ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEM

OBJECTIVES :-

• Evaluating human activities that endanger an ecosystem

• Understanding the greenhouse effect and thinning of the ozone layer

• Realizing the importance of proper management of development activities and the ecosystem

INTRODUCTION

A healthy yet picturesque environment is always a significant dreamt others . However numerous negative impact from irresponsible human activities has greatly affect our dream environment . It has not only cause in balance in environment but also causes various environmental problem besides endangering the ecosystem. The only way for us and the future generation to have a sense of peace mind living in the dream picturesque environment is mainly by planning development activities with great care which will possibly not affecting the environment at all. After all environment is our main home. So the environment should be preserved starting from now onwards so that the future generation will be able to feel the environment which we are experiencing now .

HUMAN ACTIVITIES THAT THREATEN AN ECOSYSTEM

The world’s population has grown to over 6 billion today, so conflicts arise between the need to meet the immediate human demands in the short term and the need to protect and conserve ecosystems from long-term damage

Most of the problem related to the environment are the results of human activities and human interference with the ecosystem function

Human activities, if unplanned and mismanagement of ecosystems result in various environmental problems; air and water pollution, the greenhouse effect, global warming and the depletion of natural resources

These problems bring about negative effects that increasingly threaten theeconomic resources, health and survival of ecosystem.

Humans often take the role a healthy ecosystem plays in daily life for granted. The ecosystem provides clean water, filters pollution from the air and much more. In fact, 80 percent of the world's medicines come from plants, according to the Action Bioscience website. With this in mind, it is important to remember that many of the things humans do on a daily basis have a serious impact on the ecosystem and its ability to continue to provide these things and many more.

 

THE IMPACT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON THE ECOSYSTEM

Deforestation and its effects

• The rapid destruction of woodlands or the removal of trees from forests is known as deforestation. every year, vast areas of forests are cleared to make way for agriculture and development.

• Tropical rainforests have important ecological roles.

• Despite their importance, it has been estimated thar more than 50 million acres of rainforests are destroyed or seriously degraded every year.

• In general, deforestation results ina. Soil erosion

b. Flash floods

c. Disruption to the carbon and nitrogen cycles

d. Severe climatic changes

e. The loss of biodiversity

f. Landslides

DEFORESTATION CAUSES SOIL EROSION , LANDSLIDES AND

FLASH FLOODS

• Without proper development and planning, a land stripped of its vegetation is subject to soil erosion. Soil is the removal and thinning of the soil layer due to physical and climatic processes, such as high rainfalls.

• The absence of plant root systems makes the soil structure unstable.• When there are heavy rains for a long period of time, the top layer of the soil crumbles and this leads to

landslides on steep hillsides.• The eroded soil is then carried by moving water and deposited at the bottom of rivers.• This, together with depletion of water catchment areas, causes flash floods during the rainy seasons.• Soil erosion causes the land to be depleted of minerals and natural resources, making the land infertile.

DEFORESTATION RESULTS IN THE LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY

Deforestation has a devastating effect on the biodiversity in tropical rainforests. The destruction of millions of hectares of forests by human activities means:

a) The removal of the bases of numerous food webs

b) The loss of habitats of many species of flora and fauna

c) The extinction of countless species and varieties of plants and animals. The extinction of flora and fauna species reduces the biodiversity. Biodiversity can be a rich source of food and priceless medicines to mankind.

DEFORESTATION DISRUPTS THE CARBON AND NITROGEN CYCLES

• The removal of plants in the rainforests disrupts the natural cycle of nutrients.

• The level of atmospheric carbon dioxide rises as less carbon dioxide in the air is removed by plants during photosynthesis.

• The level of atmospheric oxygen drops as less oxygen is released by plants during photosynthesis.

• The recycling of nitrates and other ions slows down.

• Tree roots bind soil particles together, and the tree canopy cushions the force of rain beating down on the soil. Deforestation, therefore, causes the loss of nutrients through leaching and run-offs.

