CNR Module-1 Notes -

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CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES (18CV656)

MODULE -1
LAND: Land as a resource, types of lands, conservation of land forms,
deforestation, effect of land use changes. Soil health, ecological and economic
importance of soil, impact of soil degradation on agriculture and food security, need
for soil conservation, sustainable land use planning.

A r esour ce can be defined as ‘any natural or artificial substance, energy or

organism, which is used by human being for its welfare.
These resources can be two types:
(a) Natural resources.
(b) Artificial resources.
(a) Natural Resour ces: Resources which are obtained from nature are called natural r
esour ces. Natural resources are soil, air, water, minerals, coal, sunshine (sunlight),
animals and plants, etc.
(b) Artificial Resour ces: The resources, which have been developed by human beings
during the growth of civilization, are called artificial r esour ces. For example,
biogas, thermal electricity, plastics.
These man-made resources are generally derived from some other
natural resources. For example plastics from the natural resource
petroleum.
Classification of Natural Resources:
In Natural resources 2 types
a. Exhaustible b. Inexhaustible
(e.g. Petroleum) (e.g. solar energy, wind, rainfall, tidal
energy)
In Exhaustible 2 types
a. Renewable b. Non-renewable
(e.g. wind, water, forests) (e.g. coal, petroleum, iron, biological
species)
 Inexhaustible Resour ces: The
resources which cannot be exhausted by
human
consumption are called inexhaustible resources.
OR
Resources which are present in un ited quantity and cannot be completely
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used up by human activities.

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These include energy sources like solar radiation, wind power, water power
(flowing streams) and tidal power, and substances like sand, clay, air, water in
oceans, etc.
 Exhaustible Resour ces: Resources are those resources which are present in
limited
quantity and can be completely used up by human activities. These are called
exhaustible resources.
For example, coal, petrol.
 Renewable Resour ces: The resources which are naturally regenerated after
consumption are known as renewable resources.
They exist in unlimited quantity. Sun, water, wind, biomass, tides, geothermal
energy, etc. are renewable resources. These are infinite sources of energy.
 Non-r enewable Resour ces: The resources, which cannot be replaced after the
use, are
known as non-renewable resources.
Most fossil fuels, such as coal, petroleum and natural gas are considered
nonrenewable resources. Nonrenewable resources take billions of years for
their formation, hence, their cautious and economic use is the only option left
for mankind.
Conservation of Natural Resources:

• Consumption of natural resources is increasing with growing population. With

the increasing industrialisation and urbanisation, we need to conserve natural
resources for thier destruction will also upset the ecological balance.

• Conservation is the proper management of a natural resource to prevent its

exploitation, destruction or degradation.
Need for Conservation of Natural Resources:
Some of the needs are:

• To maintain ecological balance for supporting life.

• To preserve different kinds of species (biodiversity).

• To make the resources available for present and future generations.

• To ensure survival of human race.

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Differ ence between Renewable and Non-r enewable Sources of Energy:

Renewable Non-r enewable
The resources that can be renewed The resources that cannot be renewed
or once
replaced are called renewable sources they are consumed are called non-
of energy. renewable sources of energy.
These resources do not cause any These resources cause pollution to the
pollution
environment.
to the environment.
Renewable resources are inexhaustible. Non- Renewable resources are
exhaustible.
Naturall y available in a large amount. Naturall y available in a limited amount.
The total cost of these resources is low. The total cost of these resources is high.

The maintenance cost of the The maintenance cost of the non-

renewable renewable
resources is very high. resources is very low.
Renewable resources are not affected Non- Renewable resources are affected
by by
human activities. human activities.
It has low carbon emission and It has high carbon emission and hence
hence not
environment friendly. environment friendly.
Examples of Renewable resources- Examples of Renewable resources-
Air, Mineral,
water and solar energy. oil, and Coal.

Land as a Resource:
 Land is a naturally occurring finite resource. It provides the base for survival of
living beings.
 India is the 7th largest country in the world.
 The Land is the most important factor in the universe, next to the water. It
holds everything that constitutes terrestrial ecosystems.
 Increased demand on land in modern times due to the rise in human
population and resultant activities has resulted in degradation of land quality
and quantity, decline in crop production, and competition for land.
 A man can use the land for various purposes such as mining, agriculture,
forestry, building
houses, roads and setting up factories.
 Humans cannot live without water and food, this order includes healthy land
and soil, they
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can do all economic activities only on land.

 Land and land resources refer to a delineable area of the earth's terrestrial
surface, encompassing all attributes of the biosphere immediately above or
below this surface, including those of the near-surface climate, the soil and
terrai n forms, the surface hydrology, the near-surface sedimentary layers and
associated groundwater and geo- hydrological reserve, the plant and animal
populations, the human settlement pattern and physical results of past and
present human activity.
 Landforms such as hills, valleys, plains, river basins and wetlands include
different
resource generating areas that the people living in them depend on.
 If land is utilized carefully it can be considered a renewable resource.
 The roots of trees and grasses bind the soil. If forests are depleted, or
grasslands overgrazed, the land becomes unproductive and wasteland is
formed. Intensive irrigation leads to water logging and salination, on which
crops cannot grow.
 Land is also converted into a non-renewable resource when highly toxic
industrial and
nuclear wastes are dumped on it.
 Land on earth is as finite as any of our other natural resources. While mankind
has learnt to adapt his lifestyle to various ecosystems world over, he cannot
live comfortably for instance on polar ice caps, on under the sea, or in space in
the foreseeable future.
 Man needs land for building homes, cultivating food, maintaining pastures for
domestic animals, developing industries to provide goods, and supporting the
industry by creating towns and cities.
 Equally importantly, man needs to protect wilderness area in forests,
grasslands, wetlands, mountains, coasts, etc. to protect our vitally valuable
biodiversity.
 Thus a rational use of land needs careful planning. One can develop most of
these different
types of land uses almost anywhere, but protected areas (National Park’s
and Wildlife Sanctuaries) can only be situated where some of the natural
ecosystems are still undisturbed. These Protected Areas are important aspects
of good land use planning.
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Types of Lands:
The following are the types of Lands:
1. Residential or Urban Land
2. Commercial Land
3. Investment Land
4. Wet Land
5. Range Land
6. Agricultural or Farm Land
7. Forest Land
8. Barren Land
9. Recreational Land
10. Transport Land
11. Grazing and Pastures Land

1. Residential or Urban Land:

 Residential land is utilized exclusively for living purposes.

