VIII.Geography.Chapter3.Natural Resources Vegitation and Wild Life

Chapter.3.Geography.
Natural Resources: Vegetation and Wildlife.

In the beginning, the earth was a barren planet.  There was no life in water or on land.  Gradually, life appeared in the ocean in the form of plants.  Slowly, various other types of organisms appeared on the earth which were broadly classified as animals and plants.  The assemblage of plant species in an environment is known as natural vegetation Natural vegetation includes forests, grasses and shrubs.  In this chapter, we will study about natural vegetation and wildlife.  Natural vegetation NATURAL VEGETATION Temperature and rainfall are two important factors for the growth of plants.  In the areas where rainfall is heavy, the forests are thick and dense.  As the rainfall decreases, the size and concentration of trees also reduce.  Shrubs and short trees are common in the areas of low rainfall or in desert areas.  In cold regions, the growing season is very short.  Therefore, plants occur in scattered patches in the form of mosses and lichens.  21

We have already discussed in the earlier class about the distribution of vegetation regions of the world.  In this chapter, we shall study about the different types of forests.  CLASSIFICATION OF FORESTS On the basis of the location and the type of climatic conditions, forests can be divided into the three broad types: 1. Tropical Hardwood Forests 2. Mediterranean Forests 3. Temperate Softwood Forests Let us discuss them in detail one by one.  1. Tropical Hardwood Forests On the basis of temperature and rainfall, tropical hardwood forests are further sub - divided into two groups: (a) Tropical Evergreen Forests (b) Tropical Deciduous Forests (a) Tropical Evergreen Forests: These forests are also known as  Tropical Rain Forests because they are confined to tropical regions where heavy rainfall occurs throughout the year.  All the trees of these forests do not shed their leaves at the same time.  Hence, the forests always appear green.  That is why, such forests are known as evergreen forests.  They are spread in the areas of Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Gabon in Africa.  In India, they are common in the Western Ghats, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Kerala and the North - Eastern parts of the country.  The favourable climatic conditions for these forests are heavy and well - distributed rainfall (200 cm) and hot climate throughout the year.  The hardwood trees of these forests are very tall, sometimes reaching up to 60 meters.  Several species of trees are found within a single area.  These forests are characterized by dense growth of vegetation.  The trees have broad leaves to permit transpiration of surplus moisture.  Some of the typical trees are mahogany, ebony, rosewood, rubber and palm.  The animals found in rain forests are elephant, lemur, monkey and deer.  Mahogany tree 23

(b) Tropical Deciduous Forests: These forests are also known as Monsoon Forests because they are common in the Monsoon areas of the world.  These forests are usually found in India, Myanmar, South China, East Brazil and Central parts of America, These forests thrive in regions where the climate is warm, with distinct wet and dry seasons.  Deciduous Forests receive summer rainfall in the months of June, July, August and September ranging between 100-200 cm.  The vegetation in these forests is not as dense as that in the Tropical Evergreen Forests.  The Deciduous Forests have predominantly broad - leafed trees and medium size leaves and they shed their leaves during the dry season to conserve moisture.  Trees are medium in height (30-40 meters).  Common trees are sal, bamboo trees teak, sandalwood, bamboo and shisham.  Eucalyptus is common in Australia.  The animals found in Deciduous forests are lion, tiger, elephant and numerous kinds of reptiles.  2. Mediterranean Forests These forests are mainly located in regions around the Mediterranean Sea.  The main areas are the shores of Europe, Asia, North Africa and South - Western parts of South Africa.  These forests are usually found in the areas which have dry summer and moderate rainfall during winter.  Trees of these forests are widely scattered and have spiny, waxy, small and leathery - textured leaves.  They also have long roots and thick bark.  Due to the above features, these trees are able to retain moisture in the dry summer season.  The important trees of these forests are cork, olive and citrus fruit trees.  The popular animal species found in Mediterranean forests are Mediterranean monk seal, Barbary macaque, Greek tortoise, Iberian lynx, Great busted, etc.  Olive tree 3. Temperate Softwood Forests These Forests are commonly known as Coniferous Forests as the shape of the trees looks conical Such forests are common in the higher latitudes of the northern hemisphere and high mountains in Europe, Asia, North Canada and USA.  In India, the Temperate Softwood Forests are found in southern slopes of the Himalayas and are commonly known as Mountain Forests.  These forests are found in the colder regions of the world.  Here, the precipitation is received in the form of snow in winter 24

