Environmental Conservation, Methods And Importance

Hi, welcome to this hall on the environmental conservation, methods and Importance.

Table Of Contents

1. Definition of conservation
2. Need or reasons for conservation
3. Natural resources that need to be conserved.
4. Methods of conserving wildlife.
5. Importance or benefits of Environmental conservation.
6. Ways of ensuring conservation of the environment.
7. Problems and difficulties associated with conservation.
8. Revision questions.

Definition: Conservation is defined as the planned, control exploitation or judicious use of natural resources to ensure their continuous availability and to preserve the quality or original nature of the environment. In other words, conservation is the preservation of natural resources from loss, waste or exploitation through rational use and to ensure their continued use or availability and preserve the quality or original nature of the natural resources.

Needs Or Reasons For Conservation

These are the reasons for environmental conservation:

1. To prevent destruction of natural environment or to allow for continued use of natural resources for man’s benefits.
2. To preserve rare and valuable species of plants and animals for the future generation or to save them from Extinction or permanent destruction.
3. To preserve naturally beautiful sceneries for their aesthetic values.
4. To promote the recycling of some scars mineral resources, e.g. water.
5. To prevent the destruction of natural ecosystem; this will allow the organisms in the ecosystem to survive.
6. Forest which provide medicinal materials must be conserved to ensure easy availability and continued existence.
7. Natural resources e.g. wildlife, forest and minerals provide basis for research purposes.

Natural Resources That Need To Be Conserved

Natural resources that need to be conserved include wildlife, water, Forest, soil, air and mineral resources.

Methods Of Conserving Wildlife

The following are the methods of environmental conservation of wildlife:

• Establishment of game or forest reserves.
• Establishment of zoological gardens.
• Control of hunting to prevent extinction of some animal species.
• Prohibitation of killing or poaching of animals in game reserves.
• Prohibitation of bush burning as this may lead to migration or displacement of wildlife.
• Prohibitation of deforestation and encouragement of afforestation or reafforestation.
• Creation of awareness on the values of wildlife.
• Prevention of pollution to prevent the destruction of aquatic life.

Methods Of Preserving Water

• Trapping or storage of water in tanks or wells.
• Damming of rivers to allow for more effective management of water.
• Treatment and recycling of used water.
• Saving of water by prompt repair of burst pipes or turning of taps immediately after use.
• Tree planting which provide vegetation cover and reduces evaporation and promote water retention.
• The existence of vegetation also brings about the formation of rainfall.
• Prevention of water pollution by sewage and chemical from Industries and homes.

Methods Of Preserving Forest

• Cutting of trees without destroying the under growth.
• Reafforestation or encouraging the planting of trees.
• Prevention of bush burning or careless forest fires.
• Prevention of plant pests and diseases.
• Establishment of forest reserves.
• Educating the public on the value of forest and the importance of conservation.

Methods Of Conserving Soil

• Prevention of overgrazing which may cause soil erosion.
• Prevention of indiscriminate felling of trees or deforestation which exposes the soil to erosion.
• Adoption of better farming practices, e.g. crop rotation so as to prevent erosion, leaching, water logging or acidity.
• Prevention of pollution of land so as not to destroy useful soil organisms.
• Avoidance of clean clearing which may expose the soil to erosion.
• Prevention of bush burning which may expose the soil to erosion.

Methods Of Conserving Air

• Prevention of effluents from factories or factory chimneys which may pollute the air or cause acid rain.
• Prevention of fumes from automobile or thermal plants which may affect aerial life or render air unfit for organisms.
• Proper treatment and disposal of sewage.
• Proper burning of waste so as to prevent smoke or soot from polluting the air.
• proper disposal of dust from construction sites which may cause air pollution.

Methods Of Conserving Mineral Resources

Mineral resources, unlike other resources, are non-renewable resources because once they are exhausted, they cannot be replaced hence they need to be conserved. The method of conserving mineral resources are:

• There should be legislation against indiscriminate mining of mineral resources.
• Effective and efficient extraction methods of mining should be adopted to prevent wastages.
• There should be effective and efficient utilization of available mineral resources for man’s use.
• Overdependence on a particular mineral resources should be discouraged as this can lead to the depletion of such mineral resources.
• There should be proper pricing of mineral resources and their by-products to ensure maximum value for the mineral products.

Importance or benefits of conservation of the environment (importance of Environmental conservation)

Benefit Of Wildlife Resources Conservation

1. It provides food for human consumption, e.g. meat, fish and eggs.
2. It generate revenue for government.
3. It can serve as tourist centers for pleasure and relaxation.
4. It provide research work for scientists.
5. It can generate employment for some people.