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 Nowadays residential lands are covered by human basic needs and facilities
surrounded by school zones, college zones, campuses, stationery stores, grocery
stores, textile shops, some industries, parks, children’s playgrounds, and many
more. A lot of apartments are covered over the area called residential areas.
 In every part of this modern world, districts and states are very well developed
and developing and villages are developing with technological equipment like
agriculture, transport facilities, electricity connections, communication facilities,
factories in the neighbourhood, shopping malls, Industrial Zone & Commercial
Complexes, Companies this is called Urban Land.
2. Commer cial Land:
 Commercial land is utilized for Public or commercial purposes.
 The Land which is allocated to use for commercial purposes is known as
Commercial Land, when looking for the term commercial the land hosts
Shopping malls, Park or groceries, Complexes, Industries, Restaurants, and
Warehouses.
 Since commercial land is a one-time investment, land, and building are more
expensive.
 From this, a person gets a higher return on investment, and business building
values are measured by the location and growth of its areas.
 Compared to residential land commercial land is more expensive and more
expensive to maintain.
 It is a global fact that 30% of all areas, districts, and countries of India are
occupied by commercial sectors.
3. Investment Land:
 For those who are willing to spend their time and money, investment land will
become an unbeatable asset.
 Investing in an undeveloped area will bring more returns in the future or the
next generation.
 Having property in an underdeveloped area motivates an investor in the
future to provide people with basic necessities such as shops, apartments or
shopping malls.
 A person can invest in land because the ROI (Return of investment) of land
can increase rapidl y and it is a long-term investment.
4. Wet Land:
 Wet lands are covered by water and connected with land, also maintaining the
productive
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ecosystem in the world and some of the wetlands are often covered by Fresh or
Salty water.
 The wetlands are characterized as Bays, Ponds, Lakes, Rivers and also Oceans.
 The importance of Wetlands are
1. It improves the water quality and water supply
2. It provides wildlife habitat & reduces seaside cyclone damages
3. Also provides refreshment opportunities to people.
5. Range Land:
 Naturall y, Rangeland is an unaltered land that is ideal for grazing of
livestock, plants, Forbes & Shrubs.
 It has been characterized as Forest, Desert, Farmland, Pasture and Industrial or
urban.
 It always looks like an isolated condition and discontent.
 Perhaps Grazing animals are infected with toxic and poisonous plants in the
rangeland, which can cause illness or death to the animals.
 Rangeland is not good for the daily lives of humans because it is often plagued
by poverty and food insecurity.
6. Agricultural or Farm Land:
 Agricultural land is also referred to as farmland.
 India is very popular for agricultural activities like cultivating rice, oats,
wheat, flowers, fruits, vegetables and livestock .
 Worldwide, 50% of the population is engaged in agriculture. It is used for
agriculture and a house cannot be built on a farm without permission.
 Agricultural Land is categorized as
1. Arable Land
2. Land under Permanent Crops
3. Pastures and Hayfields
 Investing in farmland is the safe option, while compared to other investment
opportunities
high returns will get from this investment and it also confers safety to
investors’ money.
7. For est Land:
 The forest land is completely covered with trees, which produce timber and
wood products, and with the increase in population, man used the land by
clearing the forest to meet his needs.
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 India is now occupied by 25% of the forest area.

 Forests also maintain the ecological balance in our country.
 The forest plays an important role in controlling soil erosion, flooding,
increasing rainfall and providing favorable climatic conditions in a particular
area.
8. Barr en Land:
 Barren land is a desert land, it is made of soil, the tree has no chance to grow
even the plant, barren land is dry and bare, it is also called wasteland &
desolation.
 In a barren land, the plant has no potential for stunted, rare and limited
biodiversity in the ground.
 There is a chance to turn barren land into the forest, but it takes 3 years of
patience and proper techniques. It will take up to 5 years of the time period.
 In India, 6% is barren and uncultivated areas such as mountains, deserts and
Ravines are found.
9. Recr eational Land:
 The recreational land is not used for residential purposes, no one will build a
home there, it is only for recreational purposes only.
 Land utilized for recreational purposes is called recreational land. For Example
Beaches, Swimming pools, Children’s parks or Outdoor parks, Museums,

Playgrounds, Amusement parks, Zoos, Camping Areas, Playgrounds for Schools,

Gyms are all under the control of Government Agencies.
10. Transpor t Land:
 Land used to transport goods from one place to another is called Transport Land.
 Transportation involves in the way of Walking, Running, Cycling, public
Transit, freight vehicles, skateboarding, private vehicles and manned aircraft.
 It is used to connect different types of cities, towns and villages. Transportation
by buses, trains, motorcycles, scooters and cars plays a very important role in
human life.
11. Grazing and Pastur es Land:
 Grazing land is a field completely covered with grass or grass-like plants or
herbs suitable for livestock.
 Grazing and pasture land are primarily used for livestock fodder plants.
 Grazing lands are especially a feeding ground for livestock or horses.