Most of the trees are tall and conical in shape.  Due to their shape, the snow cannot accumulate on them.  These trees do not shed their thick needle - shaped leaves and hence, look evergreen pine, fur, spruce, cedar, deodar, sliver fir, chestnut and walnut are some of the common trees in these forests.  These trees have commercial importance and are used for various purposes, such as making of pulp, plywood, etc.  The animals commonly found in Softwood Forests are Kashmir stag, spotted deer, Tibetan antelope, snow leopard, tiger and golden eagle, pine trees Deodar tree Chestnut tree Advantages of Forests Forests are the breathing lungs of the civilisation and therefore, are very important for the  survival of life on earth.  Forests help us to breathe by converting carbon dioxide into oxygen.  They provide safe habitat to the wild animals.  Many people depend on forests for their livelihood.  Trees also help in keeping the earth cool.  Large forest cover helps in causing rainfall.  Roots of the trees bind soil particles, to help raise the ground water level and prevent floods.  Deforestation in a rampant manner has depleted this important resource and led to the loss of habitat for wildlife, ecological imbalances and soil erosion.  It is a matter of grave concern and therefore, the government has taken several stringent measures to protect our forest cover.  Some of these measures are: • Afforestation or large scale plantation of trees.  • 'Each one plant one' policy.  Deforestation 25

• Efficient utilization of forest products and usage of substitutes of wood.  • Enforcement of a number of laws / guidelines to protect forests and prohibit deforestation Discouraging shifting cultivation which causes forest loss.  WILDLIFE Wildlife includes non - domesticated animals, such as birds, fishes and animals, which make forests as their natural habitat.  It is the most important part of the natural ecosystem.  Wildlife varies from place to place due to climatic variations.  For example, in India, there is a rich variety of birds and animals.  The blackbuck, peacock, lion and Bengal tiger are Do You Know?  found in India, Australia is famous for koala bear, 6 Kookabura is known as emu and kookabura, Wildlife is very essential to Laughing Jackass.  maintain the ecological balance on the earth's surface.  Siberian cranes at Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala Wildlife is important for its aesthetic values ​​and ecological balance.  The beauty of wild animals boosts tourism and creates jobs for the people.  Animals' behavior changes at the time of natural disasters like tsunami and earthquake.  If this information can be harnessed for imparting early warning system, then life of lots of people can be saved.  Dead and decaying plants and animals also produce humus, which is helpful to maintain the fertility of the soil.  In various parts of the world, wild animals are hunted for various purposes like meat, skin, horns, etc.  This disturbs the ecological balance of the environment.  Many birds have become extinct and many others are on the verge of extinction.  Our forests are treasure troves of biodiversity.  They harbor millions of species of animals.  Our wildlife suffers severely due to deforestation and urbanisation.  Many animals have become extinct because they have lost their 26

natural habitat.  Hence, there is great need for the conservation of wildlife.  Several steps are being taken by the Government of India to conserve the wildlife.  Some of these are: • Hunting and poaching of wild animals and birds have been banned.  • Killing of wildlife is a punishable offence.  National parks and wildlife sanctuaries are being set - up in different parts of the world.  At present India has 103 National Parks and 528 Wildlife Sanctuaries.  National Park A National Park is a well - defined area for the protection of wildlife.  Visitors can only visit the park.  No one has a right to use any forest products.  The collection of firewood, timber from any part of the forest is totally prohibited.  Grand Canyon National Park of USA is declared as a world heritage site by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), Wildlife Sanctuary It is a declared protected area in which limited human activities are permitted.  Hunting of animals and cutting of trees are banned.  People can collect firewood, timber and medicinal herbs in a moderate amount which can be used for research and educational purposes.  The UNESCO has selected Manas Wildlife Sanctuary of India as a world heritage site.  2 Do You Know?  In India Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 prohibits poaching, hunting and trade of wildlife.  In 1973 'Project Tiger' was launched in India with the aim of conserving tigers.  Initially nine tiger reserves were set - up, which expanded to 39 tiger reserves in 2010. Jim Corbett National Park of Uttrakhand is a famous tiger reserve of India.  1 Keywords.  basin: a region drained by river and its tributaries.  citrus fruit: any fruit of genus citrus having juice and sour taste cultivated in warm regions of the world, e.g.  orange, lemon, lime, grape, pomegranate, etc.  domesticated: the animals which are tamed as pets or for agricultural purpose.  poacher: a person who hunts animals for commercial benefits, transpiration: the emission of water vapors from the leaves of plants.  .  s.  27

