Theory question 104
Conservation of Natural Resources(a)(i) What is conservation? (ii) State six factors responsible for the decline of the abundance and variety of wildlife.
(b) Outline six ways in which the government can improve the situation in 4(a)(ii) above.
(c)(i) What is Eutrophication? (ii) State two causes of eutrophication.
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(a)(i) Conservation is the protection, preservation and wise management of natural resources so they last and remain available for the future.
(ii) Any six: uncontrolled hunting/poaching; deforestation and destruction of habitats; bush burning; pollution of land and water; urbanisation and road building; overgrazing; drought and desertification; introduction of alien species; diseases.
(b) Any six: establish game reserves and national parks; pass and enforce laws against poaching; ban or control bush burning; afforestation; licensing and closed seasons for hunting; public education on wildlife; zoos and captive breeding; control of pollution; employ game wardens.
(c)(i) Eutrophication is the over-enrichment of a water body with nutrients (nitrates, phosphates), causing rapid growth of algae (algal bloom); when they die, decomposers use up the oxygen and fish and other organisms die.
(ii) Any two: run-off of fertilisers from farms; discharge of sewage; detergents (phosphates) in waste water; animal wastes.
For (c) describe the chain: nutrients → algal bloom → decay → oxygen loss.