DEFORESTATION CAUSES CLIMATIC CHANGES

• Deforestation disrupts the normal weather patterns, creating hotter, drier weather and causing global climatic changes.

• The removal of trees reduces transpiration, rainfall and the rate at which plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis.

• This leads to an increase in the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere. High levels of carbon prevent heat from escaping from the atmosphere. This is known as the greenhouse effect which is believed to lead to global warning.

• Forest clearing and burning of wood result in air pollution and release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

• Burning of trees in the tropics adds about 25% more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS AND ITS EFFECTS

1. The burning of fossil fuels adds about 75% of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

2. An increase in carbon dioxide level is associated with the greenhouse effect and global warning.

--> Deforestation through slash and burn

INTENSIVE FARMING AND ITS EFFECTS

• Excessive use of land for intensive farming decreases the space and resources available for other species.

• In intensive farming, farmers often use inorganic fertilisers, which contain nitrates, phosphates and potassium ions, to improve crop yields.

• Since nitrate and ammonium ions are highly soluble, they do not remain in the soil for long and are quickly leached into the surrounding rivers and lakes.

• This leads to eutrophication. Eutrophication is discussed later in the section on water pollution.

THE EFFECTS OF AN INCREASE IN DOMESTIC WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE

• An increase in human population generates an increase in both domestic and industrial waste.

• The dumping of waste in landfills poses a great danger to living organisms as toxic substances and other pollutants from the dumpsites leak into the ground and eventually pollute the nearby water sources.

• Pollution can be defined as any undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of the natural environment. It is the result of harmful substances or energy released through human activities.

• There are four types of pollution : air, water, thermal and noise pollution.

POLLUTION

AIR POLLUTION

• Burning of fossil fuels is the main source of air pollution. Fossil fuels are burnt in power stations using coal, petroleum and gas, in domestic and industrial boilers, and in the internal combustion engines of vehicles.

• When fossil fuels are burnt, the elements in the fuels are oxidised, forming various air pollutants.

• These include carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NO2 and NO) and fine particulate matter.

Pollutants Sources Effects

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Incomplete combustion of

fossil fuels

Combines with haemoglobin to form carboxyhaemoglobin which reduce the capacity of the blood to transport oxygen, causes dizziness and headache, slow down the brain.

Sulphur dioxide (SO2)

Factories Irritates and damages the lining of eyes, air passages and lungs, cause acid rain that may cause skin diseases.

Oxides of nitrogenFactories Damages tissues of lung (bronchitis), irritate

the eyes, lower the body defence against flu, acid rain.

Dust , dirt, smoke, soot and haze

Factories, exhaust

Irritates the eyes, cause conjunctivitis, asthma and bronchitis

Lead Car exhaust Disrupt the ability of body to produce new cells, cause retardation of brain in children.

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

combustion of fossil fuels

Causes emphysema

TheSources

And Effects

OfAir

Pollution

EFFECT OF POLLUTION ON LIVING THINGS AND THE ENVIRONMENT• Air pollution is responsible for major health effects. Every year, the health of countless people is ruined or

endangered by air pollution. Many different chemicals in the air affect the human body in negative ways. Just how sick people will get depends on what chemicals they are exposed to, in what concentrations, and for how long .Studies have estimated that the number of people killed annually in the US alone could be over 50,000.Older people are highly vulnerable to diseases induced by air pollution. Those with heart or lung disorders are under additional risk. Children and infants are also at serious risk. Because people are exposed to so many potentially dangerous pollutants, it is often hard to know exactly which pollutants are responsible for causing sickness. Also, because a mixture of different pollutants can intensify sickness, it is often difficult to isolate those pollutants that are at fault. Many diseases could be caused by air pollution without their becoming apparent for a long time. Diseases such as bronchitis, lung cancer, and heart disease may all eventually appear in people exposed to air pollution. Air pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide also have harmful effects on Natural eco systems. They can kill plants and trees by destroying their leaves, and can kill animals, especially fish in highly pollute drivers.

