1. Earth's natural resources are very important to Man as they provide Man with basic necessities, such as air, water, food and shelter, needed for survival.
Earth's Natural Resources — Our Basic Needs
🌍 Man and his Environment
Primary 6 Science — Chapter 8 Notes with Answers
Created by Miss Clarissa Ng · www.clartutors.com
8.1 Man's Positive Impact on the Environment
Conservation
2. Conservation of the environment is required to preserve the Earth's natural resources.
The 3Rs — Methods to Conserve Natural Resources
The 3Rs in Detail
3. The 3Rs — reduce, reuse and recycling are methods we can practise so that the Earth's natural resources will not be depleted too quickly.
4. Reduce involves using less natural resources whenever possible.
5. Water can be conserved by reducing the amount of wastage used in households.
6. Reuse involves using the same resources again. By reusing plastic bottles, there will be fewer plastic bottles thrown away.
7. Recycle involves the conversion of waste materials into useful resources. By recycling worn-out tyres, new products such as the soles of shoes can be made, repurpose old or used items instead of throwing them away.
Examples of the 3Rs in Daily Life
Reforestation
8. Reforestation involves planting new trees to replace those that have been removed. This helps restore habitats and maintain the balance of nature.
Reforestation — Planting Trees to Restore Forests
8.2 Man's Negative Impact on the Environment
Depleting Natural Resources
1. Forests, minerals and fossil fuels are examples of Earth's natural resources that can be depleted by human activities.
Man's Negative Impact on the Environment
Deforestation
2. Deforestation is the clearing or removal of forests. It leads to loss of habitat for many organisms and contributes to soil erosion and climate change.
- Wood from trees is used for building materials, furniture, paper production, and other products.
- (a) By cutting down trees, the number of organisms that live in the forest decreases.
- (b) The soil can be washed away by rain when there are no tree roots to hold it in place.
DID YOU KNOW?
Every year, about 10 million hectares of forest are lost worldwide — that's equivalent to losing 20 football fields of forest every minute! Reforestation helps counter this loss.
📝 Chapter 8 Summary
Key Concepts to Remember
- Earth's natural resources provide us with air, water, food, and shelter.
- Conservation preserves Earth's natural resources for future generations.
- The 3Rs: Reduce (use less), Reuse (use again), Recycle (convert waste to useful products).
- Reforestation means planting new trees to replace those removed.
- Human activities can have negative impacts: deforestation, pollution, overfishing, resource depletion.
- Deforestation causes habitat loss, soil erosion, and contributes to climate change.