Assignment

Q1. What are renewable and non-renewable resources? Give examples

Ans 1. Most natural resources, such as coal and petroleum, were formed
millions of years ago. Other resources, such as sunlight, were present even
before the earth was formed. These resources are termed as natural resources
and are very important for life on earth. Natural resources are classified into
renewable resources and non-renewable resources.
 Renewable resources-can be replenished by natural processes as quickly as
humans use them. Examples include sunlight and wind. They are in no danger
of being used up. Metals and other minerals are renewable too. They are not
destroyed when they are used and can be recycled. E.g.- wind, sunlight etc...
 Non-renewable resources-are natural resources that exist in fixed
amounts and can be used up. Examples include fossil fuels such as
petroleum, coal, and natural gas. These fuels formed from the remains
of plants over hundreds of millions of years. We are using them up far
faster than they could ever be replaced. At current rates of use,
petroleum will be used up in just a few decades and coal in less than 300
years.
Q2. Discuss the major uses of forests. How would you justify that ecological
uses of forests surpass commercial uses? What are the major causes and
consequences of deforestation?
Ans 2. Major uses of forest are as follow-
 Forests help to regulate the climate of a place. They absorb water from the ground
through their roots, and then release some of it as water vapour. In this way, they
manage to keep the surrounding air cool. By raising the water vapour content of the
atmosphere, trees are responsible for bringing the rains, too
 Forests prevent soil erosion and floods. Roots of trees bind the soil particles
together and prevent the soil from being washed or blown away.
 Forests are a source of resins (used to make varnish and paint), latex (used to make
rubber), bamboo (useful as fodder, and serves as an important raw material for the
manufacture of paper and pulp, basket and other small-scale industries)

The ecological uses of forests surpass the commercial uses of it. This can be
inferred from the fact that although forest provides a lot of commercial
 benefits such as timber, firewood, pulpwood, food items, gum,
resins, non-edible oils, rubber, fibres, lac, bamboo canes, fodder,
medicine, drugs and many more items.
Forests are cut down for building office spaces and high-rise
buildings which destroys the home to many animals but it
provides economic benefits in a large amount. The ecological
benefits are as follows-
 Production of oxygen
The trees produce oxygen by photosynthesis which is vital
for life on this earth. They are rightly called as earth’s lungs.
 Reducing global warming:
The main greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (C02) is absorbed
by the forests as a raw material for photosynthesis. Thus
forest canopy acts as a sink for C02 thereby reducing the
problem of global warming caused by greenhouse gas CCX.
 Wildlife habitat:
Forests are the homes of millions of wild animals and
plants. About 7 million species are found in the tropical
forests alone.
 Regulation of hydrological cycle:
Forested watersheds act like giant sponges, absorbing the
rainfall, slowing down the runoff and slowly releasing the
water for recharge of springs. About 50-80 % of the
moisture in the air above tropical forests comes from their
transpiration which helps in bringing rains.

 Soil conservation:
Forests bind the soil particles tightly in their roots and
prevent soil erosion They also act as wind-breaks.

Causes of deforestation are as follows-

Fuelwood harvesting: Over-harvesting for domestic use or for
commercial trade in charcoal significantly damages forests.

Mining: The impact of mining on tropical forests is growing due

to rising demand and high mineral prices. Mining projects are
often accompanied by major infrastructure construction, such
as roads, railway lines and power stations, putting further
pressure on forests and freshwater ecosystems. 

Climate change: Forest loss is both a cause and an effect of our

changing climate. Climate change can damage forests, for
instance by drying out tropical rainforests and increasing fire
damage in boreal forests. 

Consequences are as follows-

Q3. What is an Aquifer? Discuss its types.

Ans 3.
Q4. Discuss how big dams have affected forests and tribals?
Ans 4.
Q5. What are the environmental impacts of ground water usage?
Ans 5.