The ozone layer protects the Earth from the ultraviolet rays sent down by thesun. If the ozone layer is depleted by human action, the effects on the planetcould be catastrophic. Ozone is present in the stratosphere. The stratospherereaches 30 miles above the Earth, and at the very top it contains ozone. Thesun‟s rays are absorbed by the ozone in the stratosphere and thus do not reachthe Earth. Ozone is a bluish gas that is formed by three atoms of oxygen. Theform of oxygen that humans breathe in consists of two oxygen atoms, 2.Whenfound on the surface of the planet, ozone is considered a dangerous pollutantand is one substance responsible for producing the greenhouse effect.The highest regions of the stratosphere contain about 90% of allIn recent years, the ozone layer has been the subject of much discussion. Andrightly so, because the ozone layer protects both plant and animal life on the

4.0 THE THINNING OF THEOZONE LAYER                                                                                                                       

 

  planet .The fact that the ozone layer was being depleted was discovered inthemid-1980s. The main cause of this is the release of CFCs(chlorofluorocarbons) .Antarctica was an early victim of ozone destruction. Amassive hole in the ozone layer right above Antarctica now threatens not onlythat continent, but many others that could be the victims of Antarctica's meltingicecaps. In the future, the ozone problem will have to be solved so that the protective layer can be conserved

ACID RAIN

• Sulphur dioxide (SO2)

• Oxides of nitrogen (NO, NO2)

• Combine with water vapour in the atmosphere to form sulphuric acid and nitric acid respectively.

• They fall back on earth as acid rain.

Caused by:

EFFECTSa) Agricultural: The soil becomes very acidic and unsuitable for the cultivation of crops. Acid rain causes

the leaching of minerals such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium. This affects the growth of crops.

b) Aquatic ecosystem: Acid rain causes insoluble aluminum ions to accumulate in lakes and rivers. The concentration of aluminum ions eventually reaches a toxic level which can kill aquatic organisms such as fish and invertebrates.

c) Health: -Acidic soil releases the ions of certain heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, mercury which may contaminate the supply of drinking water. -Increased acidity in the aquatic ecosystems also kills phytoplankton which changes the food chain.

-Photosynthesis tissues are destroyed. Plant leaves turn yellow and fall off. The roots are damaged and cannot absorb minerals.

d) Buildings: -Metal railings and bridges corrode. -Limestone, stonework and marble monuments are eroded due to chemical weathering.

Acid rain can be reduced by:-

• Cleaning up emissions from vehicle exhausts through the use of catalytic converters. The pollutants react with one another in the catalytic converters to produce less harmful products.

• Cleaning emissions from power stations and industrial plants wit scrubbers. This process involves the spraying of water to trap pollutants.

Solution

• Air Pollution Index (API)• The Air Pollution Index (API) is used as a measure of air quality.

• It normally includes the major air pollutants which could cause potential harm to human health.

• In Malaysia, the air pollutants included are ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and suspended particulate matter.

• This index is calculated by using the concentrations of major air pollutants, but it is developed in easily understood ranges of values as shown below.

APIA system adopted by Malaysia Government to indicate the level of air pollution based on its health impact

API(Air Pollution Index)

Descriptor

0 – 50 Good

51 – 100 Moderate

101 – 200 Unhealthy

201 – 300 Very unhealthy

> 300 Hazardous

API Status Level of pollution• 0-50 • Good • Low, no ill effects on health

• 51-100 • Moderate • Moderate pollution, no ill effects on health

• 101-200 • Unhealthy • Mild aggravation of symptoms among high risk groups

• 201-300 • Very unhealthy • Significant aggravation of symptoms and decreased exercise tolerance among high risk groups

• 301-500 • Hazardous • Severe aggravation of symptoms and a danger to health

• Above 500 • Emergency • Severe aggravation of symptoms and a danger to a health

AirPollution

index

WATER POLLUTION

WATER POLLUTION

• They are the most affected by human activities.

• Industries n domestic n agricultural pratices produce waste that pollutes the water.

• What is BOD?

BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND(BOD) refers to the amount of oxygen that is utilized when all the organic matter in one liter of water is oxidised by living organisms in the water. The measurement of BOD can provide an indication of the level of water pollution. If there is a large amount of organic waste in the water supply, the number of aerobic bacteria working to decompose this waste will also be great. In this case, the biochemical demand for oxygen (BOD) value will be high and subsequently, the dissolved oxygen levels in the water will decline rapidly. Generally, an increase in BOD levels corresponds with decrease in dissolved oxygen levels. The dissolved oxygen level is an indication of the level of water pollution. It also shows how well the water can support aquatic plant and animal life. A higher dissolved oxygen level or lower oxygen level indicates better water quality. A lower dissolved oxygen level or higher BOD level indicates poor water quality. A BOD level 1-2 ppm ( parts per million) is considered very good. There is not much organic waste present in the water. A water body with a BOD level of 3-5 ppm is considered moderately clean. A BOD level of 6-9 ppm means the water is considered moldy polluted since organic matter is present and decomposition of organic waste can take place. At BOD levels of 10 ppm or greater, the water supply is considered very polluted with organic waste.

Sources Components Effects SolutionsAgricultural

run-offand

waste

Nitrates and phosphates Lead to eutrophication Control the use of fertilisersa)     Applying only when crops are

growing.b)     Not applying in empty fields.c)     Not spraying when there is a

forecast of rain.d)     Not disposing of them into rivers

and ponds.e)     Reducing the usage of excess

nitrates from fertilisers and ammonia.

Herbicide and pesticide residues

-Have toxic effects on organisms in water and

human-Pesticides levels can be magnified as they pass

through food chain-Accumulation of pesticides in consumers may kill them or affect their metabolism

-Lead to lower sperm counts, decreased ovulation, inability to conceive and birth defects.

-Use biodegradable pesticides-Use alternative method (biological

pest control)-Planting genetically modified crops that can resist attacks by insects as

this may reduce the need to use chemical pesticides

Sources,Components,

Effects And

Solutions Of

Water Pollutions

Untreatedsewage –human faecesanddomestic waste

Suspended solids Reduce light penetration-High demand for oxygen

-Treat sewage before it enters rivers-Prevent slurry (liquid manure) from farms from entering rivers and ponds

Nitrates and phosphates

Leads to eutrophication

Detergents -‘Hard’ detergents create foam which reduces the availability of oxygen to organisms living in the water-‘Soft’ detergents are biodegradable but may contain high levels of phosphates which can lead to eutrophication

-Use biodegradable detergents with low phosphate contents

Microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, and protozoa)

- Cause cholera -Drink properly treated and boiled water

Effluent from industries-Electronics and electroplating plants-Food and beverage processing industry-Rubber products processing industry

Heavy metals (copper, mercury, zinc, and chromium), oil, grease, and suspended solids, waste water contains numerous contaminants, (including hydroxide sulphide).

-Highly toxic accumulate in the organisms via food chains-Mercury causes acute nervous disorder in humans.

-Treat effluents before discharging into water sources-Taking legal action against illegal dumping of toxic wastes

Underground pipes

Lead (highly toxic heavy metal)

-Accumulate in the tissues of living organisms-Impair the mental performance of children

-Replace lead pipes used in plumbing with copper-based pipes.

EUTROPHICATION

• Definition: Artificial nutrient enrichment of an aquatic system with organic material or inorganic nutrients, causing an excessive growth of aquatic plant life.

Causes by:-

• Leaching of inorganic fertilisers, especially nitrates and phosphates, from agricultural lands

• Input of untreated sewage as well as discharge from sewage treatment plants

• Run-off of animal waste from pastures and farmlands into lakes, rivers or ponds.

PROCESS OF EUTROPHICATION1. Run-off of excess nutrients into water encourage rapid growth of algae, results in a population explosion known as an algae bloom

2. At night, high respiration rate of the algae results in a high demand for oxygen.

3. Excessive growth of algae restricts the penetration of light into the water. The rate of photosynthesis of aquatic plants reduced and further reduced the supply of oxygen in water.

