UNIT7: ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY
1.Do you think natural vegetation should be protected? Justify your answer.
2. Do you think that leopards and other dangerous wild animals have any importance for us? Explain.3. State physical elements of environment in the pictures above.
Text: The Physical elements of environment
Human life is surrounded by physical environment. It is this physical
environment that makes life possible on earth. These physical elements of
environment are tangible and people can touch or feel them. For the safe
survival of life on earth these natural resources should be protected and
preserved. They comprise of the basic elements like climate, vegetation,
water, air, soil among others.
Climate is a combination of various dimensions like temperature, rain,
humidity and air. Climate changes with respect to the place, situation, region
and location. In a colder region the climate is generally healthy, but increase
in the humidity offers a favorable condition for the growth of microorganisms
and spread of respiratory problems, and disease related to the bones.
Natural vegetation is affected by the climate and temperature of the region.
Thus natural vegetation is the outcome of the local environment. Vegetation
provides food to human beings. It is the combination of sun, water and
soil, which produces rich vegetation. A good forest can and does produce
enough material to sustain human habitation. It is of great advantage to have
agricultural fields in the vicinity of a forest.
Soil is also on one of the most important physical elements of environment. The
top layer of land is soil, which is of various types. The chemical composition of
the soil gives nutrition to plants and trees to increase the productivity. Sandy
Soil, rocky and clay will affect the environment and climate vegetation. Clay
has lot of moisture in it and keeps the water level high in which disease
producing bacteria and virus grow. Sandy soil contains sand particles, which
can damage the eyes and spread diseases like Trachoma, intestinal worms
and other disease-producing microorganisms.
In addition to soil, water is physical element of environment of a great
importance. Human beings get water from rivers, ponds, well, spring, lakes
and seas. The drying-up and replenishment of water from all these sources
is a natural process. Underground water in wells and tube well replenish
water from the rainwater seepage.
Water is utilized for a variety of functions by various bodies, such as,
household water consumption, industrial institutions, and local bodies like
municipalities, fire extinguishers, different improvement trusts, in hotels,
parks, and hospitals among others
Adapted from http://www.preservearticles.com/articles/what-are-the-basic-
elements-of-our-enviroment/7929
Comprehension questions
1. What are the physical elements of environment mentioned in the first paragraph?
2. State three factors that govern climate change mentioned in the passage.
3. Explain advantages and disadvantages of a colder region.
4. What do you understand by “natural vegetation is the outcome of the local environment”?
5. What is the role of natural vegetation in human life?
6. Explain how soil types affect the environment and climate vegetation.7. Mention at least three utilizations of water.
2. Use each of the words in the table above in your own sentence.
Text: The role of environmental features
Life on Earth is possible primarily because there are environment features that
allow it to flourish. These features are part of our physical environment and
part of our everyday experience. Some people may not be thinking about
the role these environment features play in our life. From the food we eat to
the oxygen we breathe, environment features play irreplaceable role. Those
environment features include water, trees and animals.
Water is one of the most important substances on earth. All plants and
animals must have water to survive. If there was no water there would be
no life on earth. Apart from drinking it to survive, people have many other
uses for water. These include: cooking, washing their bodies, washing
clothes, washing cooking and eating utensils; such as saucepans, crockery
and cutlery, keeping houses and communities clean, recreation; such as
swimming pools keeping plants alive in gardens and parks. Water is also
essential for the healthy growth of farm crops and farm stock and is used in
the manufacture of many products.
Trees are an important part of every community. Our streets, parks,
playgrounds and backyards are lined with trees that create a peaceful,
aesthetically pleasing environment. Trees increase our quality of life by
bringing natural elements and wildlife habitats into urban settings. We gather
under the cool shade they provide during outdoor activities with family and
friends. Many neighborhoods are also the home of very old trees that serve
as historic landmarks and a great source of town pride. Using trees in cities
to deflect the sunlight reduces the heat island effect caused by pavement
and commercial buildings.