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Conservation of Land Forms:

 Landform is a natural or artificial feature of the solid surface of the earth or
other planetary body.
OR
 Landforms are defined as the natural physical features found on the surface of
the earth created as a result of various forces of nature such as wind, water,
ice, and movement of tectonic plates.
 Landforms include hills, mountains, volcanoes, canyons, and valleys. Features
underwater are also landforms, including ocean ridges and submerged
volcanoes.
 Landforms are essential habitat for wildlife and their protection helps to
provide resilience against climate change related impacts and severe weather.
 Land conser vation is the process of protecting natural land and returning
developed land to its natural state.
M ethods of Conservation of Land Forms:
1. Parks and Pr eser vations
Many parks and preservations are sites of incredible landforms. There are different
ways of protecting these monuments and landscapes, but two important ones are
through UNESCO World Heritage Site certification, and National Parks.
a. World Her itage Sites:
 The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
World Heritage Sites areas or landmarks that have specific protections under
an international convention.
 In order to be picked as a World Heritage Site, an area must be deemed
as having
“outstanding universal value” as well as meeting one out of ten selection
criteria.
b. National parks:
 In the US, the designation of a National Park is an important way of protecting
landforms. National Parks in the US hold a multitude of landforms including
dunes, glaciers, mountains, and canyons.
 The US National Parks System ensures that National Parks receive federal
protections against development and other activities that could harm wildlife.
 These regulations are to protect wildlife, but also to protect landforms that exist
in national
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parks.
2. Defor estation Pr evention:
 While it may not seem that removing trees has a significant impact on
mountains and other huge landforms, these kinds of changes can greatly alter
the physical geography of a landscape.
 Deforestation, or the removal of trees in a naturally forested area, involves
clear-cutting areas for the use of agriculture or for things like timber or
development.
 Any time that an area is clear cut and natural vegetation is removed, the land
is made vulnerable to erosion and landslides.
 Landslides can lead to increased risk of more land and rock fall, since it has
lost vegetation and roots which help grip into the ground and provide stability.
3. Ecosystem Protection:
 Wildlife and ecosystem health can have an important impact on the
geography of landscapes, impacting landforms and posing problems when
elements are jeopardized.
 Vegetation on riverbanks prevented erosion, allowing riverbanks to stabilize
and changing the physical geography of the park.
 Under the ESA, wildlife and its critical habitat is protected against certain
types of development and harm, which helps maintain the integrity of the
ecosystem and the important services it provides. Ensuring wildlife is healthy
and minimizing interference is a critical method of protecting the landforms
they inhabit and maintaining them for future enjoyment.
4. Climate Change Mitigation:
 The impacts of climate change can affect nearly every type of landform.
 Climate change, accelerated by human impacts, melts glaciers, causes
more frequent wildfires and droughts, and increases the frequency of severe
weather patterns.
 Melting glaciers not only results in sea level rise, it also changes river flows,
impacting the plants and wildlife that depend on these features.
 Climate change not only impacts landforms in cold areas, but also increases
wind and weather that can erode landforms in places like deserts and
rainforests as well.
 Reducing fossil fuel emissions and lowering greenhouse gases will help slow
the rate of climate change, protecting the landforms of the earth as well as the
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wildlife and ecosystems
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that inhabit them.

5. Slope Protection:
 Among natural landforms, slopes are consistently on the verge of shifting as
they have to fight erosive forces.
 There are slope protection solutions to help prevent slope erosion and
regenerate vegetation on the slope.
 The goal isn’t only to prevent it from eroding, but also to make slopes more
sustainable.
6. Glacier Protection:
 The structure of glaciers is consistently changing as they are melting
rapidity, not only affecting human habitats, but directly impacting penguins,
mountain goats and bighorn sheep.
 Animals in the surrounding areas are struggling to survive as the melting
glaciers are
causing sea levels to rise, giving them less land to live on.
 Glaciers are highly important in providing a shield to mountains, protecting
them from erosion.
 As humans, we need to pay more attention to global warming and think of
alternative
methods to produce energy that won’t heat up our environment.
7. Cave Protection:
 Littering in caves is a major problem.
 There’s a need for regular clean ups and the level of littering is consistently
increasing. The garbage that decomposes can make the cave smell unpleasant
and can cause harm to any animals/creatures living inside.
 People should still be allowed to explore caves , but at the same time they
should protect them.
8. River bank Protection:
 Riverbanks are important for the ecosystem as they support a variety of
animals.
 Natural riverbank erosion is part of nature, but humans have expedited the
process by taking that to an unnatural level.
 A great way of protecting riverbanks is by making sure sufficient vegetation
is available around the banks.
 Grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees protect the soil from eroding.

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9. Wetland Protection:
 These areas are where water covers soil.
 Wetlands are important for our ecosystem as they protect and improve the
overall water quality. They also protect fish and other wildlife, store
floodwaters and maintain water surface through dry periods.
 A good way of protecting wetlands is by cordoning off the perimeter.
 It’s also important to educate tourists so they understand the importance of the
preservation
of wetlands.
10. For est Protection:
 It’s an area that many people would love to visit, but sadly due to the speed at
which we are
destroying them, the next generation will likely never get to see them in their
true glory.
 In order to prevent damage to our forests and rainforests, we should try to
prevent floods from getting to the mainland.
 We also need to improve the quality of air as all living habitats, including
engendered species, are currently living in those environments.

