Roydon Ng Biodiversity 2009roydonng.com/Documents/Year 9/Biodiversity.pdf · A treaty created to maintain biodiversity, including the sustainable expansion of biological resources,

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Roydon N

g

2009

Biodiversity

In order to have the standard of living we have grown to expect, we

need to use large amounts of resources. However, we have a

responsibility to God to take care of the Earth and to look after His

creation. Sometimes these two issues present a conflict.

What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity is the term used to cover the total variations of genetic

strains, species, and ecosystems in the world. Human activity is

accelerating the progression of change, resulting to the depletion and

extinction of species. A treaty created to maintain biodiversity,

including the sustainable expansion of biological resources, was signed

at the Earth Summit in 1992.

Year 9 science

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Part 1: Resources & Negative Effects

• What is a resource? A resource is something that is created by God in the earth and can be essential to human survival.

Resource Uses of Resource Image

1 Biomass Biomass is organic waste used to produce energy

and is a source of fuel.

2 Clay Clay is solid rock particles formed in the earth which

is often used in construction works.

3 Coal Coal is a type of fossil fuel gathered by mining and is

commonly burnt to produce energy.

4 Gas (Natural) Gas (natural) is used by many industries to produce

electricity, heating and is also used as fuel.

5 Granite Granite is very tough rock and stone. It is often

found in large buildings and in monuments.

6 Petroleum Petroleum (petrol) is crude oil that can be distilled or refined to make fuels, lubricating oils, asphalt, and

other valuable products.

7 Uranium Uranium is a reactive element clustered in some part of the world and can be used for the generating of nuclear energy, medicinal products or weaponry.

8 Water Water is a vital element and resource and is

essential for human and animal life. Water carries the scientific formula of H20.

9 Wind

Wind is another resource that allows important ground and soil formation to be shaped. Rich

deposits of soil can also be transported through the wind.

10 Wood (Timber) Wood (timber) is obtained through logging and the

land clearing. Timber provides frameworks for building and can be burnt to provide heat energy.

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Negative Effects of

Timber Usage The use of wood in our modern and

historic human societies has played a

very dominant and sufficient role.

People from the very early Biblical times

have sourced wood to build amazing

constructions like Noah’s ark. Wood

was also present in many building

frameworks. Apart from construction

purposes, wood plays an important part to human survival by providing accessories for fire for cooking and

the basis of heating.

As wood has been and can be considered now to be crucial for human society, the way in which wood and

timber materials are gathered can severely impact and cause significant harm to the environment and in the

long run to ourselves. Using wood for heating and cooking cause’s carbon dioxide which contributes to

global warming. The wood that we use is chopped from forest plantations and other areas that are the

principle dwellings for many of the world’s declining and endangered animal and insect species. The mass

increase in demand for timber products has resulted in fewer trees in the natural environment being able

to absorb carbon dioxide from the environment.

The conservation of trees and forests is essential for the future and sustainable use of our precious timber

needs to begin without delay for the sake of the world that we all share.

Aboriginal view of the land Aborigines have been living off the land of Australia since they first migrated from Asia many thousands of

years ago. After the European settlement the Aboriginal people have been discriminated against and had

their lands taken away from them. The Aboriginals also believed that they belonged to the land and not

that the land belonged to them.

Aborigines hold strongly that the mother earth is the founder of the world, its creations and the Aboriginal

people. The Aborigines also have strong cultural and spiritual connection with the land, believing that it is

there role to manage and tender the land. Many Aboriginal stories are related to the land and mother

earth.

Aborigines’ obviously were less wasteful of the natural resources and probably cared for the land better

than the Europeans did. Aborigines used traditional but effective skills to maintain the fertility of the land.

The use of technology has compromised the traditional and cultural management practices of the

Aborigines.

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Deforestation • What is deforestation?

Deforestation is the permanent removal and clearing of large scale areas of trees and forest habitats.

Deforestation or logging is done using machinery to make land available for other uses such as agricultural

farming, land grazing, and city expansion and militaria reasons.

• Issues related to deforestation

Deforestation can affect people from all walks of life. The use of timber provides vast amounts of income

for loggers and paper mills. Although, the digital age started in the new millennium, consumption of paper

has nearly doubled. Others have raised issues about the moral and ethical values of using the natural

environment for commercial gain. The generation of new land from deforestation may help agriculture but

is harmful in the long run.

What the government should do to protect forests from loggers The world’s population is ever increasing the need for space and resources. The government needs to

ensure that a responsible management between the protection of the environment and commerce, logging

and timber usage are balanced. Government need to step out of the bushes and stop hiding from the risk

of political defeat and stand up for the increase of conservation and preservation of our beautiful forests.

New policies need to draw the line clearly to define responsible use of timber and logging in forests.

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Cut Down Logging! By Roydon Ng

There is no doubt that the natural environment is

a valuable resource. We can least afford for

deforestation to rob us of the wonderful trees

and forests that God has given us to care for.

In order to understand why deforestation is such

an urgent and critical issue, forests must first be

given credit for what they convey to international

ecosystems and the value of life that all species

maintain. About 75% of primates call tropical

rainforests their home and there are millions of

creatures that rely on rainforests and trees to

survive. Not only are animal and insect species at

risk, but the human population also receiving

benefits from the existence of tree.

Trees can provide spices for some traditional

foods and cultural herbs and medicines. Some

experts believe that ¼ of the world’s medicines

originate from trees and plants.

The forests have many worldwide and unspoken

implications not just for life but on the quality of

it.

Trees improve and help maintain the quality of

the air that species including humans breathe by

trapping carbon and other particles produced by

pollution. Trees decide also assist the

replenishment of the atmosphere. Trees provide

shelter and shade from the sun’s heat and are

vital resources to preventing landslides and

mountain erosions. We have been given much

responsibility to maintain trees.

Commercial reasons in the 20th century are

compromising the security of the world’s forests.

Back in medieval times, 90% of the world was

covered in woodlands, now the colour of the

land has changed from green to barren yellow

earth.

Government must take immediate action to allow

the survival of these precious resources of forests

and trees. The government faces its own election,

a choice of protecting the environment or

surrendering to greedy big business forestry

giants that really compare nothing the size of the

wonders of forests.

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BIBLIOGHRAPHY

INTERNET

Author’s

Surname

First Name

/ Initials

Title of Website. (Online).

(Year

Produced).

Date

Accessed,

<URL>

WIKIPEDIA

WIKIPEDIA

WIKIPEDIA(Online).

2009 8/2009

http://en.wikipedia.org/w

iki/Category:Deforestation

earlham

earlham

Effects of deforestation (Online).

2001 8/009

earlham

.edu

ENCYCLOPEDIA

“Name of Entry”,

Name of Encyclopedia.

(Year).

Biomass

Britannica/Websters

2009/8

Clay

Britannica/Websters

2009/8

Coal

Britannica /Websters

2009/8

Gas


2009/8

Granite

Britannica/ Websters

2009/8

Petroleum


2009/8

Uranium


2009/8

Water


2009/8

Wind


2009/8

Wood


2009/8

Web

sites:

Aboriginal Land council www.alc.org.au 12th August 200

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