Interrelationship among Population, Environment and Development

Man gets all his necessary elements from the environment. There are variations in population growth, poverty, economic means and distribution of resources. Due to these reasons, natural resources are excessively utilized. While conducting development activities, man should not forget his responsibility to conserve environment. Therefore, while planning the patterns of development, man shouls not forget his existence and understanding between environment and development activities. The figure below explains the relationship among population, environment and development activities.

Populaiton, Environment and Development Activities

Populaiton environment and development are complementary to each ther. Environment is a vague and complex aspect. Man is also a part of it. Therefore, man has to keep the interrelationship among population, development and environment in a balanced way considering the development of presents and coming generation. It is possible only when man uses his rights rationally and conducts development works.

Effects of Development works and Industrial Development on the Environment

Small and large- scale activities are included in development works. The construction of small roads, culverts and building of small houses are regarded as small- scale development works. Similarly, construction of large roads and hydroelectricity and irrigation projects are the large-scale development activities. In the same way, the social works sucha s establishment of schools and health services are also the campaigns of development works. Development works conducted in an industrialized country are associated with the environment. On the one hand, people get advantage from these works while on the other hand some negative effects on environmental sectors are also created. Such negative effects can be lessened through the managment of necessary means, resources and machines. The effects of development works and industrial development on environment are described here.

Types of Industries

The industries can be classifies on the basis of capital investment, fuel consumption production and use of technology. The classification of industries is described below:
a) Cottage industries:-
The traditional industries based on local raw materials and associated with labour, customs, atrs and culture are categorized as cottage industries. Handlooms, dying, printing, stitching and weaving, the production of rugs, handicrafts etc. are the examples of cottage industries.
b) Small scale industries:-
Various types of industries that need the asset of at least ten million rupess are categorized in this group.
c) Medium scale industries:-
In this category, the industries with a permanent asset from Rs.10 million to 50 million are included. Any type of industry within this investment is included in this group.
d) Large scale industries:-

If the industry has a permanent asset of Rs.50 million or more than that is identified as a large-scale industry.

Types of Industries

Industrail Development

Industrail development is the most reliable source for developing an underdeveloped country. It is the backbone of the development. Nepal is an agricultural country. Therefore, we can develop industries through production of agricultural goods. Our country has to give priority to the agricultural development. Industrial development mobilizes human resources and means of a country. It helps to raise the economic and social status of a country.

Industrail development of our country depends on agricultural products. Souces of raw materials essential for industries such as minerals, forest products etc. are available in the environment. Cottage industries have a special improtance in our country. Such industries help to provide employment at local level. Cottage industries are essential to utilize local environmental resources. People produce necessary goods by using theit knowledge and skills through local technology that can be used for every day needs. Since these industries are associated with environment, special care must be taken for conserving and promoting environment in relation with the industrial development.

Infrastructure of Development

Development activities provide people with many opportunities. Development is associated with various aspects such as healthy life, education, civic rights, availability of employment, freedom of living with respect, gender equality, community welfare and decentralization of administrative system. Infrastuctures should be prepared in order to run development activities at faster speed. Development activities are associated with three aspects- physical, social and economic. Since these are interdependent, these should be considered in development infrastructures. Therefore, the following infrastructures should first be developed in order to run development activities in a systematic way.

Development and Environment

Development and environment are closely related. Natural resources are used in running industries. The natural condition of land, slopes, hills, forests etc. are changed. Development activities bring changes in the environment. Environment should not be degraded while conducting development activities. The degradation of environment and its desertification make animal life difficult. Man cannot be free from its effect. Development activities shouls not degrade environment. But human poverty is the intervening obstacle of environmental conservation. Therefore the development the development works and environmental conservation should be integrated.

Importance of Development Works

Development works are related to environment. Various countries conduct development works according to their means and resources. Development works have the following importance:

1) Economic development

Agriculture, industries, electricity generation, tourism and road construction help in generating income. Employment opprtunities can be generated through economic development. Therefore, development works are esstential for the advancement of economic condition of the country.

2) Improvement of living standard

Development works provide people with facilities. For example, road construction can make movement of people easy. Similarly, it is easy to transport goods from one palce to another. The establishment of hospital and health centers provides human beings with health facilities. Development of agriculture brings improvement in man's economic aspect. Raw materials, essential for industries, are also produced. Industries provide people with employment. Such development activities bring economic development. This helps to improve living standard of people.