Types of Land Conservation:

The following are some of the types of land conservation:
1. Crop Rotation
2. Mulching
3. Buffer Strips
4. Organic Farming
5. Protected Lands
6. Contour Farming
1. Crop Rotation:
One of the most traditional and effective ways to prevent soil degradation is by
having a variety of different crops that you grow on the same lot of land. The
benefits of crop rotation are massive and essential for maintaining healthy soil.
Here are some advantages of crops rotation:
 Less pollution - healthy soil works as a filter for our freshwater channels,
which keeps them clean and greatly reduces the number of pollutants.
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 Better fertility - by having a variety of crops growing, the soil is receiving

nutrients from a variety of sources. Much like the different vitamins we get
from the different foods that we eat, the soil is also receiving different
nutrients from different crops being grown.
 Better yield - the variety of different nutrients received from the different
crops being grown actuall y creates an increase in the overall yield.
Crop rotation has been practiced by farmers for centuries and is still to this day one
of the most effective techniques in preventing soil degradation and encouraging
successful land conservation.
2. Mulching:
This farming practice plays a crucial role in maintaining fertile soil. Once the soil is
exposed, farmers will often mix what is called mulch in with the soil. This is
generall y some sort of organic material like hay, manure, grass,
husks, or sawdust.
Mulching is a relatively newer land conservation practice that is known for
benefiting soil in the following ways:
 Minimizing erosion - when placed on the surface of the exposed soil, the mulch
acts as a
protective agent for the soil from wind and water erosion.
 Soil moisture - by having mulch on your soil, the number of weeds present
significantly decreases, which results in less water being drained from your
land by the invasive plants.
 Increased soil fertility - much like the benefit of crop rotation, the mulch
added to the soil is full of nutrients, which increases the health and fertility
of the soil.
3. Buffer Str ips:
Farmers will often create long strips of permanent grass or other vegetation to
separate their crops called buffer strips. These buffer strips essentially work as
borders that block the runoff of pesticides, fertilizers, and metals into
the surrounding environment.
In addition, buffer strips also benefit the soil and the farmer by:
 Reducing flooding
 Reducing soil degradation
 Saving energy
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 Protecting surrounding infrastructure
This farming practice is one of the most essential tactics for preventing the
spread of crop

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pollutants and keeping soil fertile.

4. Organic Farming:
The rise and introduction of industrial-scale farming and the use of harmful
pesticides that come with it, toxins have been finding their way into
our soil, water, and food. While the process of organic farming is more
laborious, expensive, and time-consuming, this traditional process is highly
welcomed by land conservationists. Organic farming has many environmental
benefits for land conservation such as:
 Protecting biodiversity
 Less use of fossil fuels
 No water pollution
 Benefits nutrient health of the soil
5. Protected Lands:
One of the most straight forward types of land conservation is to simply designate
lands that are protected from development.
When we venture throughout the U.S. and much of the world, we can find areas
such as these,
that have been classified as ‘protected’ in accordance with land conservation
principles.
 National Parks
 Wilderness Reserves
 National Monuments
 Strict Nature Reserves
 Habitat Area
 Protected Landscape
These protected lands have served as safe havens for ecosystems and have helped
ensure the health of local biodiversity.
6. Contour Farming:
The soil conservation method proves efficient in slope territories and suggests
planting species along the contour. Rows up and down the slope provoke soil
erosion due to water currents while rows along the contour restrain it. An impact of
terracing is similar it also helps to conserve soil and reduce its degradation
processes.
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Types of Landforms:
Following are some of the common types of landforms:
1. Mountains
2. Plateaus
3. V alleys
4. Deserts
5. Dunes
6. Islands
7. Plains
8. Rivers
9. Oceans
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1. Mountains
Mountains are landforms higher than the surrounding areas. They are formed
due to the tectonic movements, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and erosion of the
surrounding areas caused due to wind, water and ice. Mountains are found in the
oceans and on land.
2. Plateaus
Plateaus are flat highlands that are separated from the surroundings due to
steep slopes. They are formed by collisions of tectonic plates, magma action that

causes the elevation in earth’s crust.

3. Valleys
V alleys are low-lying areas of land between hills and mountains that are
formed due to the actions of glaciers and rivers over millions of years. Depending on
the shape they are classified as V shaped valleys and U shaped valleys. V -shaped
valleys are formed by the flowing rivers and U-shaped valleys are formed due to
glaciers.
4. Deser ts
Due to lack of adequate rainfall, desert is a dry piece of land with little or no
vegetation. They are mostly found mainly in rain shadow areas which are leeward
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respect to the wind direction. In deserts, the atmospheric air is very dry, and
daytime temperature is high.
5. Dunes
Dunes are mounds or small hills made up of sand that are created due to the
action of and water flow (under water dunes). It may be dome-shaped, crescent-
shaped, star-shaped, linear- shaped, and many more.
6. I slands
An island is a piece of land which is surrounded by water from all sides and
formed either due to volcanic eruptions or due to hot spots in the lithosphere.
7. Plains
Plains are flat or the low relief areas on the surface of the earth. It might be
formed as a result of the sedimentation of eroded soil from the top of the hills and
mountains or might be due to flowing lava deposited by the agents of wind, water,
and ice.
8. River s
Rivers are natural flowing streams of fresh water descending from mountains.
They mostly flow toward a lake, sea, ocean or another river.
9. Oceans
Oceans are the biggest water bodies found on earth and are saline in nature.
Oceans cover over 71% of the earth’s surface and are responsible in controlling the
weather and climate of the earth. Oceans originated due to continental drifts i.e. the
movement of the earth’s tectonic plates.
10. Loess
Loess are deposition of silt, with a little amount of sand and clay. They
appear yellowish or brownish in color. Wind action or glacial activities are
responsible for formation of loess.
11. Glacier s
Glaciers are slow moving huge bodies of ice formed due to the compression
of the snow layers. They move depending on the pressure and gravity.
12. Peninsulas
Peninsulas are large land areas that extend into water bodies. They remain
surrounded by water on three sides. Peninsulas are formed by lithospheric
movements and action of water currents.
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13. Deltas
Deltas are low-lying, triangle-shaped areas, located at the mouth of rivers. In
the course of creating a delta, the sand, silt, and rock particles are accumulated in a
nearly triangular shape.

Defor estation:
• Deforestation is the purposeful clearing of forested land.

• Throughout history and into modern times, forests have been razed to make
space for agriculture and animal grazing, and to obtain wood for fuel,
manufacturing, and
construction.

