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UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND EXTERNAL STUDIES
CENTRE FOR OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND
MANAGEMENT
(CGP/SGP 224)
Written By:
Dr. Alice A. Oluoko-Odingo and Dr. James M. Moronge
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies
University of Nairobi
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INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
Dear learner, welcome to this course on the Principles on Environmental Conservation and
Management. The course is very relevant for students taking geography and environmental
studies. It deals with different environmental issues and their interactions. It also examines the
effects of human activities on the environment. You will find this course easy to understand and
interesting to read.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the end of this course, the learner should be able to:
1. Distinguish between the natural and social environment.
2. Comment on the significance of environmental health.
3. Describe the effects of human settlement, energy and
pollution on the environment.
4. Explain how natural hazards affect the environment.
5. Describe the problems of environmental resources
This course is taught at the undergraduate level to the Bachelor of Education Science students.
It is designed to train students to appreciate the importance of the natural environment and
how human activities impact on this environment.
The course is presented in three sections consisting of eight lectures. Each lecture starts with
objectives followed by a short introduction. The purpose of the introduction is to link the
previous lecture with the next lecture to be learned. These lectures have been simplified and
illustrated for your easy and quick comprehension. Each of the lectures has practice activities
which you are expected to do. In addition, there are assignments for you to do after studying
each section. You are required to write out your answers and mail them for marking according
to instructions which will be given.
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Let us now have a look at what you will encounter in the lecture series. In section one, we will
introduce and examine the natural and social environment as well as environmental health. In
section two, we will gain an insight into the effects of human activities on the environment. In
section three we will also examine the links between natural hazards and the environment as
well as the problems of environmental resources.
We have tried to make the lectures as comprehensive as possible. However, there is an extensive
database on published and online (web-based) materials on environmental conservation and
management which you can make reference to. We recommend three main reference books, Muthoka,
M. G. et al. (1998) Environmental Education: Essential Knowledge for Sustainable Development,
Longhorn
Publishers;
Cummingham,W.P
&
Cummingham,M.A.
(2004).
Principles
of
Environmental Science: Inquiry and Application, Tale Maurratius Publishing Company Ltd, New
Delhi; and Waugh, D. (2002). Geography: An Integrated Approach, United Kingdom, Nelson
Thornes. These text books will serve as your main reference books for this course. In addition, a list of
additional books for the course is also provided at the end of each lecture to enrich your understanding
of the course.
We hope that you will enjoy studying this curse.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION ONE: INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND
MANAGEMENT
LECTURE 1:
INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT
1.1:
Definition of Environment -----------------------------------------------------
3
1.2
The Physical Factors ------------------------------------------------------------
4
1.3
Biological Factors --------------------------------------------------------------
13
1.4
Environmental Principles ------------------------------------------------------
17
1.5
The Current Environmental Concerns --------------------------------------
18
1.6
Environmental Conservation and Management ------------------------
19
LECTURE 2:
THE NATURAL AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT
2.1
The Differences between the Natural and Social Environments -----
25
2.2
Functions of the Natural and Social Environments ---------------------
26
2.3
The Natural Environment/System ------------------------------------------
32
2.4
Biogeochemical Cycles ------------------------------------------------------
42
2.5
The Socio-economic or Human Environment/System ---------------
45
LECTURE 3:
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
3.1
Definition of Health --------------------------------------------------------
55
3.2
Types of Health and Attributes of a Healthy Person ---------------
56
3.3
Environmental Health Hazards --------------------------------------------
57
3.4
Environment and Human Health -----------------------------------------
70
3.5
Health Care -------------------------------------------------------------------
75
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SECTION TWO: HUMAN ACTIVITIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
LECTURE 4:
HUMAN SETTLEMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT
4.1
Definition of Human Settlement ---------------------------------------------
80
4.2
Importance of Human Settlement -------------------------------------------
80
4.3
Origin of Human Settlements ---------------------------------------------
80
4.4
Factors Determining the Location of Human Settlements ----------
83
4.5
Classification/Types of Human Settlements ----------------------------
86
4.6
Differences between Urban and Rural Settlements -------------------
90
4.7
Classification of Rural Settlements ----------------------------------------
91
4.8
Causes of Dispersed Settlements -------------------------------------------
92
4.9
Causes of Nucleated Settlements -------------------------------------------
93
4.10
The Role of Rural Settlements in Ecological Change -------------------
94
4.11
The Urban Settlement and the Environment -----------------------------
96
4.12
Urban Environment and Human Health ----------------------------------
97
4.13
Determinants of Urban Environmental Problems ----------------------
104
4.14
The Brown and Green Agendas --------------------------------------------
107
4.15
Management of Human Settlements --------------------------------------
115
LECTURE 5:
POLLUTION AND THE ENVIRONMENT
5.1
Introduction ---------------------------------------------------------------------
119
5.2
What is Pollution ---------------------------------------------------------------
119
5.3
Pollutant --------------------------------------------------------------------------
120
5.4
Types of Pollution and their causes -----------------------------------------
120
5.5
Effects of pollution ------------------------------------------------------------
126
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5.6
Pollution Control ---------------------------------------------------------------
LECTURE 6:
126
ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
6.1
Introduction --------------------------------------------------------------------
129
6.2
What is Energy -----------------------------------------------------------------
130
6.3
Types of Energy and their Uses ---------------------------------------------
131
SECTION THREE: EFFECTS OF NATURAL HAZARDS AND PROBLEMS OF
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
LECTURE 7:
NATURAL HAZARDS
7.1
Introduction ---------------------------------------------------------------------
143
7.2
What is a Natural Hazard? ---------------------------------------------------
143
7.3
Types of Natural Hazards -----------------------------------------------------
143
7.4
Characteristics of Hazardous Events ---------------------------------------
145
7.5
Effects of Natural Hazards on the Environment -------------------------
147
7.6
Coping with Natural Hazards ------------------------------------------------
149
LECTURE 8:
PROBLEMS FACING ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
8.1
Introduction ---------------------------------------------------------------------
151
8.2
Types of Environmental Resources ----------------------------------------
151
8.3
Problems facing Environmental Resources -------------------------------
152
8.4
Possible Solutions --------------------------------------------------------------
153
LECTURE 9:
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT
9.1
Introduction ---------------------------------------------------------------------
9.2
What is Environmental Conservation and Management? -------------- 154
9.3
Principles of Natural Resource Conservation and Management ------ 157
9.4
Problems of Natural Resource Conservation and Management ------- 159
154