CONTENT
1.0 Introduction 2.0 Objectives 3.0 Main Content
3.1 Meaning and objectives of conservation 3.2 Energy conservation
3.3 Mineral conservation
3.4 Conservation of renewable resources 3.5 Fish conservation
3.6 Biodiversity conservation 4.0 Conclusion
108 5.0 Summary
6.0 Tutor-Marked Assignment 7.0 References/Further Reading 1.0 INTRODUCTION
Man is an important factor in the environment whose activities interfere positively or negatively with the environment. The various activities of man lead exchange of material within the environment in a continuous cycle. With the increase in population, urbanization, industrialization and agricultural production activities much pressure is exacted on the environment leading to environmental degradation. This calls for efficient use, conservation and management of the environment and natural resources in general.
In this unit, the students will be made to understand the meaning and objectives of conservation, energy conservation, mineral conservation, conservation of renewable resources, fish and biodiversity conservation.
2.0 OB JECTIVES
At the end of this unit, the student should to be able to know:
• Meaning and objectives of conservation
• Energy conservation
• Mineral conservation
• Conservation of renewable resource
• Fish conservation
• Biodiversity conservation 3.0 MAIN CONTENT
3.1 Meaning and Objectives of Conservation
Conservation is the summation of efforts made by man to achieve environmental friendliness and reduce loss of biodiversity and biosphere to the advantage of all life including that of man.
Jhingan, and Sharma (2008) defined conservation as management for the benefits of mankind, biosphere to ensure sustainable benefits to the present generation and maintaining its potential with a view to meet the needs and aspirations of the future generation. The objectives of conservation include:
i. ensure environmental protection through conservation ii. efficient and rational use of natural resources
iii. proctect the earth to ensure a sustainable living and lifestyles.
3.2 Energy Conservation
The purpose of energy conservation is to:
i. improve the efficiency of energy supply systems,
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ii. decrease the energy intensiveness of a given standard of living through a life style that is acceptable. For instance, thermostat settings, lighting levels or smaller cars and car-polling,
iii. shifting from gas or electricity to solar energy system.
Optimum energy conservation means a long run efficient use of energy for benefit of mankind and short run effect. Energy conservation requires that:
i. value of energy saved must be equal or greater than the additional operating cost or investment at a discounted rate required to achieve it,
ii. there must be an increase in energy supply when compared with an alternative energy source of supply,
iii. the alternative conservation option must be superior in terms of cost implication (including capital investment, price
iv. of energy, socioeconomic and environmental impacts) of non-exhaustive energy source.
3.3 Mineral Conservation
Mineral conservation involves the efficient use of mineral resources. Some energy resources like non-renewable energy resources cannot be recycled or reused; therefore, they require efficient and proper management. Environmental pollution emanating from mining activities can be reduced through efficient methods. Examples of non-renewable mineral resources that cannot be recycled or reused include: coal, oil and natural gas. Some examples of mineral resources that can be recycled or reused to some extent include: copper and aluminum.
3.4 Conservation of Renewable Resource
Land, soil, minerals, water, vegetation and wildlife are important resources that support the growth and performance of plants and animals that are beneficial to man. It is there important to conserve these resources to avoid misuse and depletion. Soil conservation involves several measures aimed at sustaining the soil and preventing soil degradation. Some these measures include: erosion control measures, planting of trees and cover crops, strip cropping and crop rotation methods.
Water conservation measures involve efficient water use (avoid wasting of water), encourage water recycling, reduce water pollution (this involves treating sewage and industrial waste before disposing them) and adopting good technologies for groundwater recharge (like use of dug-wells and pounds. Efficient use of water or management is essential in human development, water availability and sustenance as improvement of water cycle and crop production.
Forest conservation is important as provides among other things raw material, income, employment, fuel, coal and provide home for both micro and macro animals. It is also essential in regulating the amount of rain fall, erosion control, silting of streams and floods. Forest control measures include: avoidance of indiscriminate felling of trees, deforestation and bush burning.
Use of pesticide and insecticide that can destroy insects in the forest but may pollution and harm to other organism should be avoided.
110 3.5 Fish Conservation
Fish is an important natural resource that is useful in supplementing the existing food resource.
Therefore, there is the need to ensure increased yield of this important resource. For increased yield of fish, it is important to pay attention to artificial breeding under controlled conditions in lakes, ponds, rivers and seas. Fish conservation practices involves the regulation of fishing and of fish production, prohibition of overfishing, ensuring that only fully matured fish is harvested and increased rate of fish breeding should be done.
3.6 Biodiversity Conservation
Increasing search of wide life for food, income generation and human sustenance has lead to extinction or disappearance of some wildlife species. Some important animal species have gone into extinction as a result of over-exploitation for either domestic or commercial purposes. For example, the selling of the skin of leopards, tigers and other animal have drastically reduced the existence of these animals. Animals like lion are almost going into nonexistence.
Biodiversity conservation measures requires: positive incentive measures that will encourage require individuals, private organizations and government to protect biodiversity. This positive incentive could be in the form of monetary terms or alternative form. Introduction of internalization of the cost of use and damage to biodiversity should be adopted. This measure will not only help to reduce but discourage measures that lead to depletion of biodiversity resources. Another conservation measure is to encourage eco-label for the biological resources.
An effective and practical approach involving local task force in monitoring should be implemented. Government should ban the exploration and export endangered animal and plant species. Other measures include: well planned and coordinated efforts for sustainable use of biodiversity within forestry, fisheries and agricultural system. There should be equitable sharing of biodiversity using social and economic instruments.
4.0 CONCLUSION
In this unit you have been made to understand the meaning and objectives of conservation, energy conservation, mineral conservation, conservation of renewable resources, fish conservation and biodiversity conservation.
5.0 SUMMARY
Conservation is the summation of all human efforts aimed at preventing environmental degradation.
It is focused on relative aspects to environmental protection through conservation, rational use of mineral resources and protection earth for sustainable life.
Energy conservation involves the various measures used to improve the efficiency of energy supply systems and decrease the energy intensiveness of a given standard of living through a life style that is acceptable.
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Mineral conservation involves the efficient use of mineral resources. Some energy resources like non-renewable energy resources cannot be recycled or reused; therefore, they require efficient and proper management.
Land, soil, minerals, water, vegetation and wildlife are important resources that support the growth and performance of plants and animals that are beneficial to man.
Efficient use of water or management is essential in human development, water availability and sustenance as improvement of water cycle and crop production.
Forest conservation is important as provides among other things raw material, income, employment, fuel, coal and provide home for both micro and macro animals.
6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT
1. Define the term conservation and state why it is important to conserve natural resources 2. Briefly explain energy and mineral conservation
7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READING
Jhingan, M.L and C.K Sharma (2008). Environmental Economics: Theory, Management and Policy. 2nd Edition. Vrinda Publications (P) Ltd.
Lekhi, R.K and Joginder Singh (2016). Agricultural Economics: An Indian Perspective. Eleventh Edition. Diamond Agencies PVT Ltd., B – 125, Sec – 63 Noida
MODULE 5: ECONOMICS OF IRRIGATION AND WATER USE IN AGRICULTURE,