• A large number of poor rural people are still highly dependent on wood to cook
their meals and heat their homes. We have not been able to plant enough trees
to support the need for
timber and fuel wood.

• The National Forest Policy of 1988 now gives an added importance to JFM
(Joint Forest Management). Another resolution in 1990 provided a formal
structure for community
participation though the formation of Village Forest Committees. Based
on these experiences, new JFM guidelines were issued in 2000.

• Timber extraction, mining and dams are invariably parts of the needs of a
developing
country. If timber is overharvested the ecological functions of the forest are lost.

• Deforestation has greatly altered landscapes around the world.

• China has lost great expanses of its forests over the past 4,000 years and now
just over 20 percent of it is forested.

• Today, the greatest amount of deforestation is occurring in tropical

rainforests, aided by extensive road construction into region.

• Deforestation can result in more carbon dioxide being released into the
atmosphere. That is because trees take in carbon dioxide from the air for
photosynthesis, and carbon is locked
chemically in their wood.
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• When trees are burned, this carbon returns to the atmosphere as carbon
dioxide. With fewer trees around to take in the carbon dioxide, this
greenhouse gas accumulates in the
atmosphere and accelerates global warming.

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• Deforestation also threatens the world’s biodiversity.

Factors r esponsible for defor estation or causes of defor estation:

The following factors are responsible for deforestation −
1. Rapid growth of population in the developing countries.
2. Extension of agriculture and grazing land.
3. Increasing demand for lumber, timber, paper, pulp, fuel -wood, and
charcoal and other forest produce.
4. Industrialization, urbanization, and consumerism in the developed and
developing countries.
5. Demand of raw material for forest-based and agro-based industries.
6. Demand of land for infrastructure such as roads, highways, railways,
irrigation, electricity, telecommunication services, and civic facilities.
7. Construction of multi-purpose dams all over the world.
8. High rate of poverty in the countries; it is said that poverty directly or
indirectly lead to deforestation.
9. Both natural and man-made forest fire.
[Link] administrative decision and dilatory implementation of forest laws in
developing countries.
[Link] projects and growing need for food.

Major effects of defor estation:

Major effects of deforestation are –
1. Gr eenhouse effect: The greenhouse effect is one of the main effects due to the
cutting of countless trees every year. Trees help in maintaining the balance of
carbon dioxide and oxygen in the atmosphere. Deforestation is also causing the
release of other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which is a big reason for
global warming.
2. Soil Erosion effect: We all know that trees help in binding the soil together to
protect it from erosion. Due to excessive deforestation across the globe soil erosion
is occurring at a higher rate. Due to deforestation, the soil is contacting with the
heat of Sun directly and losing the moisture & nutrients. Soil erosion affects the
irrigation system and hydroelectric infrastructure on a large scale.
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3. Imbalance in the water cycle: The trees also help to control the level of water in
the atmosphere. It helps in regulating the water cycle properly. Due to
deforestation, the level of water in the atmosphere is decreasing quite rapidly,
which is another big reason to worry.
4. Acidic oceans: The oceans become acidic when the level of oxygen is less, and
the level of carbon dioxide is more in the water. Causes and effects of deforestation
are one of the main reasons for acidif ying the ocean water, which is affecting the
Eco-system of oceans adversely.
5. Loss of natural habitat: One of the most severe effects of deforestation is the
loss of animal and plant species due to loss of habitat. Forests are home for
numerous species of animals and plants, but unfortunately, this habitat is getting
lost due to the cutting of trees.

Pr eventive measur es of defor estation:

1. Gover nment Regulations: The best solution to deforestation is to curb the felling
of trees by enforcing a series of rules and laws to govern it. Deforestation in the
current scenario may have reduced; however, it would be too early to assume.
2. Banning Clear -Cutting of For ests: This will curb the total depletion of the forest
cover. It is a practical solution and is very feasible.
3. Refor estation and Affor estation: Land skinned of its tree cover for urban
settlements should be urged to plant trees in the vicinity and replace the cut trees.
Also, the cutting must be replaced by planting young trees to replace the older ones
that were cut.
Trees are being planted under several initiatives every year, but they still
don’t match the numbers of the ones we’ve already lost.
4. Reduce Consumption of Paper : Your daily consumption of paper includes
printing paper, notebooks, napkins, toilet paper, etc. Try to reduce consumption,
reduce waste of paper and also opt for recycled paper products.
Make life simple such as printing/writing on both sides of the paper, using less toilet
paper, avoiding paper plates, and napkins and wherever possible, go paperless.
5. Educate Other s: Still, many are entirely unaware of the global warming
problem we’re
facing. Educate your friends, family, and community by sharing the deforestation
facts, and its causes and effects.
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6. Eat L ess M eat: Livestock rearing has become one of the leading causes of
deforestation. Try
to eat less meat. It may be hard for some people to try. However, eating less meat,
even just for one meal a day, will also make an extreme impact on the
environment.

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7. Purchase from Sustainable, For est-Fr iendly Companies: Try to purchase from
companies that are committed to reducing deforestation. Asian Pulp and Paper,
Disney, L’Oreal, Hershey, Unilever, Willmar International are deforestation-free.

8. Reduce Consumption of Defor estation Prone Products: Palm oil is a common

ingredient in absolutely everything we see around us. Make it a simple habit to get a
quick peek at the ingredients. Soybeans are another deforestation hotspot.
Try finding ways to reduce consumption or opting for organic, local soy products
and, if possible, avoid it completely.

