PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES

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THE ENVIRONMENT

The environment consists of all living and non-living things surrounding man. Our surroundings also consist of the interactions between the living things and the non-living things and the products of these interactions. These include water, air, culture, religion, land, food supply, and many other things.

 

TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTS

There are two basic types of the environment. These are the physical environment and the social environment.

THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

The physical environment can be defined simply as the surroundings within which man, animals and plants live.  The physical environment is subdivided into two (2) basic parts.

1.     Living (biotic) part: They are the living portion of the environment. Examples include plants, animals, bacteria, insects, and other living organisms.

2.     Non-living (abiotic) part: They consist of the things that influence life and human activities. Examples include the sun, weather, plants, water bodies, land etc.

Within the physical environment are natural and man-made resources

THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

The social environment consists of all individuals, groups, organizations, and systems with which a person encounters. It involves the conditions, circumstances and the interactions which include human beings. The social environment includes cultures, religion, and politics.

ELEMENT OF SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT


      i.        Home

     ii.        Ethnic group

     iii.        School

    iv.        Occupational structure

     v.        Religious and beliefs practices

   vi.          Politics

   vii.        Cultural practices

   viii.        Our social institutions

    ix.        Labour market

     x.        Power relations

    xi.        Government


ECOLOGY

The term ecology was introduced by the German biologist Ernst Heinrich Haeckel in 1866; it is derived from the Greek oikos (“household”).

Ecology refer to the study of the relationships between living organism and their interactions with their natural environment. In order words, ecology deals with the study of living things and how they interact with one another and with the other non-living things.

 

ECO-SYSTEM

The ecosystem refers to all the living things and the non-livings in a given area and the relationship that exist between them. The most important aspect of the relationship is the movement of food and energy.

 

HOW THE ECO SYSTEMS WORK

The ecosystem has six (6) main parts. These are:

  •       The sun
  •       Abiotic (non-living things)
  •       Primary producers
  •       Primary consumers
  •       Secondary consumers
  •       Decomposers

 

 

The sun is the producer of energy.

 Abiotic (non-living things) consist of the sun, water, air, nutrients.

 

Green plants make up the primary producers. Plants are able to convert energy from the sun into food in a process known as photosynthesis.

 

The primary consumers also known as herbivores are animals and insects. They obtain their energy solely by eating the green plants.

 

The secondary consumers (flesh-eating or carnivorous animals and omnivorous animals which include man). They obtain their energy by feeding on herbivores.

 

Finally, the decomposers. They are organisms such as fungi and bacteria that break down dead or dying matter into nutrients that can be used again.

 

Some or all of these various parts combine to form what is known as a food web or food chain, the ecosystem’s mechanism for circulating and recycling energy and materials.

 

FOOD CHAIN

Food chain refers to the hierarchy of different living things, each of which feeds on the one below.

Or

Food chain refers to the feeding relationships that exist amongst living organisms through which energy is passed on from one organism to another. Food chain begins with plant life and ends with animal life.

THE ATMOSPHERE

Atmosphere is defined as the body of air that surrounds the earth. The atmosphere has four (4) main layers. These layers are:

1.     The Troposphere: it is the lowest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere and the site for all weather conditions like the clouds, rains, and snow.

2.     The Stratosphere: it is the second layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. It contains the ozone layer which prevent some of the sun’s rays-the ultra-violet rays, from reaching the earth.

3.     The Mesosphere: it is a cold layer where the temperature generally decreases with increasing altitude.

4.     The Thermosphere: it the last layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. It is closer to the sun.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE ENVIRONMENT ON HUMAN ACTIVITIES.

The nature of the physical environment is the main reason for undertaking certain activities as humans. Throughout the world, it is the physical environment that dictate most of our daily activities. Practically, any kind of activity we undertake for the purpose of our material or physical well-being is as a result of the type of environment we live in. The influence of the physical environment on human activities especially in Ghana, can be seen in the following ways:

·         Farming activities in Ghana is influenced by the seasonal changes (rainy and dry seasons).

·         Environmental conditions (availability of fertile soil and water) for foodstuffs.

·         Human settlements are also influenced by the physical environment.

·         Forest resources. The forest is a source of wood for wood industry, furniture, and building. It also serves as the home for many animals.

·          Mining activities are also influenced by the physical environment.

·         Ghana largely depends on water for its power supply. The power supply depends on hydro.