Introduction to Development

Development brings progress in social, economic and cultural sectors. It helps to fulfill various needs of human beings. It increased the capapcity of man to be self-dependent. Man plays a significant role in development activities. Man carries development in a pratical and specific direction. Planned and sustainable development contributes to environmental programmes provide man with security, education, health, employment and hygienic housing. This helps human beings in the attainment and use of civic right, right to living and right to development.

Terai Region

The Terai Region is located in the southern part of Nepal. Its height ranges from 60 to 610 metres above the sea level. It represents 23 percent of the total land. Its breadth ranges from 25 to 30 kilometers. The physiography of this region is flat. The climate is hot and humid. It is composed of fertile alluvial soil.

The lowland area locted in the southern part is the Terai. This region becomes lower from the north to south. The region includes twenty districts of Nepal. Jhapa, Dhanusha, Nawalparasi, Dang and Kailai are some of the districts of the Terai. Terai Region may be divided into three sub-regions- the Inner Terai, the Bhabar and the Terai Plain. The structure of their eco-system is different.

Hill Region

This region lies between the Himalayas in the north and the Terai in the south. The region is also extended in the east-west direction. The medium mountain ranges varying from 610 to 4877 metres above the sea level are located here. This region represents about 42 percent of the total area of Nepal. Small and big rivers are flowing through this region. This region enjoys temperate type of climate, which is good for health. Various types of vegetation and animals and birds are available here.

Depending upon physiography, climate and wildlife the Hill Region has its own eco-system. Therefore, much diversity occurs in relation with vegetation and animals and social as well as economic aspects of people. Some important aspects related to its eco-system are described below.

Scio-economic Aspect

There is a lack of agricultural fertile land in the Himalayan Region due to the cold and harsh climate. Grasslands are enough for cattle. Occasional snowfall disturbs vegetation to grow and fruits. The yaks and mules are reared here. Cattle rearing are the major occupation of the people in this region.

There are some small valleys and plains in the districts such as Humla, jumla, Mugu, Dolpa and Manag. Settlements are found along the river side and some areas near steet slopes. Human settlements appear even up to the area of 4572 metres. The people of Sherpa, Thakalis, Magars, Managis and Bhote communities are found here.

Biological Aspect

Because of the diversity in physiograhy and climate the Himalayan Region has become an area and habitat of various plants, agricultural crops, wildlife and other animals. Barley, uwa, bucketwheat, wheat and maize are produced here. Similarly, green vegetables, potato and radish are also grown. Rice is cultivated in some parts of the valleys. Somewhere, there are pine forests and grasslands. Rhododendron, pynes, Bushes and other trees are available here. Bushes are found above 400 metres. Similarly, snow panther, wild boar, black bear, danphe, munal and wild cock are available here. These are the inseparable components of the ecosystem in this region. The animals tolerating difficult situation of cold, less oxygen can live here. They can spend their lives with adaptation to the natural environment of this region. This is their physiological and inherited capacity.

Geographical Aspects

Physiography, climate and rivers are included in physical aspects. A number of highest and most beautiful mountain ranges are located in this region, Kanchanjangha, Lamtang, Mahalangur, Ganesh, Annapurna, Dhawalagiri and Kanjirowa are some of the major ranges. Sagarmatha(Mount Everest) is the highest peak of the world. Sixteen out of the seventy-five districts of Nepal are located in this region. Taplejung, Dolakha, mustang, Dolpa and Darchula are some of the districts. The Himalayan Region can be divided into(1) Major Himalayas, (2) Inner Himalayan and (3) Marginal Himalayas. These are the sub-regions. The diversity of ecosystem can be studied on the basis of these sub-regions.

The Himalayan Region

The Himalayan Region is also known as the Mountain regions and its physiographic structure and climate in different from that of the others. The Himalayan Region extends in an east-west direction in the northern part of Nepal ranging from 4877 meters in its height. In this region, snowline lies at an average height of 5000 meters. It represents about 35 percent of the geographical structure and climate. Its climate in cold and dry. It receives snowfall time and again. Due to viewpoint of bio-diversity, various important vegetation and animals and birds are found in this region

Environmental Status in Nepal

There is diversity in geographical features of Nepal. Its physiographic structure and forms have diversity by geograhical or ecological region. Physical, biological, social and economic aspects are included as important elements in the structure of ecosystem.

