Environmental Hazard and Environmental Resources

Subject: Geography Week 3

 Class:      SS1    

Topic: Environmental Hazard and Environmental Resources

Specific Objectives: By the end of this lesson the students should be able to;

1. Define environmental hazard
2. State the types of environmental hazard
3. Define environmental resources
4. Mention the types of environmental resources
5. State the importance of the various environmental resources

                            ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD    

 This refers to the disasters which affects lives and properties within the environment as a result of the action of man and other natural phenomena. The influence of these problems on the ecosystem and biosphere threatens the very existence of life in the earth. These environmental problems include;

1. Environmental pollution: Pollution can be defined as the release of toxic or harmful substances into the environment by natural forces or man and other animals to an extent that causes biological damage to man and his resources. Increase in industrial waste into the air, water and land is affecting the environment.
2. Deforestation: This is the deliberate removal of trees from the forest without replacement. This will deprive human beings from getting food and other resources from the forest.
3. Soil Erosion: This is the gradual removal of the soil surface either by wind or water. This tends to remove the fertile nutrients from the top soil.
4. Population Explosion: This is the rapid increase in population due to high birth rate by human beings. This tends to reduce social amenities from the environment
5. Global Warming: The activity of man is greatly affecting the environment in such a negative way, thereby causing global warming in the environment.
6. Climate Change: The negative effect of the activity of man is fast causing climatic changes in the environment. Such climatic change is fast affecting human beings on the earth.
7. Desert encroachment: The desert especially the Sahara desert is fast encroaching into the land and this can cause loss of farmland and other resources that are useful to man.
8. Drought: This simply refers to dryness which occurs as a result of lack of precipitation or rainfall received within an area at any given period of time. It can be controlled by avoidance of overgrazing, planting of cover crops and irrigation scheme.
9. Flooding: This can be defined as the accumulation of excessive quantity of water in an area without flowing away easily. This can be controlled by proper channelization of water ways, avoiding refuse dumping along water channels, through construction of bridges and wider culverts.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES

These are useful things which occur in the environment that are beneficial to man, animals and plants. They include both organic and inorganic materials.

These are found in air, water, land, vegetation etc.

Types of Environmental Resources

1. Atmospheric resources: These are the elements such as air, wind, gases, water vapour, sunlight etc. which are beneficial to man. The atmosphere contains about 21% Oxygen, 78%Nitrogn, 0.91% Argon, Neon and Helium, 0.03% carbon dioxide, 0.001% water vapour, smoke and dust particles

Importance of Atmospheric Resources

1. Oxygen is essential for respiration in animals and for combustion
2. Oxygen combines with water during chemical weathering
3. It is an important industrial gas
4. Carbon dioxide is used by plants for the manufacturing of protein. Nitrogen combines with Oxygen, water and sunlight to enable plants produce their food
5. Water vapour in the atmosphere form rain

2. WATER RESOURCES : These are both living and non- living things derived from water and are beneficial to man

Importance of Water Resources

1.  Water is essential in agriculture. Water from the sea, river, lakes can be used for irrigation purposes
2. Water resources serve as food to man e.g. fish, shrimps, crayfish etc.
3. Water is also used for transportation purposes e.g. canoes, boat, ship etc.
4. Water is used for domestic and industrial purposes
5. Water is used to generate power as hydroelectric power
6. Water serves as tourist attraction e.g. lakes (Agulu lake), beach (Bar beach Lagos)
7. Water is used for recreational purpose e.g. swimming
8. Rivers, oceans provide valuable minerals such as table and industrial salt, petroleum etc.

3. Vegetative Resources :  These are product derived from both forest and Savannah vegetation which are useful to man and animals

Importance of Vegetative Resources

1. vegetation provides wood used for timber
2. vegetation provides fruits and vegetables
3. latex sap and wax are derived from forest
4. medical herbs gotten from roots, leaves, tree bark are derived from the forest
5. Game resources are developed in the forests example is the Yankari game reserve in Bauchi state, Obudu cattle ranch in Cross river state of Nigeria etc.

4. Mineral Resources: Mineral resources include

1. Energy minerals e.g. coal, petroleum, natural gas, uranium
2. Ferrous and non – ferrous metals e.g. Iron ore, zinc, tin, bauxite, lead, bronze etc.
3. Precious metals e.g. gold, gem, diamond, silver and platinum
4. Construction minerals: e.g. stones, marble, limestone, asbestos, clay, gravel and sand.
5. Minerals for agriculture e.g. phosphate used for the production of fertilizer (NPK)

Importance of Mineral Resources

1. They are used in industries as both sources of energy and raw materials.
2. They are used for construction e.g. gravel, sand, limestone zinc, marble etc.
3. Minerals are used for power generation e.g. petroleum, coal, natural gas.
4. Serves as a source of ornament e.g. precious metals
5. Minerals generate foreign exchange for the government.  

5. Human Resources: Man is the organiser and co-ordinator of all the resources in the environment.

Importance of Human Resources

1.  Human resources supply labour which is needed for the growth of the economy.
2. Ability to organize and control other resources
3. Efficiency in defence can only be achieved with large population
4. Development : This is only achievable with healthy and educated members of a society