Explain Environment.
The word environment refers to the surroundings and things found on earth both physical and cultural
which differ from place to place.
It also means conditions within which something exists. It is made up of components
Which do not work independently but depends on each other.
COMPONENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT
The components of the environment are divided into living and non-living components.
If human activities are considered central, then the environment is divided into natural and cultural
components.
i. Natural Component: Physical and living environment, atmosphere, hydrosphere,
lithosphere, animal and plant.
ii. Political Environment: Political instructions – decision – making.
iii. Economic Environment: Economic systems, Economic Institutions, Rural and Urban
landscape.
iv. Social and Cultural Environment: Cultural and Social Institutions, beliefs, customs
and Traditions.
Outline causes of environmental degradation.
Environmental degradation refers to any action that makes the environment less fit for human, plants and
animal life. And the following are some of the causes of environmental degradation.
a. Over population: More people concentrated in one area. This brings a lot of
environmental problems such as cutting more trees for construction, charcoal, production
and many more.
b. Pollution: It refers to the reduction in the quality of environment by introducing harmful
material in it.
Generally pollution takes two (2) forms.
- Natural Waste (Organic/Inorganic). Organic waste are things like grass,
leaves which do not pollute the environment while inorganic wastes include
elements of compounds such as lead, Sulphur and copper found in rocks and
one found in small quantities in our bodies. However, they are very poisonous,
once mined. They contaminate rivers, streams, lakes, ground water supplies,
soil and even air. - Synthetic Waste: People are able to make new chemical compounds called
synthetic chemicals such as pesticide, fertilizers, clothes, cleaning material,
plastics, cosmetics, building materials. Some of these materials are proved to
be harmful to the environment.
Note: Biodegradable Substance is the material that decomposes in the environment as a
result of biological action.
Non Degradable substances: These are synthetic substances that do not decompose so easily
for example; plastics can remain in the environment for hundred years because organisms that
feed on them are rear.
c. Depletion of Resources: A Resource is any source of raw material or object that human
being are able to use to sustain life or produces wealth. A resource is depleted or used up
when it becomes less available for its intended function or use. Resources can get depleted
in three (3) ways: (converting them into another substance; displaced to another location;
and by being polluted).
Examples of resource depletion
- Soil Erosion: Comes as a result of the removal of the vegetation cover due to human activities.
- Deforestation: The high demand for timber and domestic use has led to the destruction of
forests. - Desertification: If a gradual destruction of the capacity of semi and lands for plant and animal
production. Also overgrazing and over cultivation of grasslands leads to rapid decrease in soil
nutrients reducing the chance for further growth of vegetation. Loss of plant cover promotes
aridity and desertification. - Over Fishing. Rapid increase in global fish harvest has resulted in over fishing. This leads to
depletion of some fish species (e.g. the use of illegal fishing methods like use of mosquito net
and poisoning). - Fresh Water: The demand for water for irrigation, power generation, domestic and industrial
use has exceeded sustainable supplies of the world resulting into depletion of fresh water. - Climate Change: Human beings have altered the environment through many activities such as
excess emission of carbon dioxide from burning fuels, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCS), from
refrigerators, aerosol sprays, our conditions and methane into the atmosphere. This has led to
global warming (increase in global temperature resulting in the melting of glaciers and rise in
mean sea levels which in turn may cause flooding of the coastal regions).
Note: The gases contribute to the destruction of the ozone layer which filters harmful
ultraviolet rays from the sun. Further, global warming has resulted in changes in the weather
pattern globally. - War: War is a combination of all environmental problems. It leads to pollutions and depletion
of resources far more than any single peace time activity.
Identify major environment issues in Zambia.
Zambia Environment Management Authority (ZEMA) formally known as the
Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) has identified the following major environmental
concerns in Zambia.
a. Deforestation: This is the indiscriminate destruction of forests. Vegetation is cleared for a
purpose of wood fuel, timber, farming and settlement among others
Note: Unstable utilization of forests when left unchecked eventually leads to forest depletion.
Therefore, there should be deliberate effort by the government and the community as a whole to
replant trees (re-afforestation). Thus re-afforestation means planting of trees to replace destroyed
forests while afforestation is the planting of trees where there was no forest before.
Benefits of afforestation and re-afforestation:-
- Assured supply of charcoal and firewood.
- Sustainable supply of building timber.
- Protection of soil from erosion.
- Some plants fix nitrogen in the soil.
- Some plants provide fruits and herbs for medicine use.
