LUKENYA UNIVERSITY

P.O BOX 90-90128, MTITO ANDEI

COURSE TITLE: ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY AND

CONSERVATION
COURSE CODE: LSZL 4101
PURPOSE OF THE COURSE
The purpose of the course is to introduce learners to environmental conservation
as a cross- cutting course in biology. The course is interdisciplinary and explores
the interactions of bio- physical processes with human socio-economic dynamics.
The environment provides natural resources necessary for socio-economic
development but humans have exploited nature excessively at the cost of the
environment leading to serious problems of environmental degradation. This
course will take students through these environmental problems such as climate
change, biodiversity loss, soil and water pollution, deforestation and the
processes that conserve these resources for their sustainable development.

COURSE ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

The assessment include a SIT-IN CAT and feedback that will account for 30% of
your final examination score. The remaining 70% will be constituted by the final
examination that will be guided by your university examination policy and
procedures.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course examines the determinism theories that explain how humans interact
with the environment, different kinds of natural resources and their significance,
and how population expansion and technology have affected these resources.
The causes and effects of biodiversity loss, environmental management through
policy initiatives, causes and solutions to soil, water, and forest degradation,
property rights with a focus on wildlife management, greenhouse gases and the
rise in global warming that contribute to climate change are all given special
attention

LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
1. Define, explain and effectively employ various concepts related to
environmental biology and conservation.
2. Explain the significance of environmental conservation in national development.
3. Explain the nature, types and threats facing environmental resources.
4. Examine population growth and its impact on the environment
5. Analyse greenhouse gases and their role in climate change
6. Relate to the importance of conserving biodiversity and effects of its loss
7. Evaluate the importance of policy making and implementation in
environmental management
8. Explain the various methods of managing resources such as soil,
water, forest among others
9. Assess role of national and international organizations in environmental
conservation.
10. Describe the principles of environmental impact assessment.

I wish you the very best of experiences in this course.

LECTURE ONE
1. THE ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCES
1.1.Introduction
This lecture will help you to understand the meaning of environment. It will
classify environment and show relationships that exist between living things and
non-living things in the environment. The relationship between organisms and
their environment will be discussed. The various resources offered by the
environment will be outlined and the need for their sustainable use. Concepts
used in environmental conservation will be defined while indicators of an ailing
environment will be highlighted.

1.2.Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, the students should be able to:
 Define Environment and identify its classes
 Define ecology and explain the relationship between ecology and
environment and their agents of change
 Differentiate between renewable and non-renewable resources
 Explain the importance of conserving the environment

1.3.The Environment
Environment refers to conditions in which man and other organisms including
non-living organisms such as air, water, sunlight, food, housing, soil, atmosphere,
thrive and live for each other’s life. This implies that both living and non-living
organisms constitute the environment and they coexist, bringing about life for
each other.
The word environment is derived from the French word “ environner‟ which
means to encircle or surround. Thus our environment can be defined as the
Social, Cultural and Physical conditions that surround, affect and influence the
survival, growth and development of people, animals and plants‟.

The word environment means the whole complete of physical, social, biological,
cultural and aesthetic factors which affect individual and communities and
ultimately determine their form, character, relationship and survival.
Man’s total environment includes all the living and non-living elements in his
surroundings which form the two factors of the environment. These factors
include Abiotic and Biotic factors.
Abiotic Factors: These are the non-living components in the environment such
as climatic factors, e.g., temperature, rainfall, humidity, light, soil and so on.
Biotic Factors: These are the living components such as man, animals, fungi,
bacteria, worms and so on. Both the biotic and abiotic components interact
together to form a complex relationship.

1.3.1. Classification of Environment

Environment can be classified into the following:
a) Physical Environment
This consists of the naturally existing aspect of the environment. It refers to non-
living things such as climatic factors like rainfall, sunlight, humidity and edaphic
factors consisting of soil composition, soil farm and soil temperature.
The Physical Environment consists of four segments:
 Atmosphere- Blanket of gases surrounding the earth.
 Hydrosphere- Various water bodies present on the earth.
 Lithosphere- Contains various types of soils and rocks on the earth.

b) Biological Environment
This refers to the living things in the environment. Under this, we have man,
animals, plants and micro-organisms. These groups of living things are inter-
dependent on each other and absolutely depend on the physical environment
for their survival. For instance, plants derive their energy from the sun during
photosynthesis to manufacture food, animals feed on these plants (herbivores)
while secondary consumer animals feed on other animals (carnivores) or feed on
both plants and animals (omnivores).
Man in its desperate move to survive cultivate plants that provide him food,
clothing, shelter and keep animals for provision of meat, milk, wool etc.