Chapter 4.Mineral and Energy Resources You have already studied about natural resources, such as land, soil, water, vegetation and wildlife.  Now, let us study about some other important natural resources, i.e.  Mineral and energy resources, mineral RESOURCES mineral and energy resources provide the foundation for economic and industrial development.  No country can think of improving its standard of living without utilizing its mineral and energy resources.  We have evidences to prove how the advent of different metals have helped in the progress of human civilisation during Copper Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age.  In the previous class, you have already read about the layered structure of the earth, i.e.  from the surface crust to the inner core.  The earth's crust, the outermost solid shell of our planet, is composed of different kinds of rocks.  even in today me the indulja development Do You Know?  A Geologist is a scientist who studies composition and structure of earth's crust.  It is related to the branch of science called Geology.  Geological Survey of India is a premier research organization of Government of India.  It was set - up in 1851. It provides information about earth science to the government industry and public in general.  rocks contain crystals of naturally occuring chemicals called minerals.  The rocks do not have a fixed or definite mineral composition.  Each type of rock is made from one particular mineral or aggregation of more than one minerals.  A mineral may be made of a single element or a combination of more than one elements, called compound.  Each mineral has its own special shape of a crystal.  These mineral crystals give the rock its character of hardness, lustre and colors.  Therefore, rocks may be hard or soft, and in varied colors.  Sandstone, limestone, basalt and granite are some examples of rocks.  Different types of rock mineral 31

Name Crystal Shape Real Examples Cubic - the most symmetrical crystal Halite Monoclinic - the most commonly found crystal Gypsum Tetragonal - the elongated crystals Zircon Some mineral crystals alongside real examples A rock having a large concentration of a particular metal mineral is called its ore,  for example aron ore, manganese ore, copper ore, etc.  The extraction of useful minerals from rocks under the earth's surface is called mining.  Minerals are extracted from mines only if the concentration of a particular mineral is high, commercially viable and useful.  Minerals are extracted by the processes of mining, drilling and quarrying.  O Extraction of Minerals Drilling Mining Quarrying Open cast mining Shaft mining Open cast mining Shaft mining Types of Minerals Minerals are of different types.  Generally, minerals are classified on the basis of their properties 32

Types of Minerals Metallic Non - Metallic Mineral Fuels Ferrous Non - Ferrous Building Industrial Gems Coal Petroleum Gas material and stones Let us discuss them in some detail Metallic Minerals They are hard substances with a shine Do You Know?  or lustre.  Metal obtained from its ore can be molded into any shape.  Metallic minerals can the metallic ore contain impurities.  be sub - divided into categories: Smelting is the process done to remove ferrous minerals: they include iron ore the impurities from an ore.  and manganese ore.  • Non-ferrous Minerals: They contain metals other than iron.  Ores of gold and silver are examples of non - ferrous minerals.  To improve the strength of a metal, sometimes two or more metals are mixed.  This is called an alloy.  For example, brass is an alloy obtained from the mixture of copper and zinc.  Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, and steel is an alloy of iron and manganese.  Non - metallic minerals They do not contain metals and are lighter than metallic minerals.  They cannot be molded into different shapes.  Generally, they include • Building materials and stones: Sandstone, limestone, granite, basalt, marble, etc.  • Industrial: Mica, sulphur, potash, salt.  • Gems: Diamond, topaz, garnet, emerald, etc.  Mineral Fuels They are used as sources of energy.  They are obtained from sedimentary rocks.  Mineral fuels consist of coal (solid), petroleum (liquid) and natural gas (gaseous).  Distribution of mineral resources The distribution of minerals is highly uneven in the world.  It depends on the type of rocks available in a region.  Igneous and metamorphic rocks are rich in minerals like iron ore, manganese ore, gold, silver, lead, etc.  Mineral fuels are restricted to sedimentary rocks.  Sometimes agents of gradation, such as rivers erode minerals from one region and deposit them somewhere else in the river beds.  These are called placer deposits.  The countries rich in minerals have a large potential for industrial development.  The uneven distribution of minerals creates the global trade 33

