooking gas and kerosene. Some cut down trees to sell firewood or charcoal in order to get income to buy some essentials such as food and clothing.
3. Insufficient access to education and information makes it difficult for poor people to manage available natural resources in a sustainable and sound manner, thus creating loss of livelihood opportunities and of biological diversity.
4. Air pollution generated by inappropriate production techniques used by poor people out of lack of better knowledge or lack of capital to invest in environmentally friendly technologies, is also responsible for global warming and climate change.
5. Poverty often confines poor people in rural areas to marginal lands, thus contributing to an acceleration of erosion, increased ecological vulnerability, landslides, etc.
6. In rural areas, poverty leads to practicing poor farming methods like shifting cultivation, monoculture, over cultivation and overgrazing. Bush fires set by honey collectors are also common.
7. Poor people cannot afford to pay for cleaning and other community services. They also live in poor and unplanned settlements
8. Siltation of the urban drainage systems. In urban areas the poor are engaged in urban agriculture, which has resulted in the destruction of green belts. Stream bank cultivation has contributed to siltation of the urban drainage systems.
9. Urban residents generally consume more renewable resources than rural people, placing heavy demands on the environment do. Large concentrations of people also generate huge volumes of waste, resulting in pollution and health problems.
10. Many poor women lack the resources necessary to engage in birth control. The more global population grows, the more weight is placed on the environment. Every human being consumes their share of resources from the environment, and with so many births originating from poor communities, the burdens placed on the environment grow heavier and heavier each day.