The positive and negative consequences

on the natural environment by human

interaction

The Back StoryThe Back Story

Human interactions or activities can have Human interactions or activities can have bothboth positive and negative effects on positive and negative effects on Earth’s Natural Resources.Earth’s Natural Resources.

The negative effects get referred to as The negative effects get referred to as “environmental issues”.“environmental issues”.

Most environmental issues Most environmental issues affectaffect individuals and/or groups individuals and/or groups differentlydifferently, , depending on their perspective on the depending on their perspective on the situation.situation.

Positive InteractionsPositive Interactions

Recycling CentersRecycling CentersNative PlantingsNative PlantingsGood Farming Good Farming PracticesPractices

Recycling Recycling CentersCenters Recycling means to treat Recycling means to treat

something so it can be something so it can be used again.used again.

Three reasons to recycle:Three reasons to recycle:– To save a material or To save a material or

resource itselfresource itself– To save energy To save energy

Example: It takes more Example: It takes more energy to mine for aluminum energy to mine for aluminum than it does to recycle it.than it does to recycle it.

– To reduce the amount of To reduce the amount of material that ends up in a material that ends up in a landfill.landfill.

Recycling Trivia:

Did you know that the first official recycling plant opened in New York in 1898? The facility sorted trash.

What to recycle in What to recycle in Prince George’s Prince George’s

County….County…. Can go into the bins provided by Waste Can go into the bins provided by Waste

Management for curbside pick-up:Management for curbside pick-up:– GlassGlass– Mixed Paper/ Corrugated CardboardMixed Paper/ Corrugated Cardboard– PlasticsPlastics– AluminumAluminum

Must be taken to specific locations but Must be taken to specific locations but often there are financial incentives to often there are financial incentives to recycling them.recycling them.– Printer CartridgesPrinter Cartridges– BatteriesBatteries– Cell PhonesCell Phones– Motor OilMotor Oil– ElectronicsElectronics

Native PlantingsNative Plantings A native (indigenous) species is A native (indigenous) species is

one that occurs in a particular one that occurs in a particular region, ecosystem, and habitat region, ecosystem, and habitat without direct or indirect human without direct or indirect human actions. actions.

Species that are native to North Species that are native to North America are generally recognized America are generally recognized as those occurring on the as those occurring on the continent prior to European continent prior to European settlement. settlement.

Bay Grasses

Why use Native Plants?

They have already adapted to local soil, rainfall and temperature conditions.– Therefore, decreases the amount of water needed for Therefore, decreases the amount of water needed for

landscape maintenance and require very little long-term landscape maintenance and require very little long-term maintenance if they are properly planted and established maintenance if they are properly planted and established

They have developed natural defenses to many insects and diseases. – Therefore, native plants will grow with minimal use of

water, fertilizers, and pesticides.

Wildlife species evolve with plants.– Therefore, they use native plant communities as their

habitat.

More benefits to Native More benefits to Native PlantingPlanting

Using native plants helps preserve the balance and beauty of natural ecosystems.

They are an important They are an important genetic resource for genetic resource for future food cropsfuture food crops

They help to slow down They help to slow down the spread of fire the spread of fire because they stay because they stay greener longer.greener longer.

New York ironweed

Benefits of Native Planting Benefits of Native Planting cont’dcont’d

They produce long root They produce long root systems to hold soil in systems to hold soil in place which will protect place which will protect water quality by water quality by controlling soil erosion controlling soil erosion and moderating floods and moderating floods and droughts. and droughts.

serviceberry

Good Farming Good Farming PracticesPractices

For the soilFor the soil– To reduce erosion….To reduce erosion….

Hedging/ditchingHedging/ditching– To avoid run-off….To avoid run-off….