Let us now learn about some minerals.  Iron: Iron is the backbone of modern civilisation.  It is used for manufacturing machines, automobiles, rail tracks, electric poles, constructing buildings, bridges, ship - building, weapons, agricultural implements and articles of general use.  Haematite and Magnetite are the major types of iron ore.  The distribution of iron ore in the world is uneven.  The countries having large reserves of iron ore include Australia, Russia, Brazil, China, India, Ukraine, Canada and Sweden.  It is also found in Iran, Kazakhstan, United States, South Africa and France.  Copper: Copper is widely used in electric goods, such as generators, wireless systems, electric motors, radio, telephone, electric wires, refrigerators, utensils, etc.  Global copper reserves mainly occur in Chile, Australia, Peru, Mexico, USA, China, Russia, Congo, Zambia and Canada.  Bauxite: Aluminum is obtained from bauxite ore.  It is used in the manufacturing of electric wires, aeroplanes, spare parts of vehicles, pipes, construction of escalators, window frames, shutters, utensils and other household goods.  Guinea, Australia, Brazil, Vietnam and Jamaica have large reserves of bauxite.  It also occurs in Indonesia, Guyana, China, India, Suriname, Russia and Kazakhstan.  Name Iron ore Bauxite Copper Raw Mineral Mineral Products Distribution of Minerals in India Iron: Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra have large reserves of iron ore.  Bauxite: More than half of India's bauxite reserves are in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.  The other states which have rich reserves of bauxite are Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.  Copper: It is mainly found in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand.  Mica: Major reserves are in Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Rajasthan, Odisha and Maharashtra 35

.  .  • Manganese: The main reserves of this ore are in Odisha, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, Limestone: It is found in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Gold: There are deposits of gold  at Kolar mines in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand · Salt: it is obtained from sea water in coastal areas, lakes in Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh Conservation of Minerals D) Minerals are exhaustible resources.  These resources are limited and unevenly distributed per head consumption of minerals is higher in developed countries as compared to the same in developing countries.  Therefore, we need to use them economically and conserve them for future generations The conservation of minerals does not mean preservation of minerals.  It implies that effort should be made to use minerals in the best possible way, depending upon the industrial need and changing technological requirements.  Thus, conservation stands for sustainable development where a balance is maintained between the economic development and the utilization of natural resources, without causing damage to the environment.  There is an urgent need to avoid the wastage of minerals.  The following measures can be taken to conserve minerals: • Use of efficient methods of mining and processing to minimize the wastage.  • Recycling of mineral resources - use and reuse of scrap (metallic waste).  • Substituting the use of scarce minerals by those found in abundance.  ENERGY RESOURCES We have read in earlier classes that energy is the capacity to do a work.  The different ways to obtain energy is through sun, fire, electricity or burning of fossil fuels.  Energy is fundamental to the quality of our lives.  Now - a - days, we are totally dependent on an uninterrupted and abundant supply of energy.  Narora atomic station (Uttar Pradesh) Thermal power plant at Neyveli (Tamil Nadu) Electricity is generated through Thermal Power Plants, Nuclear Power Plants and Hydroelectri Power Plants.  It is also produced through non-conventional sources of energy, such as tidal energ 36