Effect of Land Use Changes:

 Land use change is a process by which human activities transform the natural
landscapes, referring to how land has been used.
 Land use change is a major environmental issue in the world.
 Improved nutritional status had led to rapid population growth, especially in
the developed countries.
 This phenomenal rise in human numbers has placed great demands on the
earth’s natural
resources.
 Land such as forests, grasslands and wetlands have been converted into
intensive agriculture. Land has been taken for industry and the urban sectors.
 Land use changes occur constantly and at many scales, and can have specific
and cumulative effects on air and water quality, watershed function,
generation of waste, extent and quality of wildlife habitat, climate, and human
health.
Some of the effect of land use changes:
 Land development creates impervious surfaces through construction of roads,
parking lots, and other structures contribute to nonpoint source water
pollution by limiting the capacity of soils to filter runoff.
 Affect peak flow and water volume, which heighten erosion potential and affect
habitat and water quality.
 Increase storm water runoff, which can deliver more pollutants to water bodies
that residents may rely on for drinking and recreation. Storm runoff from urban
and suburban areas contains dirt, oils from road surfaces, nutrients from
fertilizers, and various toxic
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compounds.
 Affect ground water aquifer recharge.
 Landslides and land degradation by population, human activities, urbanization,
damage to top soil.
 Soil erosion due to continuous agriculture without sufficient fallow periods.
 Due to suburbanization increased air pollution due to vehicle use results in
higher concentrations of certain air pollutants in developed areas that may
exacerbate human health problems such as asthma.
 Land development can lead to the formation of heat islands, domes of warmer
air over urban and suburban areas that are caused by the loss of trees and
shrubs and the absorption of more heat by pavement, buildings, and other
sources. Heat islands can affect local, regional, and global climate, as well as
air quality.
 Agricultural land use may also result in loss of native habitats or increased
wind erosion and dust, exposing humans to particulate matter and various
chemicals.
 Certain agricultural land use practices, such as overgrazing, land conversion,
fertilization, and the use of agricultural chemicals, can enhance the growth of
invasive plants. These plants can alter fish and wildlife habitat, contribute to
decreases in biodiversity, and create health risks to livestock and humans.
 Introduction of invasive species on agricultural lands can reduce water quality
and water availability for native fish and wildlife species.
 Spread of vector-borne disease may be influenced by land use and/or other
environmental change.
 Livestock grazing in riparian zones can change landscape conditions by
reducing stream bank vegetation and increasing water temperatures,
sedimentation, and nutrient levels.
 Agricultural land uses can affect the quality of water and watersheds.

Soil Health:
 Soil is a complex mixture of mineral particles, humus, mineral salts, water, air,
and living organisms.
 Soil is the uppermost layer of earth’s crust, which supports growth of plants.
 Soil health is a state of a soil meeting its range of ecosystem functions as
appropriate to its
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environment.
 Healthy soil gives us clean air and water, beautiful crops and forests,
productive grazing lands, diverse wildlife, and beautiful landscapes.
 A healthy soil provides many functions that support plant growth, including
nutrient cycling, biological control of plant pests, and regulation of water and
air supply.
 Healthy soil contains aggregates that help it bind together, preventing erosion
and run-off. It can hold more water, so plants fare better in drought. It contains

more bacteria and fungi that help plants fight diseases and pests. And healthy
soil also contains more minerals and nutrients that feed plants.
 Soil health depends on soil biodiversity.

The main principles to manage soil for health ar e:

1. Maximize pr esence of living roots
Living roots reduce soil erosion and provide food for organisms like earthworms and
microbes that cycle the nutrients you plants need.
 Reduce fallow
 Plant cover crops
 Use diverse crop rotations
2. Minimize distur bance
To minimize disturbance of your soil, you can:
 Limit tillage
 Optimize chemical input
 Rotate livestock
3. Maximize soil cover
To maximize soil cover year round, you can:
 Plant cover crops
 Use organic mulch
 Leave plant residue
4. Maximize biodiver sity
Increasing diversity across your operation can break disease cycles, stimulate plant
growth, and provide habitat for pollinators and organisms living in your soil.
 Plant diverse cover crops

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 Use diverse crop rotations

 Integrate livestock

Ecological and Economic Importance of Soil:

The following are the ecological and economic importance of soil
 Soil plays a crucial role in the economy of countries.
 Soil is the foundation of basic ecosystem function.
 Soil modify the atmosphere by emitting and absorbing gases and dust.
 Soil absorbs, hold, release, alter and purify most of the water in terrestrial
systems.
 Soil serve as engineering media for construction of foundations, roadbeds,
dams and buildings and preserve artifacts of human endeavors.
 It provides food for soil micro-flora and macro-fauna and helps in
maintaining the biological activity within soil.
 It is the storehouse of nutrients for their supply to higher plant.
 Soil acts as a water filter and a growing medium; provides habitat for billions of
organisms, contributing to biodiversity; and supplies most of the antibiotics
used to fight diseases.
 Humans use soil as a holding facility for solid waste, filter for wastewater, and
foundation for our cities and towns.

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 Soil filters surface water from dust, provides essential nutrients to our forests
and crops, and helps regulate the Earth's temperature as well as many of the
important greenhouse gases. Soil stores carbon dioxide (CO2) and other GHGs
in soil organic matter.
 Soil organic matter improves soil structure, reduces soil erosion, provide
microbial habitats.
 Soil store water for plants.
 Healthy soil help protect the plant from climate change.
 Healthy soil provide farmer with better crop yields and protect plants from
stress.

Soil Degradation:
Soil degr adation is defined as a change in the soil health status resul ting in a
diminished capacity of the ecosystem to provide goods and services for its
beneficiaries.

