LAND, SOIL, WATER, NATURALVEGETATION AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES

 

CLASS- VIII                  RESOURCES  AND DEVELOPMENTS

 

02.         LAND, SOIL, WATER, NATURALVEGETATION AND WILDLIFE  RESOURCES

LAND:

·       Most important natural resources which covers about 30% of the total area of the earth’s surface

·       Its use depends on physical factors such as topography, steep slopes of the mountains, low-lying areas susceptible to water logging, desert areas, thick forested areas are normally sparsely populated or uninhabited.

·       Plains and river valleys offer suitable land for agriculture.

LAND USE:

·       For agriculture, forestry, mining, building houses, roads and setting up of industries.

·       Due to the excessive use of land for agriculture and constructional activities, the major problem of land degradation, landslides, soil erosion, desertification, etc. arises.

CONSERVATION OF LAND RESOURCE:

·       Rate of degradation of land resources must be checked.

·       Afforestation, land reclamation, regulated use of chemical pesticide and fertilisers.

·       Checks on overgrazing.

Landslides:

·       Landslides are simply defined as the mass movement of rock, debris or earth down a slope.

·       They often take place in conjunction with earthquakes, floods and volcanoes.

·          A prolonged spell of rainfall can cause heavy landslide that can block the flow of river for quite some time.

·          In the hilly terrain landslides have been a major and widely spread natural disaster.

·          Pangi village near Reckong Peo in Kinnaur district, HP- damage to Hindustan- Tibet road, NH-22

Mitigation Mechanism:

·       Hazard Mapping

·       Retention Wall

·       Increase Vegetation

·       Surface drainage control work

SOIL:

·     The thin layer of grainy substance covering the surface of the earth is called soil.

·     Landforms determine the type of soil.

·     Soil is made up of organic matter, minerals and weathered rocks found on the earth.

·     This happens through the process of weathering. The right mix of minerals and organic matter make the soil fertile.

FACTORS OF SOIL FORMATION:

·     The major factors of soil formation are the nature of the parent rock and climatic factors, topography, role of organic material and time taken for the composition of soil formation.

·     All these differ from place to place.

SOIL CONSERVATION:

·       Factors which lead to soil degradation are deforestation, overgrazing, overuse of chemical feritilisers or pesticides, rain wash, landslides and floods.

·       Some methods of soil conservation are:

·       Mulching: The bare ground between plants is covered with a layer of organic matter like straw. It helps to retain soil moisture.

·       Contour barriers: Stones, grass, soil are used to build barriers along contours. Trenches are made in front of the barriers to collect water.

·       Rock dam: Rocks are piled up to slow down the flow of water. This prevents gullies and further soil loss.

·       Terrace farming: These are made on the steep slopes so that flat surfaces are available to grow crops. They can reduce surface run-off and soil erosion

·       Intercropping: Different crops are grown in alternate rows and are sown at different times to protect the soil from rain wash.

·       Contour ploughing: Ploughing parallel to the contours of a hill slope to form a natural barrier for water to flow down the slope

·       Shelter belts: In the coastal and dry regions, rows of trees are planted to check the wind movement to protect soil cover.

WATER:

·       Water is a vital renewable natural resource.

·       Life began almost 3.5 billion years ago.

·       2/3^rd is water- ocean water is saline.

·       Fresh water- 2.7 per cent. (of this 70% as ice sheets and glaciers in Antarctica, Greenland and mountain regions.)

·       Only 1 per cent of freshwater is available and fit for human use.

·       Water can neither be added nor subtracted from the earth. Its total volume remains constant.

·       Its abundance only seems to vary because it is in constant motion, cycling through the oceans, the air, the land and back again, through the processes of evaporation, precipitation and run-off. This is known as‘water cycle’.

Use of Water:

·       Water for agriculture, industries, generating electricity through reservoirs of dams are the other usages.

·       Increasing population, rising demands for food and cash crops, increasing urbanisation and rising standards of living are the major factors leading to shortages in supply of fresh water.

 

 

 

 

PROBLEMS OF WATER AVAILABILITY:

·       There is scarcity of water in many regions of the world.

·       Most of Africa, West Asia, South Asia, parts of western USA, north-west Mexico, parts of South America and entire Australia are facing shortages in fresh water supply.

·       Water shortage may be a consequence of variation in seasonal or annual precipitation or the scarcity is caused by overexploitation and contamination of water sources.

CONSERVATION OF WATER RESOURCES:

·       Afforestation

·       Rainwater harvesting

·       Forest and other vegetation cover slow the surface runoff and replenish underground water.

·       Lining Canals to minimise water losses by water seepage.

·       Sprinklers effectively irrigate the area by checking water losses through seepage and evaporation.

·       In dry regions with high rates of evaporation, drip or trickle irrigation is very useful.

NATURAL VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE:

·          Natural vegetation and wildlife exist only in thebiosphere.

·          Ecosystem- Life supporting system.

·          Vegetation and wildlife are valuable resources.

·          Plants provide timber, give shelter to animals, produce oxygen we breathe, protects soils, act as shelter belts, help instorage of underground water, give fruits, nuts, latex, turpentine oil, gum, medicinal plants and also the paper.

·          Wildlife includes animals, birds, insects as well as the aquatic life forms- provide us milk, meat, hides and wool.

·          Vulture due to its ability to feed on dead livestock is a scavenger and considered a vital cleanser of the environment.

·          Heavy rain- Abundant trees

·          Forest- Evergreen or Deciduous

Extinction of Natural Resources:

·       Deforestation

·       Soil Erosion

·       Constructional activities

·       Forest fires

·       Tsunami

·       Landslides

·       Poaching of Animals

DISTRIBUTION OF NATURAL VEGETATION:

·       The growth of vegetation depends on temperature and moisture.

·       The major vegetation- forests, grasslands, scrubs and tundra.

·       In areas of heavy rainfall, huge trees may thrive.

·       The forests are thus associated with areas having abundant water supply.

·       As the amount of moisture decreases the size of trees and their density reduces.

·       In the regions of moderate rainfall short stunted trees and grasses grow forming the grasslands of the world.

·       In dry areas of low rainfall, thorny shrubs and scrubs grow. In such areas plants have deep roots andleaves have thorny and waxy surface to reduce loss of moisture by transpiration.

·       Tundra vegetation- mosses and lichens.

CONSERVATION OF NATURAL VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE:

·       Changes of climate and human interferences can cause the loss of natural habitats for the plants and animals.

·       Many species have become vulnerable or endangered and some are on the verge of extinction.

·       Some of these animals are tiger, lion, elephant, deer, black buck, crocodile, rhinoceros, snow leopard, ostrich and peacock. These can be conserved by increasing awareness.

·       National parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves are made to protect our natural vegetation and wildlife.

·       Conservation of creeks, lakes, and wetlands is necessary to save the precious resource from depletion.

·       Due to indiscriminate killings, several birds and animals have either become extinct or are on the verge of extinction.

·       Awareness programmes like social forestry and Vanamohatasava should be encouraged at the regional and community level.

·       School children should be encouraged for bird watching and visiting nature camps so that they appreciate the habitat of varied species.

·       Many countries have passed laws on trades as well as killing of birds and animals are illegal.

·       In India, killing of lions, tigers, deers, great Indian bustards and peacocks have been banned.

·       An international convention CITES(Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)has been established that lists several species of animals and birds in which trade is prohibited.

·       CITESProhibit trade and see if it does not threaten the survival- 5,000 animal species and 28,000 plant species. Examples include bears, corals, dolphins, cacti, orchids and aloes

·       Conservation of plants and animals is an ethical duty ofevery citizen.

 

……...the end………