- Collection of mushrooms, caterpillars, nuts and honey.
b. Wildlife depletion: Various species of birds and animals are becoming few in number due to
unlawful killing (poaching).
c. Pollution: Pollution of air, soil and water is an environmental issue in Zambia. This is as a result
of rapid in the generation of wastes due to Industries and rapid population increase.
Note: Suggested legal actions to prevent pollution in Zambia. - Restrictions: Some pollutants are so toxic that even in small quantity they can kill wildlife,
domestic animals, agricultural crops and human beings. Thus the government should abolish
the production of such harmful substances. - Qualified Restrictions: Some pollutants are not very dangerous such as Sulphur dioxide
which is released whenever fossil fuels are burned. It is harmful in many ways. Therefore, the
government can permit a specific emission levels. If the mine emits more than expected, it
must be fined. - Subsidies: Government can encourage environmentally friendly practices by Industries. Tax
deduction can be given to these Industries and Companies that do not pollute the environment. - Residual Charge: Industries and individuals who pollute the environment can be charged the
amount of money proportional to the quantity of the pollutant emitted. - Other Measures: Establishment of recycling plants by all local authorities (councils); regular
and efficient collection and disposal of waste in designated sites, discourage the use of nondegradable materials such as plastic bags.
d. Waste: Is another type of pollution. It includes food, dirt, paper, bottles, plastic bags and
containers. Poor waste disposal and management leads to deterioration of the environment as a
result there are a lot of diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
e. Land Degradation: Human activities have led to land degradation in the quest to bring economic
development. Activities such as agriculture, settlement, mining and quarrying have made changes
to the natural landscape.
f. Inadequate Sanitation: Poor sanitary conditions especially in towns like Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe
and Livingstone have been regarded as being responsible for the outbreak of communicable
diseases such as cholera, dysentery and typhoid. The use of pit latrines and shallow wells for
domestic water supply as well as the use of untreated water contribute to the spread of such
diseases.
Discuss Environmental Management
Environmental Management refers to the measures and controls directed at environmental conservation and
sustainable use of resources.
Note: In Zambia Environmental Management activities are coordinated by an umbrella body called
Zambia Environmental Management Authority (ZEMA) formally Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ).
The table below shows some important institutions that promote environment management in Zambia, and
their specific roles.
Discuss the importance of biodiversity in the management of the environment.
Bio-diversity or Biological diversity is a term used to describe a large variety and variability of living things
and the ecological environment in which they occur.
*There is a large variety of micro-organisms, plants and animals all around us and they depend on each
other.
*Bio-diversity is considered at three levels.
I. Genetic Diversity: Is the measure of the variability within and between species.
II. Species Diversity: Refers to the total number of species in a given area.
III. Ecosystem Diversity: This refers to a variety of habitants within which species occur.
The significance of bio-diversity: In Zambia bio-diversity is important for the following reasons;
The majority in Zambia depend on the variety of local resources in their areas which
includes plants for various purposes such as fruits and leaves which act as a source of food.
Apart from plants, human beings also depend on animals, fish and birds.
Plants are not only used as a source of food but also for construction purposes.
Various biological resources such as micro-organisms are used in the preparation of
medicines.
It also maintains ecological balance.
Bio-diversity also has aesthetic and recreational value. Game viewing, sightseeing,
mountain climbing, safari hunting all depend on bio-diversity.
Threats to Bio-diversity: Biodiversity in Zambia is increasingly coming under pressure by both human
and natural factors. These include:
Land use conflict between human and animals.
Massive development of settlement and related activities.
Pollution.
Deforestation.
Over exploitation of resources such as over fishing and game poaching.
Climate change such as occurrence of frequent droughts.
Lack of biodiversity knowledge by the public.
Management of Biodiversity: Zambia signed and ratified the convention on Biodiversity in 1992
and 1993 respectively. By so doing Zambia committed itself to the conservation of genetic species
and ecosystem diversity in a sustainable manner and to share equitably the benefits derived from
the utilization of these resources.
Zambia came up with Biodiversity Strategic Plan which is based on the following:-
a. Ensure conservation of the natural ecosystem through network of protected areas.
b. Conservation of genetic diversity of crops and livestock.
c. Improvement of legal and institutional framework as well as human resource development to
implement strategies and conservation; sustainable utilization as well as equitable sharing of
benefits from biodiversity management.
d. Development of an appropriate legal framework on the risk involved in the use of genetically
modified organism (GMOS).
State some International Conventions on Environmental Management.
Basel Convention on the Control of Trans Boundary Movement of Hazardous Waste
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
Convention on the protection of World Cultural and National Heritage.
Convention on the protection of the Ozone Layer.