solar energy, wind energy and geothermal energy.  After generation, electricity is transmitted to the grid through wires.  Grid maintains the distribution of energy in the surrounding regions.  As far as consumption of electricity is concerned, it is quite high in developed countries like Japan and USA Most of the energy of the world is produced by using coal, mineral oil and natural gas.  They are formed inside the earth by decomposition of dead remains of plants and animals in the sedimentary rocks.  Hence, they are also called fossil fuels The flowchart given below presents different types of energy sources.  Types of Energy Resources Conventional Sources Non - Conventional Sources Tidal Biogas Coal Natural Petroleum / Gas Mineral Oil Hydro Thermal Electric Energy Energy Solar Geothermal Wind Energy Energy Energy Energy Nuclear Energy Do You Know?  A 'source' refers to the point of origin of something that simply provides what we are looking for.  In turn, the term 'resource is a functional concept and refers to the utilisation of materials which are valuable for accomplishing certain goals.  Conventional Sources of Energy Conventional sources of energy are traditional sources, which are widely in use.  The highly popular conventional sources of energy are coal, petroleum, natural gas and hydroelectricity.  All the other conventional energy resources with the exception of hydroelectricity, are non-renewable.  Let us discuss these resources in detail.  Coal: Coal is formed from the plant cover buried under the sedimentary rocks.  Under the high temperature and pressure the plant cover gets carbonised over thousands of years.  The major types of coal are anthracite, bituminous, lignite and peat.  Anthracite is the hardest, brightest and best quality of coal.  It contains about 90% carbon and emits little smoke.  Coal is widely used in iron and steel industry and thermal power stations.  Moreover, it is also used as a raw material in various chemical industries.  Coal is found in USA, Russia, China, Australia, India, Germany, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, South Africa.  In India, its reserves are confined to the states of Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal Madhya Pradesh, Telengana and Maharashtra, 37

Petroleum / Mineral oil: It is widely used as a source of power.  Petrol, diesel and kerosene oil are the by - products of Petroleum / Mineral oil.  As an industrial power, it is widely used to run machines, generate electricity and produce steam.  Railway engines, motor vehicles and ships depend on it for their fuel requirements.  Do you know?  It is used as a lubricant in machines and petro chemical industries for preparing rubber, petroleum is also called black gold.  synthetic, fibers, etc.  About 60% of the petroleum is obtained from the Middle East.  Areas around Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Persian Gulf and Red Sea have the largest reserves of petroleum of the world.  it is mainly obtained from south - west Asian countries.  The countries with the world's largest oil reserves are Venezuela, South Arabia, Canada, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE, Russia, Libya, Nigeria and USA The petroleum reservoirs beneath the North Sea are extracted and used by UK, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark  and Oil drilling at Mumbai High Norway.  In India, petroleum reserves are found in Assam, Gujarat an offshore oilfield and off the coast of Maharashtra.  They are also found in the delta regions of Godavari and Krishna.  Natural gas: Natural gas is mostly obtained along with mineral oil.  However, sometimes exclusive gas resources are also found.  It is widely used to run vehicles as CNG (Compressed Natural Gas).  Thoughout the world, it is transported by pipelines over great distances.  Natural gas is found in Russia, Iran, Qatar, USA, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan, UAE, Venezuela and Nigeria.  In India, it is found in Assam, offshore regions of Gujarat and Maharashtra and along the east coast in the Godavari and Krishna delta regions.  Thermal power: A thermal power station is a power plant in which the prime mover is steam driven.  Water, on heating, turns into steam and spins a steam turbine which drives an electrical generator to produce electrical energy.  This is called thermal electricity hydel power: Rain water or river water stored in dams is made to fall from heights.  The falling water flows through pipes inside the dam over turbine blades placed at the bottom of the dam.  The moving blades then turn the generator to produce electricity.  This is called hydroelectricity.  The water discharged after the generation of electricity is used for irrigation.  One - fourth of the world's electricity is produced by hydel power.  The leading Salal hydel power plant, J & K 39

