Environmental Management – Brief Notes
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 3:47 PM
1. Rocks and Minerals and Their Exploitation
• Rock Cycle: Rocks change form over time due to heat, pressure, and erosion.
• Extraction Methods: Mining to get minerals from Earth (e.g. digging or drilling).
• Uses: Rocks provide building materials and fuels like coal and oil.
• Environmental Impact: Mining damages habitats and pollutes air and water.
• Management: Restore land after mining, recycle metals to reduce damage.
2. Energy and the Environment
• Non-renewable: Fossil fuels and nuclear power, which will eventually run out.
• Renewable: Sources like sunlight, wind, and water that won’t run out.
• Fossil Fuels: Release carbon dioxide, causing climate change.
• Energy Conservation: Save energy to reduce pollution and costs.
• Energy Mix: Countries use a mix of energy sources; more are shifting to clean energy.
3. Agriculture and the Environment
• Types:
○ Subsistence: Growing food for the farmer’s family.
○ Commercial: Large-scale farming to sell crops.
• Problems: Overuse of land causes soil to lose nutrients and erode.
• Soil Conservation: Farming methods that protect soil quality.
• Sustainable Farming: Environmentally friendly farming (e.g. no chemicals, tree planting).
4. Water and Its Management
• Water Cycle: Water moves between sea, air, and land through evaporation and rain.
• Sources: Natural sources include rivers and underground water.
• Problems: Water pollution harms humans and wildlife; overuse causes shortages.
• Water Treatment: Cleans water for safe drinking using filters and chemicals.
• Management: Store and manage water using dams, save water in homes.
5. Oceans and Fisheries
• Zones: Different parts of the ocean where various creatures live.
• Overfishing: Catching too many fish too fast, leading to shortages.
• Techniques: Set limits and protect areas to allow fish to recover.
• Pollution: Waste in the sea (like plastic or oil) harms marine life.
6. Managing Natural Hazards
• Types:
○ Geological: Earth-based (e.g., earthquakes).
○ Climatic: Weather-based (e.g., floods).
• Risk Management: Use technology and planning to reduce damage.
• Adaptation: Build safer structures and create warning systems.
7. The Atmosphere and Human Activities
• Structure: Layers of air around the Earth; weather happens in the lower layer.
• Greenhouse Gases: Trap heat, leading to global warming.
• Global Warming Effects: Causes ice to melt, sea levels to rise, and extreme weather.
• Air Pollution: Harmful gases from cars and factories cause health issues.
• Control: Reduce emissions using clean energy and regulations.
8. Human Population
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8. Human Population
• Population Growth: Increase in people due to births and migration.
• Carrying Capacity: Maximum number of people the Earth can support sustainably.
• Urbanisation: Movement to cities increases demand for resources.
• Management: Educate people, provide healthcare, and plan cities to avoid overcrowding.
9. Natural Ecosystems and Human Activities
• Biomes: Large natural areas like rainforests, deserts, and tundra.
• Human Impacts: Deforestation, pollution, and hunting reduce wildlife.
• Biodiversity Importance: Variety of life is needed for ecosystem health and human needs.
• Conservation: Protecting nature using parks, education, and restoration.
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