Benefits Of Water Resources Conservation

1. It serve as sources of food supply, e.g. fish, prawns and crayfish.
2. It is used for hydro-electric power (H.E.P) generation which provides electricity, e.g. kainji dam.
3. Water is useful for agricultural purposes, i.e. irrigation.
4. Water serves as a medium of transportation in rivers, lakes and oceans.
5. Water is important for domestic and Industrial uses, e.g. drinking, washing and cooking.
6. Water can be used for recreational and tourist purposes.
7. Water provides employment for people, e.g. fishermen and canoe or ship builder.

Benefits Of Forest Resources Conservation

1. Forest are resources of food supply, e.g. fruit, vegetables and meat.
2. Forest are sources of timber for construction purposes.
3. Forest provide medicinal herbs.
4. They are sources of (fuel) firewood used for cooking.
5. Forests are the homes or habitat of wild animals which can serve as game reserves.
6. Forests provide employment for some people, e.g. Forest guards, lumbermen and hunters.
7. Forest provide raw materials for Industries, e.g. cotton, rubber, ropes twine, latex and timber.
8. Forests can serve as centers of tourism.
9. Forest can also serve as wind break.

Benefits Of Soil Resources Conservation

1. Soil support agricultural or farming activities.
2. Soil also supports forest and its resources.
3. Soil supports wildlife resources.
4. It is the home of some organisms.
5. It supports the growth of valuable wood for building and furniture making.
6. Buildings are erected on the soil.
7. Mineral resources are obtained from the soil.

Benefit Of Air Resources Conservation

1. Air provides oxygen used in respiration by plants and animals.
2. It provides carbon dioxide used by plants for photosynthesis.
3. Air also provides gaseous nitrogen used by plant to manufacture protein.
4. Air is the habitat of most organisms, e.g. birds and insects.
5. It makes life more meaningful and comfortable.

Benefits Of Mineral Resources Conservation

1. Mineral resources provide fuel, e.g. coal, petroleum and natural gas, for use.
2. They are used for construction purposes, e.g. iron, zinc, aluminum.
3. Some are used for industrial development, e.g. diamond, ion, copper and silver.
4. Some are sources of ornamentals, e.g. gold, silver and bronze.
5. Minerals are sources of foreign exchange.
6. They also provide employment, e.g. miners, drillers and marketers.

Ways of Ensuring the Conservation of the Environment

1. Establishment of agencies for conservation: Agencies are established to ensure that these natural resources are conserved, e.g. preservation of wildlife, Forest resources, water resources, air, Soil and mineral resources.

Examples of agencies for conservation are:

• Nigeria conservation foundation.
• Forest departments,
• Federal Environmental protection agency (FEPA),
• River basin development authorities (RBDA),
• Ministries of Agriculture,
• Department of wildlife conservation.

2. Establishment of game reserves or National Parks: The game reserves on national parks serve for the protection of wildlife, rare or endangered species and for the recreational purposes as well as scientific purposes.

Some game reserves in Nigeria are:

• Yankari game reserves in Bauchi State.
• Borgu game reserves in Niger state.
• Shasha river Forest in ogun state.
• Olomu forest reserves in kwara state.
• Mamu River Forest reserve in Anambra State.
• Zamfara forest reserves in zamfara state.

3. Making of conservation laws, edicts or decrees: These laws, edicts or decrees are made by the government to regulate the felling of trees, hunting or exploitation of endangered species or indiscriminate exploitation of mineral resources. This laws must be obeyed.

4. Conservation education: Conservation education serves to inform the populace about the need to conserve natural resources and the consequences of extermination or exhaustion of such resources like trees, while life and minerals.

5. Setting standards for pollution control: These standards help to protect Land, water and air resources from certain level of pollution from Industries, vehicles, power plant and homes.

Problems And Difficulties Associated With Conservation

The following problems or difficulties are encountered in the process of conserving natural resources:

• Soil erosion caused by natural wind, rainfall and run offs.
• Land, air and water pollution.
• Occurrence of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods.
• Overgrazing caused by domestic livestock.
• Indiscriminate hunting, leading to a eradication of wildlife.
• Indiscriminate bush burning and felling of timber leading to eradication Plants and animals.
• Indiscriminate fishing, leading to depletion of aquatic life.
• Adoption of poor farming methods, e.g. Bush fallowing, shifting cultivation and continuous cropping which leads to depletion of soil nutrients.
• Problems of soil spillage which leads to loss of terrestrial and aquatic life.

Revision Questions

1. (a) Define the term conservation (b) state three reasons for conservation ( c) list four methods of conserving each of the following, water, wildlife, forest,(d) mention three Forest or game reserves in Nigeria.
2. (a) Outline the importance of environmental conservation (b) and the problems of conservation