Questions and Activities
1. What can make what is today a renewable resource non-renewable tomorrow? Describe some actions that can prevent this from happening.
Answer: A renewable resource can become effectively non-renewable if the rate of extraction exceeds the rate of regeneration. Nature requires a specific time to heal and replenish. If we disturb this rhythm, the resource stock depletes faster than it can grow back.
- Example: Groundwater is renewable via rain, but in Punjab, it is extracted faster than rain can replenish it, leading to dried-up aquifers. Similarly, forests are renewable, but rapid deforestation turns them into barren land.
- Preventive Actions:
- Sustainable Harvest: Following regulations (e.g., fishing bans during spawning seasons).
- Afforestation: Planting more trees than are cut.
- Water Harvesting: Capturing rainwater to recharge aquifers.
- Circular Economy: Recycling and reusing materials to reduce demand on fresh resources.
2. Name five ecosystem functions that serve humans.
Answer: Ecosystem functions become “services” when they benefit humans. Five key functions include:
- Production of Oxygen: Trees and plants produce oxygen essential for human life.
- Water Filtration: Forests and soil naturally filter pollutants from water, providing clean groundwater.
- Soil Formation & Nutrient Cycling: Decomposition of organic matter enriches soil for agriculture.
- Pollination: Insects and birds pollinate crops, ensuring food production.
- Climate Regulation: Forests absorb carbon dioxide and regulate local temperatures and rainfall patterns.
3. What are renewable resources? How are they different from non-renewable ones? What can people do to ensure that renewable resources continue to be available for our use and that of future generations? Give two examples.
Answer:
- Definition: Renewable resources are those that can be replenished or reproduced by physical, chemical, or mechanical processes within a human timeframe (e.g., solar energy, wind, forests).
- Difference:
- Renewable: Unlimited or regenerates quickly (Sun, Wind).
- Non-Renewable: Finite and takes millions of years to form (Coal, Petroleum).
- Ensuring Availability (Stewardship):
We must respect the cycle of regeneration.
- Example 1 (Water): Use drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting to prevent groundwater depletion.
- Example 2 (Soil): Use organic fertilizers (compost) and crop rotation instead of chemicals to maintain soil health (as seen in Sikkim).
4. Identify cultural practices in your home and neighbourhood that point to mindfulness in the use of natural resources.
Answer: (Note: Students can answer this based on personal observation, but here are standard examples based on the text)
- Sacred Groves: Treating patches of forests as sacred prevents tree cutting.
- River Worship: Practices like offering Arghyam to the Sun or worshipping rivers (Ganga, Kaveri) traditionally promoted keeping water bodies clean (though modern pollution challenges this).
- Reuse/Recycling: Traditional Indian households often reuse containers, clothes, and water (e.g., using water from washing vegetables for plants).
- Food Habits: Eating seasonal and local produce reduces the carbon footprint associated with transport and storage.
5. What are some considerations to keep in mind in the production of goods for our current use?
Answer: When producing goods, we must consider:
- Source Sustainability: Are raw materials being sourced without permanently damaging the ecosystem?
- Pollution Control: Does the manufacturing process release harmful waste? (e.g., Cement dust or chemical effluents).
- Waste Management: Can the final product be recycled or is it biodegradable?
- Social Impact: Does the production displace local communities or exploit labor?
- Efficiency: Maximizing output while minimizing energy and raw material input.