Factors affecting or causes of soil degradation:

Various Causes of Soil Degr adation ar e:
1. Physical Factor s:
There are several physical factors such as rainfall, surface runoff, floods, wind
erosion, tillage, and mass movements result in the loss of fertile top spoil thereby
declining soil quality.
All these physical factors produce different types of soil erosion (mainly water and
wind erosion) and soil detachment actions.
2. Biological Factor s:
Biological factors refer to the human and plant activities that tend to reduce the
quality of the soil. Some bacteria and fungi overgrowth in an area can highly
impact the microbial activity of the soil through biochemical reactions, which
reduces crop yield and the suitability of soil productivity capacity.
Human activities such as poor farming practices may also deplete soil nutrients
thus diminishing soil fertility.
3. Chemical Factor s:
The reduction of soil nutrients because of alkalinity or acidity or water logging are
all categorized under the chemical components of soil degradation.
4. Defor estation:
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Deforestation causes soil degradation on the account of exposing soil minerals by
removing trees and crop cover, which support the availability of humus and litter
layers on the surface of the

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soil.
When trees are removed by logging, infiltration rates become elevated and the soil
remains bare and exposed to erosion and the buildup of toxicities.
5. Misuse or excess use of fer tilizer s:
The excessive use and the misuse of pesticides and chemical fertilizers kill
organisms that assist in binding the soil together. Most agricultural practices
involving the use of fertilizers and pesticides often entail misuse or excessive

application, thereby contributing to the killing of soil’s beneficial bacteria and

other micro-organisms that help in soil formation.

6. Industr ial and Mining activities:
Soil is mainly polluted by industrial and mining activities. As mining destroys crop
cover and release a toxic chemicals.
Industrial activities, release toxic effluents and material wastes into the
atmosphere, land, rivers, and groundwater that eventually pollute the soil and as
such, it impacts on soil quality.
7. Improper cultivation practices:
The tillage on agricultural lands is one of the main factors since it breaks up the soil
into finer particles, which increase erosion rates. Other improper cultivation
activities such as farming on steep slope and mono-cropping, row-cropping.
8. Urbanization:
Urbanization has major implications on the soil degradation process. Foremost of
all, it denudates the soil’s vegetation cover, compacts soil during construction, and

alters the drainage pattern.

Most of the runoff and sediments from urban areas are extremely polluted with oil,
fuel, and other chemicals.
9. Over grazing:
The rates of soil erosion and the loss of soil nutrients, as well as the topsoil, are
highly contributed by overgrazing. Overgrazing destroys surface crop cover and
breaks down soil particles, increasing the rates of soil erosion.
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Impact/Effects of Soil Degradation on Agr iculture and Food Security:

The following are the impacts on agriculture and food secur ity
 Harmful Effects of Soil Erosion
 Loss of soil organic matter and nutrients.
 Loss of soil structure.
 Causes a decline in soil health.
 Loss of soil biodiversity.
 Decline in global food production.
 Changes in salinity, acidity or alkalinity.
 Decrease the growth of nutritious food.
 Affects water supplies.
 Loss of water holding capacity, sediment and water infiltration.
 Soil pollution.
 Reduced yields of crops.
 Reduced land value and resilience to future events.
 Impact on food security.
 Reduces ability to adapt to climate change.
 Adverse effect on economic prosperity.
 Loss of fertile top soil leading to gradual loss of soil fertility and
agricultural productivity.
 Decrease in the percentage of soil moisture.
 Drying of vegetation and extension of arid lands.
 Lessens the microbial activity of the soil.

Need For Soil Conservation:

Soil conser vation is a combination of practices used to protect the soil from
degradation.
Soil conservation focuses on keeping soils healthy through a combination of
practices and techniques.
However, if soil becomes unhealthy, unstable, or polluted, the life cycle stops.
Individuals committed to soil conservation help ensure that soil is fertile and
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erosion and deterioration.

Some of the needs for soil conservation:
 Soil is vital part of our eco system and is the foundation of plant, animal and
human life.
 Soil helps to create an environment free of pollution where we can live safely.
 Soil improves water quality and improve wildlife habitat.
 Soil saves farmers money and citizens money.
 Soil maintain an adequate amount of organic matter and biological life in the
soil
 Plants grow on soil and play an important role in regulating the climate of
a region. In absence of plants, the region becomes inhabitable.
 Animal kingdoms eat plants and grasses.
 Most of organisms in the soil depend on dead plant and animal matter for
their food and energy.
 Soil also helps to create a cleaner climate, absorbing about a third of the
carbon dioxide that fossil fuels and industrial operations emit.
 Soil provides the nutrients essential for plant growth, animal life, and
millions of microorganisms.
 Humans grow crops on soil and thus live a settled life.
 Soil gives good quality and quantity of crop yields.
 Manage surface runoff.
 Soil reduces the wind velocity near the ground by growing vegetation.
 Protect downstream water courses from sedimentation and pollution.
Various methods for soil conservation:
1. Maintenance of soil fer tility: The fertility can be maintained by adding
manure and fertilizers regularly as well as by rotation of crop.
2. Control on grazing: Grazing should be allowed only on specified areas.
3. Conser vational tillage: The process of mixing the residues from previous
crops into the soil by ploughing is called conservational tillage. It improves
soil permeability and increase organic matter, which in turn improve soil
moisture and nutrients.
4. Organic farming: Process of increasing organic input to the soil. E.g bio fertilizer
5. Crop rotation: Process of growing different crops in successive year on the
same land. It prevents the loss of fertility of the soil.
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6. Contour ploughing: It is very useful areas with low rain fall, i.e. placing some
furrows to store water, which reduces runoff and erosion.
7. Mulching: Soil is covered with crop residues and other form of plant litters.
8. Str ip cropping: Planting of crops in rows to check flow of water.
9. Ter race farming: Conversion of steep slopes in to a series of broad terraces
which run across the contour. It reduces soil erosion by controlling run off.
10. Agro for estr y or Alley cropping: Planting crops in between rows of trees or
shrubs, that can provide fruits and fuel wood. After harvesting the crops the
soil will not be eroded because trees and shrubs will remain on the soil and
hold the soil particles.
11. Wind br eak: Trees are planted in long rows along the boundary of cultivated
land which block the wind and reduce soil erosion. Wind breaks help in
retaining soil moisture, supply wood for fuel and provide habitat for birds.