 WAYS BY WHICH MAN CAN CONTROL THE ENVIRONMENT

Man can control the environment through the following means:

  •  Public education:
  • Technology
  •  Provision of dams and irrigation
  •  Scientific research

HOW INDIVIDUALS CAN ADAPT TO THE ENVIRONMENT TO MEET THEIR NEEDS

Below are some ways individuals can adapt to the physical environment to meet his or her needs:

1. Adopting appropriate farming practices

2. Cultivation of irrigation projects

3. Utilisation of solar energy

4. Encouraging the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (GAS).

5. Engaging in scientific research

6. Utilisation of space

 

IMPORTANCE OF THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

1. It serves as a source of employment

2. It serves as a source of food

3. It serves as a source of foreign exchange

4. It offers protection from the sun

5. It helps in the formation of rainfall

6. It serves as a source of medicine

7. It provides a site for building

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES

It refers to any condition that threaten or hinders the use of the environment for human survival. Examples of environmental challenges include air pollution, deforestation, water pollution etc.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION

It is the gradual destruction of the natural state and quality of the physical environment through the activities of man, animals, and natural disasters.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

It refers to the process of protecting and preserving the quality and quantity of the natural environmental resources so that they may provide greatest benefit to the present generation and for use by future generations.

FORMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION

1.  Land degradation or pollution (e.g. over grazing, sand winning, desertification, Bush burning, logging or lumbering, settlement and infrastructure etc)

2. Water degradation or pollution 

3. Air pollution

4. Noise pollution

 

LAND DEGRADATION

It is the gradual destruction of the natural state and quality of the physical environment through the activities of man, animals, and natural disasters.

 

There are basically three (3) main agents responsible for environmental degradation. These agents are:

i.              Man

ii.             Animals

iii.             Nature

SOME ACTIVITIES OF MAN, ANIMALS AND NATURE WHICH DEGRADE THE ENVIRONMENT


i.              Air pollution

ii.             Water pollution

iii.             Poor sanitation

iv.            Noise pollution

v.             Flooding

vi.            Mining activities

vii.           Bad farming practices

viii.           Bad fishing practices

ix.            Human settlement

x.             Overgrazing

xi.            Bush fires

xii.           Excessive quarrying

xiii.           Excessive sand winning

xiv.          Infrastructural development

xv.           Desertification

xvi.          Drought

xvii.         Poor irrigation methods

xviii.         Deforestation

xix.          Wrong application of agro-chemicals

xx.           Improper waste disposal

xxi.          Industrialization.


EFFECTS OF LAND DEGRADATION

i.              Destruction of aquatic life

ii.             Destruction of water bodies

iii.             Noise pollution leading to hearing disorders.

iv.            Creation of pits and holes which leads to breeding grounds for mosquitos.

v.             Deformities of lives

vi.            Spread od diseases.

vii.           Floods as a result of improper layout of settlements

viii.           Unreliable rainfall pattern

ix.            Pollution of the air

x.             Creation of soil erosion.

 

WATER POLLUTION

Water pollution refers to the process whereby water is contaminated or made impure through the activities of man and animals. Water pollution is harmful to the health of humans and aquatic life.

 

CAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION

1.     Liquid waste disposal from factories

2.     Indiscriminate dumping of refuse into water bodies

3.     Contamination of water bodies by animals

4.     Oil spillage from mining activities

5.     The use of chemicals for fishing

6.     The use of agro-chemicals for farming

7.     Washing, bathing, and urinating into water bodies

EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION

1.     Health problems

2.     Destroys water bodies.

3.     Destroys aquatic life.

4.     The domestic use of water is affected.

SOLUTIONS TO WATER POLLUTION

1.     Proper disposal of waste

2.     Exhibiting positive attitudes towards our water bodies

3.     Avoiding the use of chemicals for fishing

4.     Adopting proper use o agro-chemicals

AIR POLLUTION

Air pollution refers to a situation whereby through human activities, the air is made impure and harmful to living organisms. Primary pollutants air pollution includes carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, Sulphur oxide, dust from mining activities etc.

 

SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION OR CAUSES OF AIR POLLUTION

1.     Smokes of automobiles

2.     Smokes from the burning of solid wastes

3.     Bush burning

EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION

1.     Poor visibility

2.     Destruction of the vegetation

3.     Respiratory diseases

4.     Depletion of the ozone layer

5.     Global warning

6.     Climate changes

SOLUTION TO AIR POLLUTION

1.     Public education

2.     Enacting laws

3.     Recycling of waste

4.     Avoiding indiscriminate bush burning

 

 

POOR SANITATION

 

Poor sanitation refers to the indiscriminate disposal of waste. It hinders or threatens the survival of humans and other living organisms in the environment. This happens especially in towns and cities.

 

CAUSES OF POOR SANITATION

1.     Inadequate waste management companies

2.     Inadequate toilet facilities

3.     Inadequate waste collection bins

4.     Inability to access refuse dump.

5.     low level of literacy.

 

EFFECTS OF POOR SANITATION

1.     It makes the environment dirty.

2.     Flooding.

3.     It leads to the spread of diseases.

4.     High cost of treating water for human consumption.

5.     High cost of keeping the environment clean

SOLUTION TO POOR SANITATION

1.     Public education.

2.     Adequate provision of toilet facilities.

3.     Polluter pays principle.

4.     Effective waste management companies

5.     Periodic clean up exercises

FLOODING

Flooding may be defined as the overflow of water that submerges an area which is usually dry.