Stator producers of hydel power in the world are Brazil, Norway and Paraguay, For generating hydroelectricity, large dams are required.  Hilly regions with perennial rivers a ideal for it.  At the initial stage, it requires high technology generator and huge capital investment.  But in the long run, it becomes a cheap source of energy.  Many countries, such as Canada, China, India and Japan have developed their water resources to get turbine electricity.  African countries have a great potential Rotor Generator Shaft for developing hydroelectricity.  India has established several multipurpose river valley projects for generating hydroelectricity.  Bhakra Nangal, Hirakud, Nagarjuna Wicket Sagar and Sardar Sarovar are some of the examples.  Turbini wala FI Gate Non - Conventional Sources of Energy Turbine Blades Non - conventional sources of energy are those that Hydro turbine are more or less, still at an experimental stage.  They are non - traditional.  They are less expensive and do not have much of adverse effect on the environment in future, the dependency on these resources will increase manifolds.  Solar energy: Sun is the greatest source of unlimited energy.  Specially, in the tropical zone it can be tapped to get maximum output.  Now - a - days, solar energy is used for a number purposes, such as solar cookers, solar gysers, solar cars, solar dryers, solar lanterns, solar stres lighting system, solar airconditioning, etc.  People are taking initiative to make it more cos effective.  Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan and USA are some of the countries doing research Do You Know?  and Promoting its utilization in their countries.  Solar The largest solar plant in India is located in Photovoltaic (SPV) converts sunlight directly into electricity.  Gujarat 22 Solar water heater Solar Inverter Solar lights 40

Wind energy: In the areas of high wind velocity, wind is used to generate energy.  Coastal areas are ideal for it.  Wind energy is mainly used for pumping water, grinding grains, sailing and electricity generation.  It is developed in coastal regions of European countries (especially Netherlands), India, Japan and USA.  In Tokyo, wind power is used to run the air conditioning system of buildings.  In India, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have a few windmills.  Geothermal energy: The internal heat of the earth generates geothermal energy.  It is more prominent in volcanically active areas, where frequency of hot springs, is high some countries like Iceland, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia and USA are generating geothermal energy.  Basically, this energy is used in cold storage plants, industries and for domestic purpose.  In India, Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh is famous for harnessing geothermal energy nuclear energy: it is obtained from energy stored in nuclei of atoms of naturally occuring radioactive elements like uranium and thorium, nuclear energy is an alternative to fossil fuels and can reduce the emission of  the greenhouse gases.  It is a very powerful and efficient source of energy Do You Know?  Nuclear fission involving breeder reactors are considered a renewable source because these constantly replenish available supplies of nuclear fuel by converting uranium 238 and thorium into isotopes of plutonium, which are again used as nuclear fuel the greatest producers of nuclear energy are USA, France, Russia,  South Korea, Germany, China and Canada in India, Jharkhand and Rajasthan have large deposits of uranium and thorium is found in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Odisha.  Nuclear power stations in India are located at Kaiga in Karnataka, Kalpakkam and Kudunkulum in Tamil Nadu, Narora in UP, Ranapratap Sagar near Kota in Rajasthan and Tarapur in Maharashtra Tidal Energy: Energy generated from tides is called tidal energy.  Tidal energy can be harnessed by building dams at narrow openings of the sea.  France, Russia and Gulf of Kachchh in India have huge tidal mill farms.  Biogas: Organic wastes, such as dead plants, animal dung and kitchen waste can be converted into a gaseous fuel called biogas.  It is an excellent fuel for cooking and lighting and produces huge amount of organic manure.  43. n.coming future beck depondering of energy und Biogas plant in india o dela 41

Now, let us compare the conventional and non-traditional sources of energy.  Comparative Study of Conventional and Non - Conventional Sources Conventional Sources Non - Conventional Sources 1. Traditional sources, e.g.  coal, petroleum, Non - conventional sources are still at an natural gas and water, experimental stage: Non - traditional, e.g.  solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy.  2. Except hydel power, these sources are these are renewable sources.  non-renewable in nature.  3. These are expensive to install and hard to these are less expensive to install and easy to maintain 4. Except hydel power, these cause severe air these do not cause air pollution and are pollution and related adverse effect on the largely eco-friendly  .  environment 5. At present, there is a lot of dependency on in future, the dependency on these source will increase.  them.  Conservation of energy resources Conservation of energy resources is required because of the rapid depletion and very slow regeneration of the exhaustible sources of energy, i.e.  coal, petroleum and natural gas.  Due to the growing population, consumption of energy resources has increased manifolds.  The fossil fuels an non - renewable in nature.  Rampant exploitation of non-renewable resources like coal and petroleum can lead to energy crisis.  Scarcity of conventional resources of energy is referred to as energy crisis The rate of consumption of energy sources is more than the rate of their formation.  Therefore, we need to conserve energy resources.  It does not mean the curtailment of energy consumption, but restrict unnecessary wasteful consumption of energy.  Non - conventional sources of energy 420

