PLATINUM SOCIAL SCIENCES | GRADE 7 TERM 4 …

PLATINUM ? SOCIAL SCIENCES | GRADE 7 TERM 4 GEOGRAPHY: NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION IN SA

Topic 4: Natural resources and conservation in South Africa

Natural resources

Everyone depends on natural resources such as rocks, soil, water and forests for producing food and providing material for all the things we make. Many of the world's natural resources are being used up or damaged, and we need to look after them so that they will last.

- Water is needed by all living things, and people quickly die without it. Water wastage and pollution are serious threats to all life.

- Air is also needed by all living things. People and animals breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Many machines also need air for them to be able to work.

- Soil is made up of tiny particles of rock, decaying animals and plants, water and air. Plants need soil to grow in, and without plants to provide food, there would be no human or animal life.

- Forests need water, air and soil for trees and plants to grow. Trees provide wood for building, furniture, paper and fires. Some forests grow naturally, while others ? called plantations ? are planted by people.

- Animals provide food for humans, and help people in many tasks. Meat, eggs, milk and fish provide protein that is needed for healthy bodies.

Case Study: Fishing resources

Many people around the world eat fish as their main source of protein. With the growing world population, more fish than ever are being caught and eaten, which puts some fish in danger of being used up or going extinct.

The South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI) tries to teach people about fishing methods that do not harm the environment or abuse fish resources. Here are some interesting facts:

- About 2,6 billion people depend on the oceans for food or income - Nowadays, the average person eats about 6 kg more fish than people did in the 1960s - 85% of available fish are being fished at, or above, sustainable levels - A quarter of marine resources caught are thrown away, including birds, turtles and sharks - Marine resources are very limited today, and in some cases, almost gone

Management of resources

Conservation is about protecting and preserving natural resources. It tries to reduce the harm done to the environment by getting the balance right between using resources and protecting them. Conservation aims to manage resources responsibly and carefully, so that they do not run out.

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PLATINUM ? SOCIAL SCIENCES | GRADE 7 TERM 4 GEOGRAPHY: NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION IN SA

South Africa has many conservation areas that set aside places of natural, cultural, historical or scientific importance. Here human activities are controlled and managed in order to save the resources from damage and over-use.

The largest conservation areas in South Africa are the19 national parks, managed by South African National Parks (SANParks).

Provincial and municipal governments also manage their own conservation areas, and many companies and private people own areas where conservation is practised.

Many conservation parks have been established to protect the fauna (animals) and flora (plants) of a place.

South Africa has created Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along about 17% of its coastline.

The first MPA in South Africa was established at Tsitsikamma in 1964. South Africa now has 21 marine protection areas.

MPAs work to protect and conserve marine life from over fishing, and from pollution from ships and land-based activities such as industries, settlements and tourism.

Many communities depend on their natural environment for survival. Community conservation considers both the needs of the environment as well as the needs of people living in it.

The Rainman Landcare Foundation in KwaZulu-Natal teaches farmers to produce more food while protecting their soil and water resources in some of the following ways:

- Making compost from animal manure, leaves and kitchen waste. This replaces nutrients in the ground used up by plants

- Harvesting rainwater and conserving it for use during dry periods - Planting swales of grass between crops, which keeps moisture in the soil and also prevents

soil from washing away - Making mulch, usually from grass or leaves. When spread on the fields, mulch helps to stop

the soil from drying out, and also slows down the growth of weeds

The Mahushe Shongwe Game Reserve was established in Mpumalanga by the Mzinti community, the Mpumalanga Parks Board and a private company. The community decided to use their poor farming land for conservation, and to create a game reserve that could earn money through tourism.

Community members built roads and tourist lodges, and acquired more animals for the reserve. The Game Reserve has provided jobs and money to the people who decided to use their land for conservation.

Eco-tourism is based on tourists visiting places for their natural beauty without harming the environment. Many kinds of eco-tourism are community-based, meaning that local people participate in, and benefit from having tourists visit their area.

Hiking, mountain biking, game viewing, whale watching, bird watching, scuba diving and pony trekking are all examples of eco-tourism.

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PLATINUM ? SOCIAL SCIENCES | GRADE 7 TERM 4 GEOGRAPHY: NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION IN SA

Water in South Africa

People, animals and plants all need fresh water in order to survive

- Farmers use water for irrigation, for their animals and for cleaning buildings and machinery used in farming

- Homes use water for drinking, cooking, washing, cleaning, and getting rid of sewage - Mines use water in various ways, including processes to extract minerals from rock material - Industries use a lot of water in manufacturing operations

In South Africa, water is scarce, especially in certain parts of the country

In order to provide enough water for a fast-growing population, reservoirs, dams and water pipelines save and distribute water to where it is needed. Most water needs to be cleaned before it can be drunk.

Dams store water, and provide a regular supply to people, farms and industries. They also help to control the flow of rivers, and a few large dams also are used to generate electricity

However, dams are very expensive to build, and causes damage to the environment. To reduce the need for new dams, we can save water in certain ways:

- by recycling waste water so that it can be used again - by improving irrigation methods on farms, to use less water - by repairing leaking pipes and tanks to reduce water wastage - by storing water underground to prevent evaporation - by using available water more efficiently

A river catchment is an area drained by a river and all the streams that flow into it. Human activities in the catchment area affect the quality of the water in the river

The River Health Programme is an organisation that works towards repairing damage to catchment areas. It encourages farmers to use natural fertilisers and pesticides that won't poison the water, and to keep natural vegetation on river banks that prevent soil being washed away. The programme also tries to stop sewage, waste water and other pollutants flowing into rivers.

Wetlands are very important to river catchment areas because they act as a kind of sponge to store water. They also filter and clean the water, and absorb extra water after heavy rain.

Wetlands can be damaged by farmers draining them to make new fields, or using the water for irrigation.

Removing trees and other vegetation from wetlands reduces the amount of water the wetland can hold, and pollution from farms, industries and homes can cause a wetland to dry up.

Getting rid of alien plants in wetlands (which use more water than natural plants) is one of the ways to rehabilitate wetlands and conserve their fauna and flora.

Subsistence farmers do not have a large impact on the land, but commercial farms use a lot of chemicals that wash into wetlands and pollute them. Commercial farms also take large quantities of water from rivers ? almost two thirds of South Africa's fresh water.

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PLATINUM ? SOCIAL SCIENCES | GRADE 7 TERM 4 GEOGRAPHY: NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION IN SA

Commercial farmers can reduce the amount of water they use by using irrigation wisely and improving the soil to absorb and hold more water.

Factories, mines and power stations use about 8% of South Africa's water.

Poisonous chemicals from these industries often run into rivers, or are dumped there, although it is not legal. The country spends lots of money making polluted water safe and healthy to use.

In their homes, people can save water in many ways. Fixing leaking taps and pipes, using buckets instead of hosepipes, and saving rainwater in tanks are all important ways to conserve water.

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