4. The algae grow faster than their consumers. Most of algal population dies without being consumed.

5. Decomposing microorganisms especially aerobic bacteria used up the oxygen in deeper water at a fast rate.

6. Untreated sewage or animal wastes from farm that contain high concentration of organic matter encourage the rapid growth of aerobic bacteria.

7. The aerobic bacteria use up oxygen faster than it can be replenished. An increase in biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) results in a severe depletion of oxygen.

8. Low level of oxygen concentration kills larger aerobic aquatic organisms and organisms that require higher oxygen levels (freshwater shrimps and mayfly nymphs)

9. If the oxygen levels continues to drop and water become completely deoxygenated, anaerobic bacteria will grow and release toxic gases (eg. hydrogen sulphide), causing the death of aquatic organisms.

10. During the growth of algae, certain blue green bacteria also produce toxins.

11. At night BOD levels, organisms that are more tolerant of lower concentration of dissolved oxygen (eg. leeches, Tubifex worms, and sludge worms) may appears and multiply.

THERMAL POLLUTION

DEFINITION :In thermal pollution, the temperature of a body of water is unintentionally raised as a result of human activities

1. Causes:

• ¾ Hot water is discharged into nearby lake and river from the effluent of industrial processes and cooling tower of electrical power station, which use water as a cooling agent.

• ¾ The excess heat that is released into the environment leads to thermal pollution.

2. Effects:

• ¾ Thermal pollution causes the temperature in a body of water to rise above the normal value.

• ¾ Water temperature can affect the level of dissolved oxygen.

• ¾ As the temperature of the water increases, oxygen become less insoluble in water.

• ¾ If the temperature increase persists over a longer period, this may result in permanent changes in the species composition of the aquatic ecosystem.

3. Ways to prevent:

• ¾ Control the amount of hot water discharged into still or slow - moving rivers.

• ¾ Control the amount of hot water discharged from industrial plants and power station to the surrounding lakes and rivers.

1. Causes:

• ¾ Noises from cars, motorcycles, aeroplanes, construction sites, agriculture and industrial machinery.

• ¾ Noise level of residential areas should not exceed 55 decibels (dB).

2. Effects:

• ¾ Prolonged exposure to noise level at or above 80 decibels can lead to deafness.

• ¾ High level of noise can contribute to the development and aggravation of stress – related problems such as high blood pressure, coronary disease, ulcers, depression and headache.

• ¾ Loud noise can cause an arousal response in which a series of reactions occurs in the body.

• ¾ Adrenaline is released into the bloodstream. A person’s heartbeat, blood pressure and

• ¾ respiration rate are likely to increase.

• ¾ The blood vessels constrict and the muscles become tense.

• ¾ Constant exposure to noise can contribute to a deterioration in health.

Noise pollution

POLLUTANTS IN AIR OF DIFFERENT

ENVIRONMENTS

INDUSTRIAL PLANT AND FACTORIES :- Large amount of carbon monoxide ,oxides of nitrogen and sulphur dioxide

BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS:- High level of carbon particles-high level of carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulphur dioxide

OPEN BURNINGS- Large amount of suspended solids.- Large amount of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide

THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT• The greenhouse effect is a phenomenon to increase the Earth temperature. Without it

the earth would be too cold for the survival of living things.

• It occurs when the 10% of the sunlight that enters the earth’s atmosphere remains trapped by the greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane and water vapour).

• The greenhouse gases act as the glass panel of a greenhouse which trap heat and warm the greenhouse, hence the term is the greenhouse effect.

• As the concentration of greenhouse gases rises, the more heat is trapped in the atmosphere and the Earth temperature is increased. This is known as global warming.

• The consequences of global warming include:

a) The melting of ice in the polar regions that raises the sea level and submerges the coastal residential area and agriculture land.

b) The change of the world climate that leads to unexpected heavy rains, floods, strong winds, hurricanes etc. in certain areas.

c) Deterioration of health when many people die because of heatstroke, the widespread of epidemic diseases (e.g. after flood), malnutrition etc.

