Environmental Studies

Module 2. Natural resources

Lesson 8
CONSERVATION AND EQUITABLE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES

8.1 Role of an Individual

Natural resources like forests, water, soil, food, minerals and energy resources play an important role in the economy and development of a nation. Humans can play important role in conservation of natural resources. A little effort by individuals can help to conserve these resources which are a gift of nature to the mankind. Brief description of role of individual to conserve different types of natural resources is given below:

8.1.1 Roles to conserve water

• To minimise the evaporation losses irrigate the crops, the plants and the lawns in the evening, because water application during day time will lead to more loss of water due to higher rate of evapo-transpiration.
• Improve water efficiency by using optimum amount of water in washing machine, dishwashers and other domestic appliances, etc.
• Install water saving toilets which use less water per flush.
• Check for water leaks in pipes and toilets and repair them promptly.
• Don’t keep water taps running while they are not in use.
• Recycle water of washing of cloths for gardening.
• Installing rainwater harvesting structure to conserve water for future use.

8.1.2 Energy conservation for future use

• Turn off all electric appliances such as lights, fans, televisions, computers, etc when not in use.
• Clean all the lighting sources regularly because dust on lighting sources decreases lighting levels up to 20-30%
  
• Try to harvest energy from natural resources to obtain heat for example drying the cloths in sun and avoid drying in washing machine.
• Save liquid petroleum gas (LPG) by using solar cookers for cooking.
• Design the house with provision for sunspace to keep the house warm and to provide more light.
• Avoid misuse of vehicles for transportation and if possible share car journey to minimise use of petrol/diesel. For small distances walk down or just use bicycles.
• Minimise the use air conditioner to save energy

8.1.3 Protect soil health

• Use organic manure/compost to maintain soil fertility
• To avoid soil erosion does not irrigate the plants by using fast flow of water.
• Use sprinkler irrigation to conserve the soil.
• Design landscape of lawn in large area which will help to bind soil to avoid erosion.
• Provide vegetation cover by growing of ornamental plant, herbs and trees in your garden.
• Use vegetable waste to prepare compost to use in kitchen gardening.

8.1.4 Promote sustainable agriculture

• Diversify the existing cropping pattern for sustainability of agriculture
• Cultivate need based crop
• Maintain soil fertility
• Make optimum use of fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals for production and processing of agriculture products
• Save grains in storage to minimise the losses
• Improve indigenous breeds of milch animals for sustainable dairy production systems.
• Adopt post harvest technologies for value addition

8.2 Equitable Use of Resources for Sustainable Life Style

In last 50 years, the consumption of resource in the society has increased many folds. There is a big gap in the consumers lifestyle between developed and developing countries.Urbanisation has changed the life style of middle class population in developing countries creating more stress on the use of natural resources. It has been estimated that More Developed Countries (MDC) of the world constitute only 22% of world’s population but they use 88% of natural resources. These countries use 73% of energy resources and command 85% of income and in turn they contribute very big proportion of pollution. On the other hand less developed countries (LDCs) have moderate industrial growth and constitute 78% of world’s population and use only 12% of natural resources, 27% of energy and have only 15% of global income.

There is a huge gap between rich and poor. In this age of development the rich have gone richer and the poor is becoming more poorer.. This has lead to unsustainable growth. There is an increasing global concern about the management of natural resources. The solution to this problem is to have more equitable distribution of resources and income. Two major causes of unsustainability are over population in poor countries and over consumption of resources by rich countries. A global consensus has to be reached for balanced distribution of natural resources.

For equitable use of natural resources more developed countries/rich people have to lower down their level of consumption to bare minimum so that these resources can be shared by poor people to satisfy their needs. Time has come to think that it is need of the hour that rich and poor should make equitable use of resources for sustainable development of mankind.