CAUSES OF FLOODING

1.     Inappropriate layouts of settlement

2.     Inappropriate drainage basin in the cities

3.     Rivers surrounded by steep channel.

4.     Lack of vegetation

EFFECTS OF FLOODING

1.     Loss of lives.

2.     Damage to humans and properties

3.     It affects the agricultural sector.

4.     It affects the transportation activities.

5.     Loss of soil nutrients

WAYS OF MINIMIZING FOOLDING

1.     Periodic clean up exercises

2.     Afforestation

3.     Public education

4.     Construction of dams

5.     Proper layouts of settlement

6.     Adoption of appropriate drainage basins

BUSH FIRES

Bush Fire refers to the indiscriminate setting of fire and the consequent destruction of forests and the vegetation.

 

CAUSES OF BUSH FIRES

1. Slash and burn farming practice: The agricultural method of farming which is based on the slash and burn system is one of the major causes of bush fires in Ghana. Most often after farmers have cleared the land for crop cultivation, fire is set to burn the weeds, sometimes without enough spacing from other farms. This often led to the outbreak of fire in the entire farming area. 

2. Palm-wine tapping: Another popular cause of bush fire is palm-wine tapping. In an attempt to heat the 'head' of a palm tree so as to prevent it from getting rotten, tappers carelessly drop some embers on dry grass, and this can result in the outbreak of bush fires.

 

3. Hunting

 

4. Cigarette butts: smoking could also account for most of the bush fires that Ghana has been experiencing over the years. When cigarette butts are thrown into the bush without quenching the fire, it could have a disastrous effect of destroying the bush with fire.

 

EFFECTS OF BUSH FIRE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

1. Loss of soil fertility

2. Destruction of vegetation cover

3. It could lead to desertification

4. It leads to air pollution

5. Extinction of animals

6. Homelessness

 

MEASURES TO CONTROL BUSH FIRE

1. Public education

2. Legislature

3. Adopting appropriate farming techniques

4. Fire belts

DESERTIFICATION 

It refers to the destruction of the biological potential of the land which leads to the destruction of the vegetation, thereby making the land less useful or unable to support plant growth.

 

 

CAUSES OF DESERTIFICATION

1.     Reduction in rainfall or continuous dry weather condition

2.     Poor irrigation methods

3.     Over-grazing

4.     Deforestation

5.     Over cultivation or over cropping

6.     Wrong application of agro chemical

7.     Bush burning

 

EFFECTS OF DESERTIFICATION

1. Loss of medicine

2. It leads to the drying up of water bodies

3. It leads to global warming

4. Wildlife are deprived of the natural habitant etc

 

MEASURES TO SOLVE DESERTIFICATION

1. Adopting proper land and water management practices

2. Public education

3. Reforestation

DEFORESTATION 

Deforestation refers to a situation whereby land that was once forest losses its trees and ceases to be forest. Or deforestation may be defined as the indiscriminate cutting down of trees without replacement.

CAUSES OF DEFORESTATION

1. Bush fires

2. Human settlement

3. Mining activities

4. Fuel wood and charcoal

5. Road construction

6. Lumbering and logging: the cutting of trees for timber and other uses contribute to the depleting of the forest. This situation is more serious when loggers have to cut down small trees in order to access big trees. All these contribute to the fast depletion of the forest.

7. Infrastructural development 

EFFECTS OF DEFORESTATION

Below are some of the effects of deforestation:

 

1. Loss of medicine; Herbal practitioners depend on the leaves and roots of trees which exist in the forest for herbal medicines. As many of the trees are cut down, medicines in the forest become scarce. The long-term effect is that it affects the health and well being of people who depend of these herbal medicines.

2. It leads to the drying up of water bodies

3. It leads to global warming

4. It accelerates desertification

5. It deprives wildlife their natural habitat.

 

MEASURES TO CONSERVE THE FOREST

There are many ways by which the forest can be conserved. Amongst them include:

1. Reafforestation

2. Creation of forest reserves

3. Adopting better farming practices

4. Public education

5. Alternate supply of fuel

6. Enacting laws to prosecute those put the forest at risk.

7. Enforcement of laws

8. Regulating and controlling the exploitation of timber

 

BENEFITS GHANA DERIVES FROM HER FOREST.

1.  Foreign exchange from the export of timber

2. Generation of revenue to the government

3. For domestic purposes

4. Medicinal supply

5. Construction works

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (E.P.A)

The Environmental Protection Agency is a public agency mandated to protect and improve the environment in Ghana.

 

FUNCTIONS OF THE E.P.A

1.     It advises the government on environmental issues.

2.     It undertakes environmental education.

3.     It conducts research.

4.     It enforces environmental laws.

5.     It undertakes environmental impact assessments.

6.     It direct and coordinate all activities of organizations and institutions involved in environmental management.