GREENHOUSE EFFECT

THE THINNING OF OZONE LAYER

• The ozone layer is a region in the stratosphere between 17 and 25 kilometers above the earth surface.

• The function is to shield the Earth from receiving too much of ultra violet (UV) light from the sun.

• The thinning of ozone layer has been recorded since the 1970s. The area with every low ozone concentration ends up with the formation of ozone hole.

• The destruction of ozone layer is due to the increasing levels of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the atmosphere.

• CFCs are a group of chemical compounds that contain chlorine, fluorine, and carbon.

• CFCs are used as coolants in air conditions and refrigerators, as propellants in aerosol cans and as foaming agents in the making of Styrofoam packaging.

• The chemical processes that destroy the ozone layer are as follows:

i. The CFCs in the atmosphere are struck by UV light forming chlorine atoms.

ii. Chlorine atom then breaks the ozone molecule into chlorine monoxide and oxygen gas.

iii. Chlorine monoxide then reacts with the free oxygen atom in the atmosphere to form chlorine atom and oxygen molecule.

iv. The chlorine atoms repeat the breaking of the ozone molecules causing the depletion of the ozone layer continuously.

Impact of thinning of the ozone layer and global

warming on the ecosystem

Sea water becomes warm due to global

warming. Decline in

zooplanktons. Ecosystem’s

food web affected.

Ecosystems such as coral

reef, wetlands, polar seas and

temperate forests are

slowly losing its flora and fauna.

UV radiation affects

photosynthesis. Aquatic

organisms are sensitive to UV.

Drought due to global warming

causes the land to dry. Ecosystem

becomes unstable as the producers, the plants are not be able to thrive.

1.Theozonelayerisa region inthe stratosphere between17and25kilometresaboveq6theEarthsurface.The functionistoshieldtheEarthfrom receiving toomuchofultra violet{UV)liqhtfromthesun.Thethinningofozonelayerhasbeenrecordedsincethe1970s.Theareawithverylow ozone concentrationendsupwiththe formationofozonehole.Thedestructionof ozonelayerisdueto the increasinqlevelsofchlorofluorocarbons(CFCs)intheatmosphere.CFCsareagroupofchemical compoundsthat containchlorine,fluorineandcarbon,

CFCs areusedascoolantsinairconditionersandrefrigerators,aspropellantsinaerosol cans andasfoaminqaqeqtsinthemakingofStyrofoampackaging.Thechemicalprocessesthat destroytheozone layer areasfollows:.

i.TheCFCsinthe atmospherearestruck by UVlightformingchlorineatoms

cFCIr4ct+

cFCl2(Trichlorofl

uorocarbon)

(Chlorine)(Dichlorofluorocarbon)il.

chlorineatomthenbreaksthegzonemoleculeinto chlorinemonoxideandoxygengas.

Cl*o:Clo*o,(Chlorine)(Ozone)(Chlorine

monoxide)1Or1gerrrrroleculc.;

chlorinemonoxidethenreactswith thefreeoxvqenatomintheatmospheretoformchlorineatomandoxygenmolecule.

CIO+

oo-(Chlorine

monoxide)(Oxygenatorn)(Chlorincatonr

trOrrscn'ni.rlc;.rler

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Need for developmen

t

Transport systems

Building of

reservoir

Food supplies

homesHospitals

Energy has led to

deforestation

Production of more

domestic and industrial

waste

THE NEED FOR DEVELOPMENT AND THE EFFECTS OF AN INCREASED POPULATION ON THE ECOSYSTEM

1. Humans do not only influence the environments in negative ways but also bring about positive effects by taking measures to carry out proper management of development qualities.

2. In the act of exploiting the earth’s natural resources to fulfil the growing populations needs, we should also take the consideration to conserve and preserve the living organisms and the environment.

3. -Example : “to provide electrical power, dams are constructed across the rivers. The government and the contractors should consider the impact on the living organisms and the environment.”