The following measures can be taken to conserve energy resources.  • Use of LED bulbs and tubelights.  • Use public transport.  • Switch off the light and fans when not in use.  • Use of power saving electronic devices.  • Use of non - conventional sources of energy, ie, solar light, solar torch, solar Byser, etc.  • Use of automatic electronic power saver.  It saves approximately 30% electricity bill.  Do you know?  In India, some states like Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh give some benefits on electric bills for using non - conventional sources of energy like solar panels.  Keywords • Drilling: the process of extraction of minerals in which narrow but very deep wells are bored to extract liquids and gases, like petroleum and natural gas.  electrical grid: it is an interconnected network for delivering electricity from suppliers to consumers.  open cast mining: the extraction of minerals from just below the ground surface by removing the surface layers.  perennial river: a river that has continuous flow all the year round.  quarrying an open excavation from which rock, clay or sand is obtained to be used as building and construction material.  • shaft mining the extraction of minerals from under the ground by sinking a vertical shaft into the ground and then cutting horizontal tunnels to reach ore or minerals that lie at great depth.  43

The rain water can be impounded by making dams across the rivers.  • Water can be conserved by installing water fixtures, such as sensor taps in public places • Maintenance of lakes and ponds also helps in increasing the aquifer (water table) of underground water.  Water can be conserved by educating and sensitizing people towards the urgent need to conserve water and not to waste fresh water.  Water conservation 

Keywords altitude;  height above the mean sea level.  ecosystem: interdependency or inter - relationship of biological elements of the environment on their physical environment.  deforestation: cutting down of large number of trees in an area or clearing of the forest cover.  drip irrigation: it is a form of irrigation in which water drips in small quantity on roots of the plants.  glacier: moving mass of ice like a river.  precipitation process in which water vapors fall on the ground in the form of rain, snow, hail and sleet.  sprinkler method: an irrigation technique of spraying water on the plants like rain.  topography: physical features, relief or landforms like mountains, plateaus, plains, etc.  Water harvesting: storing the rainwater through various methods.  water table: the level below which the ground is completely saturated with water.  weathering: process of disintegration of rocks into smaller pieces till it gets converted into soil.  17
Efficient utilization of forest products and usage of substitutes of wood.  Enforcement of a number of laws / guidelines to protect forests and prohibit deforestation Discouraging shifting cultivation which causes forest loss ,.  .  WILDLIFE Wildlife includes non - domesticated animals, such as birds, fishes and animals, which make forests as their natural habitat.  It is the most important part of the natural ecosystem.  Wildlife varies from place to place due to climatic variations.  For example, in India, there is a rich variety of birds and animals.  The blackbuck, peacock, lion and Bengal tiger are 

Do You Know?  found in India, Australia is famous for koala bear, Kookabura is known as emu and kookabura.  Wildlife is very essential to maintain the ecological balance on the earth's surface 

Siberian cranes at Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary 

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala 

Wildlife is important for its aesthetic values ​​and ecological balance.  The beauty of wild animal boosts tourism and creates jobs for the people.  

Animals' behavior changes at the time of natura disasters like tsunami and earthquake.  If this information can be harnessed for imparting earl warning system, then life of lots of people can be saved.  

Dead and decaying plants and animals also produce humus, which is helpful to maintain the fertility of the soil.  

In various parts of the world, wild animals are hunted for various purposes like meat, skin, horns, etc.  This disturbs the ecological balance of the environment.  Many birds hav become extinct and many others are on the verge of extinction.  Our forests are treasure trove of biodiversity.  

They harbor millions of species of animals.  

Our wildlife suffers severely duet deforestation and urbanisation.  Many animals have become extinct because they have l