UNIVERSITY OF NAMIBIA

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

ASSIGNMENT 1
Name : Bonnett Sikombe Student # : 200840347 Module Lecturer Date due : Introduction to Environmental Science (TCVE 3662) : Dr Ogunmokun : 8th September, 2010

Question 1
Briefly describe the following:

Environment - The environment is everything around us, both living and nonliving things. It constitutes humans, flora, fauna , water and their inter relations Ecology -the study and branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms. Biomes -a complex biotic community characterized by distinctive plant and animal species and maintained under the climatic conditions of the region, it is classified according to the predominant vegetation and characterized by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment. The different groupings of biomes are forest, marine, desert, freshwater, grass land and tundra.

Question 2
List the components of the environment The components of the Environment include 1. The physical Environment (which includes the Atmosphere, Hydrosphere and Lithosphere) 2. Biological Environment (which includes floral, fauna and microbia) 3. Cultural Environment (which includes Society, the economy and politics)

Question 3
What are the structural features of the ecosystem? The Structural features of an ecosystem are 1. Biotic- are the living components of an organism's environment. Plants, animals, fungi, protist and bacteria are all biotic or living features 2. Abiotic- are non-living features that affect living organisms. Environmental features such habitat (pond, lake, ocean, desert, mountain) or weather such as temperature, cloud cover, rain, snow, hurricanes, etc. are abiotic features.

Question4
Give 4 examples of natural impacts on the environment and 4 of the anthropogenic impacts on environment Natural impacts on the environment occur naturally and include Volcanic Eruptions Forest Fires Dusty Wind Storm Cyclones & Tsunami

Anthropogenic impacts on the environment are due to human activity and include

Deforestation Use of Automobiles Fertilizers/Pesticides Wars and nuclear explosions

Question 5
Explain the concept of sustainable development Sustainable development is the state of development where the human race develops without disturbing the state of environment. It is actually an environment friendly development that takes equal care on the development and the environment. The concept of sustainable development is a process of consensus-based decision making in which the impact of economic activities (the economy) the environment (ecosystems), and the health (well-being) of society are integrated and balanced, without compromising the ability of present and future generations to meet their needs, so that all three - the economy, the environment, and the health of society - can be sustained into the future. The concepts of sustainable development can be listed as below Use renewable resources at a rate that can be maintained over time. Gradually reduce reliance on and limit the release of toxic substances that do not readily break down in nature

Use all resources as efficiently and fairly as possible so that present and future generations can meet their needs. Reflect the inter dependence of social, economic and environmental conditions

Question 6
The 5 basic causes of environmental problems

Population Growth - Population is an important source of development, yet it is a major source of environmental degradation when it exceeds the thresh hold limits of the support systems. Population growth reduces self sufficiency in food, availability of vital natural resources, and standard of living. Population impacts on the environment primarily through the use of natural resources and production of wastes and is associated with environmental stresses like loss of biodiversity, air and water pollution and increased pressure on arable land. As population grows all resources become in shorter supply. Unsustainable Resource use- The manufacturing technology adopted by most of the industries has placed a heavy load on environment especially through intensive resource and energy use, as is evident in natural resource depletion (fossil fuel, minerals, timber),water, air and land contamination, health hazards and degradation of natural ecosystems. Poverty- Poverty is said to be both cause and effect of environmental degradation. Inequality may foster unsustainability because the poor, who rely on natural resources more than the rich, deplete natural resources faster as they have no real prospects of gaining access to other types of resources.Moreover, degraded environment can accelerate the process of impoverishment,again because the poor depend directly on natural resources. Excluding environmental costs from market prices- To a large extent, environmental degradation is the result of market failure, that is, the non-existent or poorly functioning markets for environmental goods and services. In this context, environmental degradation is a particular case of consumption or production externalities reflected by divergence between private and social costs (or benefits). Lack of well defined property rights may be one of the reasons for such market failure. On the other hand, Market distortions created by price controls and subsidies may aggravate the achievement of environmental objectives. Trying to mange nature without knowing enough about it. Direct impacts of agricultural development on the environment arise from farming activities which contribute to soil erosion, land salination and loss of nutrients. The spread of green revolution has been accompanied by over exploitation of land and water resources, and use of fertilizers and pesticides have increased many fold. Shifting cultivation has also been an important cause of land degradation. Leaching from extensive use of pesticides and fertilizers is an important source of contamination of water bodies. Intensive

agriculture and irrigation contribute to land degradation particularly salination, alkalization and water logging.