4. The development activities must go on

a) Without damaging the resources of the country

b) By taking into consideration the environmental impact

c) By not looking for short-term gains while ignoring the long-term effects on the environment

d) By making use of renewable resources

e) By not polluting the ecosystems but create a cleaner and healthier living environment.

MEASURES TAKEN IN THE MANAGEMENT OF

DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AND THE ECOSYSTEM TO ENSURE A BALANCE OF NATURE IS MAINTAINED

• IMPLEMENTATION OF LAWS

• The government has enacted legislation to govern biological resources and the environment.

• Many laws and regulations are designed to control pollution which affects the quality of land, air and water. Below are some of the acts.

a) The Environmental Quality Act,1974, 1989 regulates and governs the prevention and control of pollution as well as the enhancement of environment. Among the regulations in this act are as follows:i. sewage and Industrial Effluents Regulations, 1979

ii. Motor Vehicles Noise Regulations, 1987

iii. Environment Impact Assessment Order, 1987

iv. Clean Air Regulations, 2000 (Amendment)

• Use Biotechnology, special bacteria can be produced to break down the oil layer from an oil spill in the sea.

• Exhaust gases are passed through catalytic converters to reduce the amount of carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen emitted from the exhaust pipes.

• Filters are fixed on chimneys to reduce there lease of toxic gases• Unleaded petrol, natural gas and alcohol can be used to replace leaded

petrol for vehicles.• Treat sewage in sewage treatment plants and treat toxic waste from factories

before it is discharged so as to reduce water pollution.• Organic waste from agriculture can be processed into methane for fuel.

• USE OF TECHNOLOGY

• The public must be educated on the importance of protecting and caring for the environment through the mass media and various environment campaigns.

• The public must be educated on the concept of the 4Rs. The 4Rs stand for recycle, reuse , reduce, renew.

• a) Recycle–collecting and segregating waste materials according to their types and turning this waste materials into new products.

• b) Reuse things such as old plastics , containers , and bottles instead of throwing them away.

• c) Reduce the use of materials.• d)Renew the use of materials such as bottles and plastic containers after they are

clean.

• EDUCATION ON THE MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES

• PRESERVATION AND CONVERSATION OF SOIL, WATER, THE FLORA AND FAUNA OF

FORESTS, AND MANGROVE SWAMPS

• Conservation and preservation of land will decrease leaching and soil erosion.• Practice crop rotation, planting, of cover crops, controlled grazing, contour ploughing, terracing,

use of synthetic and natural fertilizers to fertilize the soil and practice strip cultivation.• Water sources must be preserved and not use as dumping sites for domestic and toxic waste which

can pollute the water.• Natural habitats will perish, animals and plants will be endangered when there is no control on

human activities such as deforestation for development, agriculture and industry. • Replanting programme ensure that the trees which have been cut down by logging activities are

replaced with new trees so that the forest will continue to productive and we able to support lives.• Minimize damage to the environment when building an infrastructure.• Laws should be implemented to punish the people involved in illegal logging activities.• Clearing of mangrove swamps for timber and agriculture robs the flora and fauna of their habitats.

Effort must be made to conserve these mangrove swamps to maintain ecological balance.

CONCLUSIONThe effects of unplanned development and mismanagement of the ecosystem can lead to damaging consequences such as soil erosion, flash floods, landslides, eutrophication ,pollution global warming, ozone depletion, climatic changes and loss of biodiversity. There are four types of pollution which are air ,water, thermal, and noise pollution. Greenhouse gases released by various human activities can trap heat in the atmosphere and raise the Earth's average temperature. Such an overall rise in the Earth's temperature can leads to global warming. The thinning of ozone layer is mainly due to the accumulation of chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) in the atmosphere. Sustainable development must take into consideration of proper management of the ecosystem to ensure a balance of nature is maintained.

PREPARED BY :

• Name : THARSINY A/P WOLAGANATHAN

• Class : 4 SCIENCE 1• Title : ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEM• Teacher : PN ARNIE BT ADNAN