c) Social Environment
This is the community facilities and services, culture and interactions that exist
between groups of organism. It is also the relationship between one group of
organism and the other.
 Activity 1.3.1 – The meaning of the term environment
Title Definition and components of environment
Purpose The purpose of this activity is to enable you to
explain the meaning of the term environment and the
components that
make the environment. .
Brief summary of overall task Watch VIDEO and read this ARTICLE on these links.
You should be able to define the term environment
and the components of the environment.
Individual task (a) Using bullet points, define the term environment.
(b) Briefly describe the two types of ecosystems
(c) Using examples name the two components of
the environment

1.3.2. Why Study The Environment?

1. Environment Issues being of International Importance
It has been well recognized that environment issues like global warming, ozone
depletion, acid rain, marine pollution and loss of biodiversity are not merely
national issues but are global issues and hence must be tackled with
international efforts and cooperation.
2. Problems Cropped in the Wake of Development
Development, in its wake gave birth to Urbanization, Industrial Growth,
Transportation Systems, Agriculture and Housing etc. The North, to cleanse their
own environment has, fact fully, managed to move dirty factories to South. When
the West developed, it did so perhaps in ignorance of the environmental impact
of its activities. Evidently such a path is neither practicable nor desirable, even if
developing world follows that.
2. Explosively Increase in Pollution
World census reflects that one in every seven persons in this planet lives in
Africa. Evidently with 16% of the world's population and only 2.4% of its land
area, there is a heavy pressure on the natural resources including land.
Agricultural experts have recognized soils health problems like deficiency of
micronutrients and organic matter, soil salinity and damage of soil structure.
4. Need for an Alternative Solution
It is essential, especially for developing countries to find alternative paths to an
alternative goal. We need;
a) A goal, which ultimately is the true goal of development an
environmentally sound and sustainable development.
 b) A goal common to all citizens of our earth.
c) A goal distant from the developing world in the manner it is from the over-
consuming wasteful societies of the “developed” world.
5. Need to Save Humanity from Extinction
It is incumbent upon us to save the humanity from extinction. Consequences to
our activities cause destructing the environment and depleting the biosphere, in
the name of development.
6. Need for Wise Planning of Development
Our survival and sustenance depend. Resources withdraw, processing and use of
the product have all to be synchronized with the ecological cycles in any plan of
development. Our actions should be planned ecologically for the sustenance of
the environment and development.

1.4. Ecology and Environment

Ecology is defined as the science concerned with the relationship between living
things and between living things and their environment. It is the scientific study
of the interactions that determines the distribution and abundance of
organisms. Ecology and environment are inter-related because of the process of
give and take that goes on in an environment. In other words, ecology is
interested in what living organism gives to the surrounding and what it takes
from the surrounding. The study of ecology is based on the realization that
natural resources of the earth are limited and for man to survive, there must be
means of developing appropriate management strategies that will ensure the
continuous supply of these limited resources to man. These natural resources
include temperature, water, air, climate, soil etc.

1.4.1. Factors Responsible for Ecological Changes

i. Natural Events: This includes meteorological issues like climatic change,
which may be as a result of changes in the normal pattern of various climatic
conditions thereby giving rise to different ecological changes such as
overheating, over-flooding, erosion, windstorm, hurricanes, bush burning,
tectonic events (volcanic eruption, earthquake, landslide etc).
ii. Human Activities: This includes dam construction, road construction, mining,
quarrying, petroleum exploration and urbanization. These activities may give rise
to air and water pollution, low water flow; bring about sedimentation, population
increase, migration, flooding, epidemics, soil erosion, noise pollution, housing
problems, overcrowding etc.
iii. Agricultural Activities: Land clearing and preparation, introduction of
hybrid varieties, application of fertilizers on soil ecosystem which may cause soil
infertility. Other factors such as motor engines operation and industrial gas
which leads to the emission of dangerous gases like carbon monoxide,
hydrocarbon, also affect the environment.
iv. Water Related Activities: This include fishing, oil exploration and
exploitation, water dredging, industrial waste disposal, clearing of water
hyacinth, other activities in the petroleum industries like gas flaring, oil spillage
and gas emission.
v. Air Related Activities: Emission from airlines, quarrying activities releasing
particles, military activities, industrial waste gas, carbon-monoxide, hydrocarbon,
vehicle exudates etc.

1.5. Environmental Natural Resources

Natural resources can be defined as „variety of goods and services provided by
nature which are necessary for our day-to-day lives‟. Eg: Plants, animals and
microbes (living or biotic part), Air, water, soil, minerals, climate and solar
energy (non- living or abiotic part).
They are essential for the fulfillment of physiological, social, economic and
cultural needs at the individual and community levels.

