4.2 Degradation, pollution and depletion

4.2 Degradation, pollution & depletion
After studying this section, you will be able to:
  • Define the three types of environmental problems
  • Give examples from MEDCs and LEDCs for each type of environmental problem
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AardrijkskundeMiddelbare schoolhavo, vwoLeerjaar 3

This lesson contains 31 slides, with interactive quizzes, text slides and 3 videos.

time-iconLesson duration is: 30 min

Items in this lesson

4.2 Degradation, pollution & depletion
After studying this section, you will be able to:
  • Define the three types of environmental problems
  • Give examples from MEDCs and LEDCs for each type of environmental problem

Slide 1 - Slide

Learning objectives
After studying this section, you will be able to:
  • Define the three types of environmental problems;
  • Give examples from MEDCs and LEDCs for each type of environmental problem.

Slide 2 - Slide

Now first take your time to read 4.2 in your textbook

Slide 3 - Slide

What do we call the introduction of harmful substances into the environment?
A
Depletion
B
Degradation
C
Pollution

Slide 4 - Quiz

What do we call the decrease in size, quality and diversity of the natural landscape?
A
Pollution
B
Depletion
C
Degradation

Slide 5 - Quiz

What do we call the process of using natural resources more quickly than they are replenished?
A
Degradation
B
Depletion
C
Pollution

Slide 6 - Quiz

Depletion
Degradation
Pollution

Slide 7 - Drag question

Talking point:
Do you do anything in particular to limit your impact on the environment? What could you do?

Slide 8 - Open question

Degradation
The Netherlands (MEDC) has a dense road network.
  • A good infrastructure is essential for economic growth.
  • Effects: concerns about air quality, noise and fragmentation of the landscape = A natural landscape which is split, for example through large-scale infrastructure projects.
  • Fragmentation changes the landscape and is an example of environmental degradation.

Slide 9 - Slide

Fragmentation = A natural landscape which is split, for example through large-scale infrastructure projects.

Slide 10 - Slide

Wildlife crossings = A solution to fragmentation by connecting fragmented areas, e.g. by a bridge.

Slide 11 - Slide

Causes of desertification
Desertification = a type of soil degradation that takes place on a global scale, predominantly in LEDCs on the edge of deserts. 

Caused by climate change and human activity:
  • Climate change; increasing risk of drought.
  • Deforestation; a bare landscape is more vulnerable.
  • Inappropriate farming; crops deplete nutrients in the soil.

Slide 12 - Slide

Effects of desertification
  • Relatively dry regions become infertile;
  • Reduced diversity in the natural environment;
  • Soil erosion;
  • Expansion of the desert.

Slide 13 - Slide

Farming on the edge of a desert requires special farming techniques, such as water harvesting in Guinea Bissau in the Sahel.

Slide 14 - Slide

Slide 15 - Video

Slide 16 - Video

Slide 17 - Video

Slide 18 - Link

Pollution in MEDCs
Air pollution is a concern in many MEDCs. There are European regulations for it, but many (Dutch) cities do not meet them.

Car exhaust is a main contributor to a growing problem of poor air quality. Emissions from cars contain tiny dust particles, soot, and nitrogen oxides (NOx); all of these are harmful to human health. 

Slide 19 - Slide

Low emission zones = An area in cities where older, more polluting cars are not allowed (Picture: Low emission zone in Utrecht. Trouw, 2017).

Slide 20 - Slide

Slide 21 - Link

Pollution in LEDCs
Environmental laws are less strict in LEDCs:
  • Worldwide consumption (in MEDCs) leads to E-waste.
  • E-waste or electronic waste = waste from discarded mobile phones, computers and televisions.
  • The waste items are shipped from MEDCs to LEDCs where they are taken apart or burned without protection.
  • Export is officialy banned by the EU, but still taking place.

Slide 22 - Slide

E-waste is exported from MEDCs to LEDCs where it is taken apart or burned without proper protection against harmful materials inside the products.

Slide 23 - Slide

Depletion
Overfishing = A form of resource depletion; more fish are caught than can be replenished.
Solutions to manage the fish and the fishermen activities:
  1. EU fishery policy that sets out a quota for how many fish of each species the European countries are allowed to catch.
  2. Licencing of aquaculture: farmed fish.

Slide 24 - Slide

Global fish captures (measured in million tonnes)

Slide 25 - Slide

Depletion
Overuse of wood in LEDCs.
Possible solutions:
  1. Reforestation
    , which is replanting trees;
  2. Afforestation, which is  planting new trees.

Slide 26 - Slide

 Afforestation = Planting trees where there were previously none.
Reforestation = replanting of trees where trees disappeared.

Slide 27 - Slide

Reduce, reuse, recycle
  • Reduce the amount of waste you produce. 
  • Reuse items as much as you can before replacing them.
  • Recycle items wherever possible.
Using the 3 'R's helps to minimise the amount of space needed for landfill sites, where waste materials are disposed of.

Slide 28 - Slide

Essence
There are three types of environmental problems: degradation, pollution and depletion. Examples can be found in both MEDCs and LEDCs. Degradation can be a result of road construction or poor farming practices. Pollution and depletion are often the result of economic progress, for example air pollution from car usage or e-waste. Depletion occurs when resources are used beyond their natural rate of replenishment, which has been the case with fish and wood.

Slide 29 - Slide

Homework 3HT
Thursday 26 March:
  • Read 4.2 (textbook + LessonUp)
  • Do 4.2, ex. 2, 4 to 8 and 10
  • Study 4.1

Slide 30 - Slide

Homework 3VT
Friday 27 March:
  • Read 4.2 (textbook + LessonUp)
  • Do 4.2, ex. 2 and 4 to 10
  • Study 4.1

Slide 31 - Slide