Trees contribute to their environment by providing oxygen, improving
air quality, climate amelioration, conserving water, preserving soil, and
supporting wildlife. During the process of photosynthesis, trees take in
carbon dioxide and produce the oxygen we breathe. According to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, one acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbondioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual
needs of 18 people. Trees, shrubs and turf also filter air by removing dust
and absorbing other pollutants like carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and
nitrogen dioxide. After trees intercept unhealthy particles, rain washes them
to the ground.
Animals, from ants to elephants, represent a natural resource of great
significance for most forest-dwelling communities, as well as for those living
in many other rural contexts. In spite of this, most development projects
ignore their role in subsistence as well as non-subsistence rural economies.
The contribution of wildlife to rural livelihoods should not be undervalued.
Wild animal species have other values that are non-consumptive in nature.
These include religious and spiritual values, values due to the willingness of
tourists to pay to see them, biotic function values, and ecological values in
the equilibrium of their habitats.
Comprehension questions
1.What are the three environment features mentioned in the first paragraph?
2. Mention at least six uses of water.
3. Apart from water, trees and animals, state at least other three physical elements of the environment that are mentioned in the passage.
4. Can trees play a historic role? Justify your answer.
5. Using information got from the passage discuss the following statement: “Trees are lungs of human beings”.
6.On top of consumptive role, mention at least other four roles (importance) of animals.
2. Write a short composition explaining how animals play an important rolein the equilibrium of ecological habitats.
Text: Environment protection in Rwanda
As a country that aspires to rapid economic growth, Rwanda has set a broad
and inclusive national target, known as Vision 2020. The idea is to bring all
Rwandans into the country’s development journey, integrating green growth
and climate resilience strategies. For more than a decade, Rwanda has
taken a proactive approach and put environment and climate change at
the heart of all the country’s policies, programmes and plans. The measures
taken include banning plastic bags, forest cover, landscape restoration, the
green fund and green politics.
As far as banning plastic bags is concerned, Rwanda was the first countries
to ban plastic bags. Rwanda’s mission to maintain a clean and healthy
environment has been going since 2008 when it banned the use of non-
biodegradable plastic bags and packaging materials. To date, Rwandans
use only bags made from paper, cloth, banana leaves and papyrus, among
other biodegradable materials. It has made a difference. The plastic-bag
ban has earned the country a reputation as one of the cleanest countries in
Africa. In 2008, Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, was declared one of the cleanest
cities in Africa by UN Habitat. It also created opportunities for entrepreneurs
who invested in alternative packaging materials (cloths, papers, banana
leaves and papyrus).
As for forest cover, Rwanda is determined to achieve its goal of increasing
forest cover to 30% of total land area by 2020, Rwanda has embarked on
massive reforestation and tree-planting drive, and new measures such
as agro-forestry and training schemes in forest management are being
implemented. These efforts, along with the plastic-bag ban, earned the
nation a Future Policy Award from World Future in 2011.
In addition to forest cover, Rwanda resorted to landscape restoration.
Rwanda’s commitment to conserve the environment has been seen through
the protection and restoration of degraded ecosystems such as wetlands,
lakes and natural forests. Forests such as Nyungwe, Gishwati and Mukura
have been restored and upgraded into national parks. The promotion of
these parks, home to a vast variety of flora and fauna, has contributed to
the growth of the tourism sector that is currently the principal generator of
foreign currency.
Along with landscape restoration, Rwanda established The Green Fund. This
fund supports the best public and private projects that have the potential for
transformative change and that support Rwanda’s commitment to building
a green economy. The fund has mobilized around $100 million to date and
is a leading example of the impact that well-managed climate financing can
have.
On top of The Green Fund, Rwanda adopted green politics. As a fast-
growing nation, Rwanda has the opportunity to bypass old technologies and
environmentally destructive development and build an economy that can
withstand a changing climate and that provides prosperity for generationsto come.