People conduct various activities for their happiness, facilities and progess. In conducting thes, modern technology, improved seeds, fertilizes and insecticides are utilized. These affect the structure and utilization of ecosystem in any way or other. Therefore, in their utilization, care must be taken in the conservation and promotion of ecosystem. The physical and biological diversities can be studied in detail in relation with Himal, Hill and Terai as geographical regions. Ecosystem and human activities are diverse in these geographical or ecological regions.

Measures for Healthy Environment

The earth resources are excessively exploited in comparison to their regenerative capacity. At present, the forests are diminishing very fast in all parts of the world. The land is getting very muvh exerted because of improper utilization. Water and air have beeb polluted from smoke, chemicals and pesticides. Wild animals are in danger because of diminishing of species in biodiversity. The loss in the quality of soil from agricultures land has given serious theart of food supply in many developing countries. The depletion in quality and condition of the natural resources is termed as environmental degradation. The growing human population and their greedy nature are responsible for such a situation. Hence, we shouls adopt proper measures for healthy environment management.

Environmental Conservation

Environmental conservation has become most essential in the world today. The blind attack has been seen on the various sources of the earth due to population exploison. People have destroyed the environment for their temporary pleasure. Similarly promblems and anxiesties have fallen upon the people of developed and underdeveloped regions. The industrial development and the growth of population has caused the degradation and destruction of environment.

Thus, through the preservation of the present state of environment, improving the quality regularly, to increase the sustainable development is called environmental conservation. It also brings improvement in the eco-system. Hence, conservation of the environment means preservating the natural resources and making proper use of them, So that the degration in the environment may not come.

Important of Environment Education

Environment education gives spirit to man and the community to create awareness of the environment. It gives the knoelege, idea and skill to man about the environment. It gives an idea of how nature works. It also provides knowledge on bilogical, physical, social, cultural and economic environment. Besides, people acquire skills of identifying and solving environmental problems. The environmental education helps to develop attitude for active participation in the environmental promotion and coservation.

Impact of Human Activities on Forests

Impact of Human Activities on Land

The total area of Nepal 1,47,181 sq.km. out of which the use of land under agriculture is 26.5 percent, under forest 42.4 percent, under grazing field 11.8 percent and under other sectors it is 19.3 percent. Nepal can be divided into plains, valleys, rivers, river basins hills, low valley's slopes and Himalayan ranges as per the level of land. The average size of land holding per tenant is reducing due to human activities and the area of average cultivated land is also declining. With the growth population, pressure on land is immensely incresased. This pressure is drastically high in Terai region. The need of land has increased for foodgrains, settlements and other requirements to the growing population. it has increased natural calamities like soil erosion, land slides and floods. Dolpa and Mustang districts have been converted into desert. The land has been divided into small pieces. So, the modernisation of agriculture has been most difficult. There is irregularity of rain. The alluvial soil is flowing every year by the flood.

Impact of Human Activites on Water

Water is renewable natural resources. In Nepal, water resources has been given top priority. Water is needed for various activities of human beings, like drinking, irrigtion, industry, navigation, electricity production, etc.
A rapid popualtion growth and poor land use intensify its effects. To get enough food and firewood, people strip the land grasslands and grow crops at higher, more erosion prone elevations. These activities cause land degration ehich favour the drought.
Origins of thfe sources of water are getting dry because of the destruction of vegetation. It has drinking water scarcity for human beings and other animals. The agricultural production is also decresing due to the water scarcity. The resulting water supply crisis is often viewed as a natural disaster. But it is actually a human caused disaster.

Water scarcity leads to the degradation of vegetation which in turn increases natural disasters like soil erosion, landslides and flood. it affects the human life.

Concept of Natural Resources Conservation

The natural surroundings around us, is called environment. The state of air, soil, mountain, plants, trees(vegetation), creatures, etc. in the nature affects the human life. Natural vegetation, plants and trees and the creatures, birds and animals living in it and the air, water, soil. mountain, minerals, etc. are components of environment. Man gets air to breath, food to eat, water to drink and all other requirsites for daily life from environment. In fact, our life depends upon the environment. Hence, man has to keep balance with the nature. For this purpose, man should make best use of natural resources wisely, on the one hand, and to dispose of the waste materials(dirts) with care, on the other.