Sustainable Land Use Planning:

 Land itself is a major resource, needed for food production, animal husbandry,
industry, and for our growing human settlements.
 These forms of intensive landuse are frequently extended at the cost of wild
lands, our remaining forests, grasslands, wetlands and deserts.
 Thus it is essential to evolve a rational land-use policy that examines how
much land must be made available for different purposes and where it must be
situated.
 The term land use encompasses not only land use for agricultural and forestry
purposes, but also for settlements, industrial sites, roads and other human
activities.
 Sustainable land use planning is a process that aims to integrate ecological
with socio- economic, and political with ethical principles in the management
of land, for productive and other functions, to achieve intra and inter
generational equity.
 Sustainable land use planning has to find a balance between agricultural
development and conservation of natural resources. Thus, development and
environment are two aspects of the same process.
 Its purpose is to select and put into practice those land uses that will best
meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations.
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 The driving force in planning should be the need for change, the need for
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management or the need for a quite different pattern of land use dictated by
changing circumstances.
 In the process all kinds of land use are involved: agriculture, forestry,
wildlife
conservation, urban and industrial expansions, tourism and amenities.
 For formulating and implementing policies and strategies for land use planning
it is essential to collect, process and disseminate timely and reliable
information and utilize modern land assessment and evaluation technologies,
to create sound scientific knowledge for proper decision support.
 The establishment of an effective networking system can greatly improve,
enhance and speed up the process of collection, selection and exchange of
information avoiding duplication and overlap.
 A regional strategy can, at best, give a general idea of what needs to be
achieved at the country level.
 Regional strategies must set priorities and identify relevant projects, assess the
environmental impacts of policies, investigate mechanisms to mobilize
resources, enhance and encourage the participation of all concerned parties.
 The promotion and implementation of land use planning projects will not come
free of cost.
 In this respect, new perspectives are required to manage the land and its
associate resources. This is not only a question of allocating and controlling
the use of the land, but of combining the knowledge of pressure influencing
the resources themselves, with the relations among users and human and
social objectives, the technologies available to improve and enhance the land
use planning process, the maintenance of biodiversity and natural equilibrium.
 Poor efficiency of land usage, increasing environmental degradation, high
costs and an
absence of beneficial results are often seen as the result of a lack of research
or the absence of application of research findings, or restricted access to new
and advanced technology.
 Successful research thrust on sustainable land use planning should include the
following
actions:
 Data base improvement;
 Adaptive research;
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 Institutional strengthening;

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 Socio-economic analysis;
 Environmental protection and conservation;
 Technology transfer and infrastructure.
 Finally, to achieve a sustainable land use planning development, objectives and
goals, policies and regulations should be based on local realities, traditions and
natural resource management strategies. The environmental and socio-
economic impacts of such policies and regulations should be assessed before
they are implemented.

Soil Erosion
“Soil erosion is the natural process in which the topsoil of a field is carried away by
physical sources such as wind and water.”
Cause of Soil Erosion:
Following are the important causes of soil erosion:
1. Rainfall and Flooding:
Higher intensity of rainstorms is the main cause of soil erosion.
Regions with very heavy and frequent rainfall face a large amount of soil loss. The
flowing water during floods also erodes a lot of soil by creating potholes, rock-cut
basins, etc.
2. Agricultur e:
The farming practices are the major cause of soil erosion. The agricultural activities
disturb the ground. The trees are cleared and the land is ploughed to sow new
seeds. Most of the soil is eroded during winters.
3. Grazing:
The grazing animals feed on the grasses and remove the vegetation from the land.
Their hooves churn up the soil. They also pull out plants by their roots. This loosens
the soil and makes it more prone to erosion.
4. Logging and Mining:
A large number of trees are cut down to carry out the logging process. Mining
activities also disturb the land and leave the soil more prone to erosion.
5. Constr uction:
The construction of roads and buildings exposes the soil to erosion. The forests and
grasslands are cleared for construction purposes, which exposes the soil making it
vulnerable to erosion.
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6. River s and Str eams:

The flowing rivers and streams carry away the soil particles leading to a V -shaped
erosion activity.
7. Heavy Winds:
During dry weather or in the semi-arid regions, the minute soil particles are carried
away by the wind to faraway lands.

Effects of Soil Erosion:

The major effects of soil erosion include:
1. Loss of Arable Land:
Soil erosion removes the top fertile layer of the soil. This layer is rich in the essential
nutrients required by the plants and the soil. The degraded soil does not support
crop production and leads to low crop productivity.
2. Clogging of Water ways:
The agricultural soil contains pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, and several other
chemicals. This pollutes the water bodies where the soil flows. The sediments
accumulate in the water and raise the water levels resulting in flooding.
3. Air Pollution:
The dust particles merge in the air, resulting in air pollution. The dust plumes from
the arid and Crop rotation has been practiced by farmers for centuries and is still to
this day one of the most effective techniques in preventing soil degradation and
encouraging successful land conservation.
semi-arid regions cause widespread pollution when the winds move.
4. Deser tification:
Soil erosion is a major factor for desertification. It transforms the habitable regions
into deserts. It leads to loss of biodiversity, degradation of the soil, and alteration in
the ecosystem.
5. Destr uction of Infrastr uctur e:
The accumulation of soil sediments in dams and along the banks can reduce their
efficiency. Thus, it affects infrastructural projects such as dams, embankments, and
drainage.

Soil Erosion Pr evention:

Following are some of the methods of soil erosion prevention:
1. Plant trees on barren lands to limit erosion of soil.
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2. Add mulch and rocks to prevent the plants and grass underneath to prevent
soil erosion.
3. Mulch matting can be used to reduce erosion on slopes.
4. Put a series of fibre logs to prevent any water or soil from washing away.
5. A wall at the base of the slope can help in preventing the soil from eroding.
6. Every household should have a proper drainage system so that water flows
down into proper water collecting systems.

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