Appropriate/adequate use of fertilizerAppropriate/adequate use of fertilizer CompostingComposting

– To avoid losing important nutrients, especially To avoid losing important nutrients, especially during winter…..during winter….. Crop Cover-also to avoid nitrogen run-offCrop Cover-also to avoid nitrogen run-off Crop RotationCrop Rotation

– CSA ProgramsCSA Programs Financially supporting local agricultureFinancially supporting local agriculture

Good Farming Practices Good Farming Practices cont’dcont’d

For the water….For the water….– To reduce water loss…To reduce water loss…

Proper irrigation techniquesProper irrigation techniques

– To avoid soil salinization….To avoid soil salinization…. Recycle waterRecycle water

– To avoid nitrogen run-off….To avoid nitrogen run-off…. Crop coverCrop cover

– To avoid water pollution…To avoid water pollution… Appropriate watering points for livestockAppropriate watering points for livestock Water HarvestingWater Harvesting

– Catch pitsCatch pits

Let’s Let’s Review……Review……

Let’s review….Let’s review….Positive InteractionsPositive Interactions

Recycling CentersRecycling CentersNative PlantingsNative PlantingsGood Farming Good Farming PracticesPractices

Negative InteractionsNegative Interactions

Negative Activity: Negative Activity: – Damage and Destruction to HabitatsDamage and Destruction to Habitats

Consequences: Consequences: – Air PollutionAir Pollution– Land/Soil PollutionLand/Soil Pollution– Water PollutionWater Pollution

Damage and Destruction to Damage and Destruction to HabitatsHabitats

Since the Industrial Revolution, we Since the Industrial Revolution, we have been using machines to make have been using machines to make things.things.

Machines can cause pollution.Machines can cause pollution. In some places, entire towns have had In some places, entire towns have had

to be abandoned due to the pollution to be abandoned due to the pollution levels.levels.

Conservation Laws have been passed Conservation Laws have been passed to protect our natural resources.to protect our natural resources.

Air Air

Air is vital to life.Air is vital to life. It provides oxygen to animals to It provides oxygen to animals to

breathe.breathe. It provides nitrogen to help plants It provides nitrogen to help plants

grow (fertilizes the soil).grow (fertilizes the soil).

Air PollutionAir Pollution

It can become polluted in many ways.It can become polluted in many ways.– Volcanic eruptionsVolcanic eruptions– Forest firesForest fires– Gases given off by carsGases given off by cars– Factories, power plants and mining Factories, power plants and mining

facilitiesfacilities

Land/SoilLand/Soil

Soil provides minerals and nutrients Soil provides minerals and nutrients that plants need to live.that plants need to live.

The plants are used as food for The plants are used as food for animals and humans to survive.animals and humans to survive.

Land/Soil PollutionLand/Soil Pollution

Soil can be damaged in many ways.Soil can be damaged in many ways. It can be polluted with chemicals.It can be polluted with chemicals. It can be damaged by too many It can be damaged by too many

crops grown on it.crops grown on it. Soil can erode away.Soil can erode away.

WaterWater

Water is everywhere.Water is everywhere. Think about all of the ways that we Think about all of the ways that we

use water everyday.use water everyday. Take baths, cook food, wash, growing food, Take baths, cook food, wash, growing food,

and make electricityand make electricity

Water PollutionWater Pollution

•Water resources can easily be polluted.

•Dumping waste into waterways causes pollution.

•Air pollution can get into the rain as it precipitates-acid rain.

•Improper farming techniques (chemical run-off, erosion and livestock waste) cause pollution.

So, let’s review……So, let’s review……

Negative Activity: Negative Activity: Damage and Destruction Damage and Destruction to Habitatsto Habitats

Consequences: Consequences: Air PollutionAir PollutionLand/Soil PollutionLand/Soil PollutionWater PollutionWater Pollution

Most environmental issues Most environmental issues affectaffect individuals and/or groups individuals and/or groups differentlydifferently, ,

depending on their perspective on the depending on their perspective on the situation.situation.

Some examples may include:Some examples may include: Developers vs. Current ResidentsDevelopers vs. Current Residents

– Number of dwellings, clean water, Number of dwellings, clean water, maintain wetlandsmaintain wetlands

Wind Energy vs. Natural GasWind Energy vs. Natural Gas– Cost, availabilityCost, availability

Local Farmers vs. Corporate Local Farmers vs. Corporate AgricultureAgriculture

Farming practices, laws, incentives, CSAFarming practices, laws, incentives, CSA Composting vs. Store Bought fertilizersComposting vs. Store Bought fertilizers