For a country to achieve sustainable development, environmental
sustainability must be taken into consideration. This applies to policies,
legislation and programmes alike. Over the past years, the government
has taken measures to ensure national development is in harmony with the
protection of the environment.
Adapted from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/05/5-ways-rwanda-is-lead-
ing-on-green-growth/
Comprehension questions
1. What is the objective of Vision 2020 as far as the environment is concerned?
2. State four measures taken to protect environment in Rwanda.
3. Which of the measures made Rwanda earn a reputation as one of the cleanest countries in Africa?
4. Explain the economic role of banning plastic bags.
5. Which actions has Rwanda taken in favour of forest cover?
6. Explain the role of The Green Fund in protecting environment.
7.4. Language structure: Expressions of purpose
1. Identify the phrases used for expressing the purpose of actions in the following sentences:
a. Ntwali planted many trees at home so that he may have fresh air.
b. World citizens should avoid smokes to protect ozone layer.
c. We dig terraces so as to avoid landslides.
d. For a country to achieve sustainable development, environmental sustainability must be taken into consideration.
e. Over the past years, the government has taken measures to ensure national development is in harmony with the protection of the environment.
f. This key is for opening the front door, and that one is for the back.
g. Keep on planting trees in order to attract the rain and enjoy the flesh environment
Notes
Use of expressions of purpose:
Affirmative to + infinitive
• We dig terraces so as to avoid landslides
• We avoid smokes to protect ozone layer.
• Negative: so as not to + infinitive
• I’ll take a taxi so as not to be late.
• Take your shoes off so as not to wake them up. Two subjects: so that + subject + can
• I’ll open the door so that he can enter.
• She covered the hole so that water couldn’t come in.
NB. Could is used when the main clause is in the past. Instead of can/could
you may also find: may/ might, will/would/ should.
The following sentence structure is more colloquial(informal):
for + subject + to
Examples:
(+) I’ll open the door for you to enter.
(-) I’ll close the door for you not to go out.
General purpose (definitions) for + -ing
Examples:
a. A tin opener is something for opening tins.
b. That’s for peeling potatoes.
After prepositions and conjunctions -ing form is used, but when talking of a
particular use of something for can’t be used.
Example:I need a tin-opener to open this tin.
Choose the correct expression of purpose I. Choose the correct phrase for
the following:
1. They planted many trees........they may have a fresh air.
a. To
b. So as to
c. so that
2. When we arrived at Huye, we stopped..........see monkeys.
a. To
b. So as to
c. In order to
3. This oven is used..........bread.
a. for make
b. to make
c. for making
7.5. End unit assessment
I. Complete the following sentences using an appropriate word or phrase.
1. I woke up early ............................study for exams.
a. for b. in order to c. so
2. When I reached his home I stopped .............................. talk to him.
a. so b. for c. to
3. We stopped at the pub ........................ a drink.
a. for b. for having c. to
4. I went to Canada ............................ my brother.
a. to see b. for seeing c. Either could be used here
5. Sort your rubbish .............................. recycling.
a. to b. for c. so
6. I took the phone back to the store ....................... a replacement.
a. to get b. for getting c. Either could be used here
7. We started early ........................... we wouldn’t be late.
a. so b. so that c. Either could be used here
8. You need to be over 18 ......................... that film.
a. for watching b. to watch
c. Either could be used here
9. I am leaving early today ........................... the rush hour traffic.
a. for avoiding b. to avoid c. Either could be used here
II. Spelling and pronunciation
Use a dictionary and thesaurus to look up the missing pronunciation of the
words or phrases in the table below. Copy the table into your book and fill inthe blank spaces and practise reading them.
III. Write short notes on the following questions:
a. Why is it important to protect our resources?
b. Why do people cut down trees?
c. What happens to the soil when too many trees are cut down?
d. How do lakes become polluted?
IV. Using expressions of purpose, write a short composition describingdifferent ways of protecting environment.