• Avoiding the wastage of water by fixing any leaking taps or pipes as soon as possible. Also, the amount of water consumed must be controlled. For example, the tap should not be left running while brushing teeth.

• Disposing of plastic and glass wastes in recycling bins (many plastics take a long time to decompose and can have adverse effects on the environment).

• Using recyclable and eco-friendly products instead of the convenient plastic products. For example, using paper or cloth bags instead of polythene bags is an environment-friendly habit.

Question - 2 : - What would be the advantages of exploiting resources with short-term aims?

Answer - 2 : - Overconsumption of resources with short-term interests in mind will give a boost to the economy. However, the increased growth of the economy will be short-lived since the exploitation of resources is not sustainable. Exploiting resources for the sake of short-term goals will be beneficial to the present generations but not for future generations.

Question - 3 : - How would these advantages differ from the advantages of using a long-term perspective in managing our resources?

Answer - 3 : - The long-term model of resource consumption enables the conservation of the resources for them to be used by future generations. This will enable the economy to grow over a longer timeframe. It also provides more time for technology to advance and discover new, sustainable energy sources (such as nuclear fusion and fuel cells). All in all, the long-term perspective in managing of resources has significantly greater advantages when compared to the short-term perspective.

Question - 4 : - Why do you think that there should be an equitable distribution of resources?

Answer - 4 : -

What forces would be working against an equitable distribution of our resources?

Answer

Equitable distribution of resources enables every human to receive their share of the resources and makes sure that everyone has the basic requirements for life (such as food, water, shelter, etc.). The forces that work against equitable distribution include:

• The regional distribution of resources (such as soil and minerals).

• Corruption and greed of some humans

• Uneven distribution of resources between the rich and the poor.

Question - 5 : - Why should we conserve forests and wildlife?

Answer - 5 : - The conservation of forests is very important for the stability of the environment. Forests serve as a home to a huge variety of life-forms. Destruction of these forests can disturb the food chain and lead to the extinction of many important species. Also, forests protect the soil from erosion and play a vital role in the water cycle. The loss of forests can severely affect the day-to-day lives of humans.

Question - 6 : - Suggest some approaches towards the conservation of forests.

Answer - 6 : -

Some steps that can be taken to conserve forests include:

Planting of trees to combat deforestation.

Placement of security forces in forests to prevent the poaching and smuggling of forest resources.

Incorporating steps to protect the forest dwellers without disturbing their lifestyles.

Avoiding the conversion of forest land into roads, buildings, and dams.

Question - 7 : - Find out about the traditional systems of water harvesting/ management in your region.

Answer - 7 : - In populated metropolitan cities, the primary sources of water include groundwater and lakes. Groundwater is harvested with the help of borewells whereas pipes harvest water directly from the lakes. The harvested water is then stored in water tankers placed at strategic locations throughout the city.

Question - 8 : - Compare the above system with the probable systems in hilly/ mountainous areas or plains or plateau regions.

Answer - 8 : -

In hilly regions, rainwater is often collected and channelled with the help of a stream. The stream is diverted to different areas with the help of canals for the purpose of irrigation. In mountainous regions, water is commonly obtained from the rivers that flow from the glaciers.

In the plains, water is obtained from many natural sources such as lakes and rivers. Groundwater is also harvested with the help of borewells for irrigation and human consumption.

Question - 9 : - Find out the source of water in your region/locality. Is water from this source available to all people living in that area?

Answer - 9 : - In metropolitan cities, the primary source of water is groundwater. This water is made available to all people in the city. However, poor infrastructure in some localities makes it difficult for some people to obtain the water.

Question - 10 : - What changes would you suggest in your home in order to be environment-friendly?

Answer - 10 : -

Some important changes that can help make homes more environment-friendly include:

• Segregation of the garbage into biodegradable waste (food waste) and non-biodegradable waste (plastics).

• Use of eco-friendly products such as cloth shopping bags and paper cups instead of plastics.

• Avoiding the wastage of electricity by switching off the electrical appliances that are not in use.

• Avoiding the wastage of water by quickly fix leaking taps and incorporating practices that reduce water wastage (such as closing the taps while brushing and using water judiciously while bathing).

Free - Previous Years Question Papers

Chapter 16 – Sustainable Management of Natural Resources Solutions

Subscribe Now!