Importance of conservation of natural resources

Thesis Overview

<p> </p><p><b>INTRODUCTION</b></p><p><b>1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY</b></p><p>Natural<br>resources include the whole earth’s natural environment. A resource is anything<br>that meets or satisfies human need or want of civilization. Early societies<br>used wood rather easily taxed the extent of the earth’s resources turning to a<br>new one to fill their needs when the old were used up. The renewable resources<br>are fossils fuels, minerals etc. Man has been using these natural resources<br>increasingly over the years to provide him with food, materials, and energy.<br>The end result of this is the dangers of depletion of the non-renewable<br>resources.</p><p>Renewable<br>resources been used up faster than they are formed resulting in the pollution<br>of the environment. If our existence on this planet is to continue, we have to<br>conserve our natural resources (Ramalingan, et al, 1979). The term conservation<br>came from two Latin word “Con” meaning together while “servare” means to keep<br>or guard. Therefore, conservation literally means to keep together. Today, we<br>think of conservation as using our natural resources wisely rather than keeping<br>together in a status quo-situation. According to Ramalingua, et al (1979) to<br>conserve something means to protect it and keep it in a healthy condition. In<br>the present context conversation implies ensuring a high quality life for human<br>by the wise use and management of natural environment. This definition has a<br>broad scope, it thought about the protection of nature that is forest, soil,<br>wild life etc to enrich our lives, the controlled and planned, production of<br>useful materials, from the living environment such as crops, fisheries. The<br>controlled use of possible idea is a corporate concept, if manipulation and<br>decision making in regards to our natural resources but we must first know what<br>our natural resources are and what part they play in the ecosystem. Aido<br>Leopard (1979) a notable conservationist, pointed out that people must<br>understand ecological process to practice conservation. The main purpose of<br>conservation is to maintain a healthy6, functioning biosphere (part of the<br>earth were there are living things) that will also provide us with our needs,<br>including reservation of activities.</p><p><b>1.2<br>STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS &nbsp; &nbsp; </b></p><p>The<br>study examines the essence and importance of the environment and its resources.<br>It is unfortunate that many people do not know the importance of the<br>environment to mankind and it determines the existence of man and other living<br>organisms. The reasons for the decrease in conservation of natural resources<br>are many. They include:</p><p>1. Inadequate<br>education, about the danger of pollution.</p><p>2. The<br>improper waste disposal</p><p>3. Poor<br>wastes management</p><p>4. Poor<br>ventilation</p><p>5. Improper<br>handling of crude oil which leads to water pollution</p><p>6. Indiscriminate<br>bush burning</p><p>7. Illegal<br>timber felling</p><p>Nature<br>provides us the basic needs like food, shelter, clothes, etc. for our survival.<br>We use air, water, soil, minerals, coal, petroleum, animals, plants etc. in our<br>daily life. But do you ever think, how long these precious materials of the<br>nature will be available for our use. The growing population, rapid<br>industrialization and urbanization have created heavy demand on all these<br>materials. It is feared that unless proper steps are taken to conserve them in<br>time, we will face tremendous hardship in future.</p><p><b>1.3<br>PURPOSE OF THE STUDY </b></p><p>The<br>purpose of this research study is to create awareness in people on the essence<br>and importance of the environment. Definitely people should adopt the best<br>method of exploring the environment and care for nature and there are many<br>benefits derived when our environment is conserved.</p><p>1. Preservation<br>of natural forest</p><p>2. Preserving<br>the beauty of life</p><p>3. Wildlife<br>presentation</p><p>4. Improvement<br>of quality of life &nbsp; </p><p>5. Improves<br>our revenue</p><p><b>1.4<br>RESEARCH QUESTIONS</b></p><p>In this course of study, the following research<br>questions are posed, if the nature resources are covered.</p><p>1. Are natural resources useful to mankind?</p><p>2. Does the conservation of natural resource encourage<br>wildlife continuity?</p><p>3. Does conservation preserve the beauty of nature?</p><p>4. Does a healthy environment improve our quality of<br>life?</p><p>5. Does conservation ensure continuous sources of<br>minerals for energy and foreign exchange? &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </p><p><b>1.5<br>SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY</b></p><p>This<br>project work is designed especially to provide people particularly arose in<br>Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo state with basic or fundamental<br>knowledge of conservation of nature resources. Information gathered from this<br>project work if available to those people in their various places, will go a<br>long way in solving the problem of conservation which include the nature<br>resources. A comprehensive analysis and description of the essence of<br>environment and its resources as provided in this project work will go a long<br>way to inspire and educate the researcher may and other researcher who may want<br>to carry out further research into this topic. Information available in<br>this project work will add to the pool of already existing ideas to be used in<br>planning developing not only biology department, Ekiadolor, Benin but also the<br>nation at large.</p><p><b>1.6<br>SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY </b></p><p>The<br>researcher has limited the scope of this study to Udo, Iguobazuwa, Iguelahor<br>College, Nikorogba, Okomu Oil in Ovia South West Local Government. The scope is<br>limited to farmers in rural areas and also to a few students who are into<br>research especially those in Biology Department of College of Education,<br>Ekiadolor, Benin. Also to timber fellers who always have influence in the<br>forest and finally the industrialist.</p><p>However<br>the research has some constraints which are;</p><p><b>Time</b>: the time at the<br>disposal of the researcher which is allocated for the study was a major<br>limitation as the researcher has to combine other academic work with the study.</p><p><b>Finance:</b><br>The finance at the disposal of the researcher in the course of the study does<br>not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher<br>has other academic bills</p><p><b>1.7<br>DEFINITION OF TERMS</b></p><p>For<br>the purpose of clarification, the following terms which are used in the content<br>of the study are hereby defined.</p><p><b>Eco-System</b>:<br>Is the sum total of the biotic and abiotic components interacting in the<br>environment.</p><p><b>Endangered<br>species</b>: Are wildlife species (animals) which are useful to man<br>and for entertainment but are being endangered. They are being protected from<br>extinction e.g. stripped hydrias, giraffe, whales, kites, sparrow, hawks etc.</p><p><b>Extinction</b>:<br>Is when animal’s species reptiles, birds and mammals have been hunted or killed<br>by man which makes them go into extinction.</p><p><b>Non-Renewable<br>Resources</b>: Are those resources which cannot be replaced when the<br>initial stock is used up examples are petroleum, coal, gold etc.</p><p><b>Renewable<br>Resources</b>: Are those resources which can be replaced when the<br>initial stock are used up.</p><p><b>Pollution</b>:<br>Is the release or discharge of waste substance or energy into the environment<br>by man in quantities which are harmful to him or to other things or which in<br>some ways reduce the quality of human life.</p><p><b>1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY</b></p><p>This<br>research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as<br>follows. Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the<br>(background of the study), statement of the problem, objectives of the study,<br>research questions, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope of<br>the study etc. Chapter two being the review of the related literature presents<br>the theoretical framework, conceptual framework and other areas concerning the<br>subject matter. Chapter three is a research methodology covers deals on the<br>research design and methods adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on<br>the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding. Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations<br>made of the study.</p><br> <br><p></p>