1. DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY 2014

2. © Debabrata Ghosh

3.  Discuss economic issues related to agriculture and the environment  Consider solutions to natural resource problems Technical solutions Economic and institutional solutions

4.  Inputs into production and consumption  Amenity  Life sustenance  Sink for waste The earth's natural resources are finite, which means that if we use them continuously, we will eventually exhaust them.

5. NEED FOR SUSTAINABLE USE OF RESOURCES An increasing global population needs more resources. At a basic level we need uncontaminated food and water supplies, shelter, clothing and good health. Resources are also required to make all the things that we use in our daily lives AIMS OF SUSTAINABILITY To conserve natural resources for future generations, sustainable management of the natural environment is necessary. The environment should be preserved. Resources need to be retained for future generations to enjoy. Humans need to continue to make and do the things that allow them to live comfortably.

6.  Soil erosion, desertification, salinity, water-logging, and flooding  Chemical pollution  Depletion of forest resources  Need for new energy sources  Emission of greenhouse gases and climate change

9.  Examples of technical causes: Overgrazing and droughts Soil erosion leads to silting of rivers which leads to flooding Irrigation leads to waterlogging & salinity Deforestation leads to emission of CO 2 and reduced capacity to absorb carbon

10. Population pressures leading to farming on steep slopes, drylands, and flood plains Poverty – must eat, natural resource conservation is a luxury Exploiting natural resources such as forests to earn foreign exchange Transfer of chemical technologies from developed countries

11. Misguided national policies such as rules on use of forests Colonial heritage affects land use patterns Breakdown of traditional social structures or institutional arrangements

12.  Ensure that the use of resources does not cause an imbalance in the environment. An example of sustainable development is ecotourism.  Recycling resources reduces waste.  Limiting carbon emissions generated from use of fuels can assist in reducing pollution levels and limit environmental problems such as global warming and acid rain.  Resource substitution is another sustainable way in which we can limit the damage caused by humans to the environment.

13.  Countries find new types of energy, that are more sustainable than fossil fuels.  Industry and domestic users of energy use it more efficiently (ie stop wasting it).  The purpose of sustainability is to manage resources or run projects or industries, so future generations can use the resources too.

14. With energy consumption rising, it is important that industry, transportation and consumers in their homes use energy more efficiently, so that less is wasted. EXAMPLES OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY Walking, cycling, or using public transport rather than fossil-fuel powered cars. Using smaller more energy-efficient cars. Switching off lights, power sockets, phone chargers and TVs when not in use. Using energy-efficient light-bulbs and rechargeable batteries. Recycling and reusing plastics and oil-based products. Energy Efficiency

15.  Sound environmental management is essential for sustained agricultural and economic development  Both technical and institutional solutions are needed to solve environmental problems