The unwise activities of man and the exessive growth of population causing excessive burden on the natural resources, have had negative efect on the environment everywhere. The problems of soil erosion, flood, landslide, decline in agriculture productivity, etc. have taken place due to deforestation. Similarly, the unwise disposal of wastes (dirt and filth), smoke, dust, etc. have increased pollution. To solve these problems and to save the existence of living things on the earth, the conservation of environment has become indispensible. It simply means conservation of natural resources. To use natural resources with cre without disturbing the balance of the environment is the real conservation of natural resources.

Natural Resource Conservation

Man lives his life by using natural resources. These sources are to be mobilised rationally. Conservation of natural resources are to be made by man, realising the dependence on the natural resources and animals and their interrelationship. It makes a deep relation between the natural resources and the creatures. Hence, the conservation of natural resources is essential.

Relationship Between Natural Resources And Man

There is a close relationship between man and the natural environment. Man gets his livelihood by using various means and natural resources found in the environment. They use means and resources of the environment according to their need. With the increase in the number of population, the use of means and resources also increases. If man misuses natural resources, the environmen gets destroyed. thus, the balance between population and the environment is alos distrubed. it is difficult for the creatures and natural vegetation to survive under such disturbed environment. Various problems such as pollution, soil erosion, landslide are seen due to degradation in the environment. As a result, natural calamities such as floods, landslides, excessive rain, draught, etc. inrease. The environment is polluted due to the wrong activities of man. Various kinds of diseases harm man and oother creatures and make his life difficult.

Formal environmental Education

The environmental education if included in curriculum right from primary to higher education is called formal education.it is studied by the students,employees,workers,administtrative officers and literate persons. So it requires to be put in the curricullam for primary, secondary and higher education. For the implementation of this education, it requires educational materials, trained teachers, evalaution techniques and sources of motivation. The arrangements of meeting, seminar, exhibition and lectures are needed for working staff and admimistrative officers. The experts in the related field are to be made available.

Scope of Population Education

Population education studies population situation and problems, and social and economic problems arising due to inrease in population. Population education also studies the relationship between pollution and population of the world.
Sex education, family planning education and demography are not considered synonymous with population education but some elements of these are included in population education. population education is to be spread in both the formal and informal sectors.

Environmental Education

There are various aspects in the environment. Among them, the biological, physical, social and cultural aspects are impotant. Speacially, the scope of environmental education can be divided into bilogical, physical, social and cultural aspects and can be studied in the following ways.
1-Biological Aspects:- The man, animals,birds,insects,micro creature and natural vegetations are some of the examples of biological aspects.
2-Physical Aspects:- The physical aspects can again be divided into two parts.
Social and culture aspects:-

The man-made social-traditions, rules, laws, customs, mathas, temples, rreligious place envirnmental education is related with science economics, geography, technology, population and health education etc.

Scope of Environment

Important Function of Environment Conservation

Conservation involves using,managing and protecting. Environment should be managed properly for the environmental conservation and promotion. The environment is our common property. It is our responsibility to conserve and protect the environment. Some of the important fuctions for the environmental conservation are given below.

1-Afforestaion

2-Conservation of Forest Resource

3-Wildlife Conservation

4-Soil Conservation

5-Water Conservation

6-Pollution Controll

7-Environmental Sanitation

8-Conservation of culture heritage

Climate change and Global Warming

The climate is changing. The earth is warming up, and there is now overwhelming scientific consensus that it is happening, and human-induced. With global warming on the increase and species and their habitats on the decrease, chances for ecosystems to adapt naturally are diminishing.
Many are agreed that climate change may be one of the greatest threats facing the planet. Recent years show increasing temperatures in various regions, increasing extremities in weather patterns.

environmental on pollution

Environmental PollutionOur planet and its environment are much more fragile than past generations ever understood. Only in the last few decades have we come to recognize the problems caused by that lack of comprehension. Our biosphere's delicate balance, upset by humanity's methods of manufacturing, waste disposal and use of resources, must be restored. Having learned enough to start working to correct it, we must now learn even more about the protection of our fragile ecology, so that we may maintain our biosphere in the natural balance it once held on its own.

Environmental Pollution: Reducing Chemical Fertilizers
Chemical fertilizers round out the "big 3" of environmental pollutants in landscaping. Fortunately, it's very simple for homeowners to switch to a natural approach when it comes to providing the landscape with nutrients.
For instance, did you know that you can be mowing your lawn and fertilizing your lawn simultaneously? Well, you can, at least if you use mulching mowers. With mulching mowers, you can let the grass clippings fall where they may, acting as an organic fertilizer.
If you do not own a mulching mower, all is not lost. In your case, you can compost your grass clippings. But don't stop there. Get into the habit of composting as much as you possibly can. Composting is a terrific way to reduce environmental pollution. You'll also be reducing the amount of unneccessary material being transported into landfills.
Note that compost holds many virtues beyond its ability to fertilize the plants in your yard. Compost also helps with aeration in soil, as well as helping soil retain water better so that you won't have to water as much.

Prince's rainforest fund
gets US backing
21st November 2009
Reacting to the news that the US has become the first country to pledge money to a short term fund to protect tropical rainforests which has been backed by the Prince of Wales, Greenpeace Executive Director John Sauven told Eco:
"We all rely on the world's tropical rainforests for food and rainfall, and to store vast amounts of our carbon emissions each year. Paying a relatively small amount to protect them is an absolute bargain, because without them the very basis for our economy could collapse and the climate would become increasingly hostile.
"The US Government has today promised a substantial amount of money for forest protection, and now there is real pressure on the British government to do the same. The longer we delay the more our international reputation for environmental leadership is put at risk."
At a ceremony at Clarence House in London this morning, US Ambassador Louis Susman read out a letter from chair of the US Senate Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs, Senator Patrick Leahy, in which he pledged to contribute $275m to a forest protection fund in 2010.
UK energy and environment secretary Ed Miliband failed to put a figure on any UK government contribution, but hinted that the Government may make an announcement at or around the UN Copenhagen conference in December.
st fund
gets US backing
21st November 2009
Reacting to the news that the US has become the first country to pledge money to a short term fund to protect tropical rainforests which has been backed by the Prince of Wales, Greenpeace Executive Director John Sauven told Eco:
"We all rely on the world's tropical rainforests for food and rainfall, and to store vast amounts of our carbon emissions each year. Paying a relatively small amount to protect them is an absolute bargain, because without them the very basis for our economy could collapse and the climate would become increasingly hostile.
"The US Government has today promised a substantial amount of money for forest protection, and now there is real pressure on the British government to do the same. The longer we delay the more our international reputation for environmental leadership is put at risk."
At a ceremony at Clarence House in London this morning, US Ambassador Louis Susman read out a letter from chair of the US Senate Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs, Senator Patrick Leahy, in which he pledged to contribute $275m to a forest protection fund in 2010.
UK energy and environment secretary Ed Miliband failed to put a figure on any UK government contribution, but hinted that the Government may make an announcement at or around the UN Copenhagen conference in December.

Environment education makes us aware of the consequence resulting from interaction of man with nature and man made enviornment. It also makes us aware of the consequences resulting from its interaction with biological, physical, socail, economic and cultural traditions. Besides,it provides skills,morality and knowlege to bear the responsibility to solve the environmental problem.

The term "environment ' means surroundings which include physical, chemical, biological, cultural and social conditions of nature. It can be defined as all external conditions of influences under which an organism lives or develops survial, reproduction, growth and develpoment of an organism are determine by the environment.The living organisms depend on each other and the environment as a whole, to survive.
"Environment is the sum total of all the external conditions and itd influence on the development cycle of biotic elemnts".Environment education teaches us to keep the surrounding clen. Everyone needs neat and clean environment for healthy life. Environment education teaches about the surroubding around us and creates awareness to keep the environment clean.

Natural environment

The natural environment, commonly referred to simply as the environment, encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof.
The concept of the natural environment can be distinguished by components:
Complete ecological units that function as natural systems without massive human intervention, including all vegetation, animals, microorganisms, soil, rocks, atmosphere and natural phenomena that occur within their boundaries.
Universal natural resources and physical phenomena that lack clear-cut boundaries, such as air, water, and climate, as well as energy, radiation, electric charge, and magnetism, not originating from human activity.
The natural environment is contrasted with the built environment, which comprises the areas and components that are strongly influenced by humans. A geographical area is regarded as a natural environment (with an indefinite article), if the human impact on it is kept under a certain limited level.