1.5.1. Types of Natural Resources

They are of two types of resources namely Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources.
1. Renewable resources
The resources that can be replenished through rapid natural cycles are known as
renewable resource. These resources are able to increase their abundance
through reproduction and utilization of simple substances.
Examples:
• Plants, (crops and forests) and animals. Some examples of renewable
resources though they do not have life cycle but can be recycled, e.g
Wood and wood- products, pulp products, natural rubber, fibers (e.g.
Cotton, jute, animal wool, silk and synthetic fibers) and leather.
• Water and soil are also classified as renewable resources.
• Solar energy although having a finite life, as a special case, is considered
as a renewable resource in as much as solar stocks is inexhaustible on the
human scale.
Although a renewable resource can regenerate after harvesting, it can also be
badly degraded by excessive use or by inappropriate management. These
practices can damage the ability to regenerate and may ultimately cause a
collapse of the stock. If this happens, the renewable resource is being “mined”,
or used as if it were a non-renewable resource. As
such, it becomes depleted by excessive use. For this reason, ecologists commonly
use the qualified term: potentially renewable resources.

2. Non-renewable resources
The resources that cannot be replenished through natural processes are known
as non- renewable resources. These are available in limited amounts, which
cannot be increased. These resources include fossil fuels (petrol, coal etc.),
metals (iron, copper, gold, silver, lead, zinc etc.), minerals and salts (carbonates,
phosphates, nitrates etc.).Once a non- renewable resource is consumed, it is
gone forever.
Non-renewable resources can further be divided into two categories, viz.
a) Recyclable
b) Non-recyclable
a) Recyclable: These are non-renewable resources, which can be collected after
they are used and can be recycled. These are mainly the non-energy mineral
resources, which occur in the earth‟s crust (Ex: Ores of aluminum, copper,
mercury etc.) and deposits of fertilizer nutrients (e.g. Phosphate sock and
potassium and minerals used in their natural state (asbestos, clay, mica etc.)
b) Non-recyclable: These are non-renewable resources, which cannot be
recycled in any way. E.g Fossil fuels and uranium, which provide 90% of our
energy requirements

Activity 1.5.1 – Types of natural resources

Title Types of natural resources

Purpose The purpose of this activity is to define natural

resources and
their different types.
Brief summary of overall task Watch Video and read this Article
You should be able to describe natural resources
and the different types.
Spark

Give an example of each type of resource in Kenya

Individual task (a) Define natural resources
(b) With examples, distinguish between renewable
and non- renewable resources

1.5.2. Natural Resources and Associated Problems

 The main problem associated with natural resources is unequal consumption.
 A major part of natural resources are consumed in the “developed‟ world.
The
“developing nations‟ also over use many resources because of their greater
human population. However, the consumption of resources per capita (per
individual) of the developed countries is up to 50 times greater than in most
developing countries.
 Advanced countries produce over 75% of global industrial waste and greenhouse
gases
 Energy from fossil fuels consumed in relatively much greater quantities in
developed countries. Their per capita consumption of food too is much
greater as well as their waste.

1.6. Environmental Conservation

Environmental conservation is an umbrella term that encompasses what we do
to protect the earth and conserve the natural resources therein. Increased
human population has resulted in more activities that exploit the natural
resources for the socio-economic development, for example; construction of
urban centers among others. As a result, we are now experiencing increased
environmental degradation with serious consequences such as loss of species,
deforestation, ecosystem pollution and climate change, among others. The main
focus of environmental conservation is to maintain the health of these natural
resources in the environment.
 1.6.1. Concepts of environmental conservation
To better understand how to efficiently use and sustain natural resources we
have to understand related concepts in environmental conservation.
Extraction: is the process of withdrawing resources from nature. Extractive
industries are a basis for the primary sector of the economy and often increases
a country‟s wealth. However, extraction rates have to be monitored to ensure
the resources are not depleted.
Depletion: is the using up of natural resources and is a sustainable
development issue in order to preserve natural resources.
Protection: is the preservation of natural resources for the future and involves
developing measures of protection to sustain natural resources to control their
depletion as a result of human activity.
Management: is the use of natural resources taking into account the economic,
environmental, and social concerns. This process deals with managing natural
resources such as land, water, soil, plants, and animals and considers how the
preservation of natural resources impacts the quality of life now and for future
generations.
Conservation and preservation are often confused to mean the same thing
but there are differences. Conservationists agree that for a better future, change
and progression in resources are necessary but only in ways that are not
wasteful. Preservationists argue for maintaining in their present condition areas
of the earth that are so far untouched by humans.

1.6.2. What then is environmental conservation?

It is the official care and protection of resources such as water, soils, fuel, air,
forests and wildlife among others. Rational management of the environment and
natural resource requires conservation, which means to use renewable natural
resources sustainably and to avoid waste of non-renewable resources. In other
words, fisheries and forestry as renewable resources, for example, should be
utilized in a manner that ensures regeneration. In the case of non-renewable
resources such as minerals, petroleum and oil is to avoid waste and to ensure
that usage meets the interests of the present generation without jeopardizing
future interests.

Activity 1.6.1 – Conservation versus Preservation

Title Environmental conservation and preservation.
Purpose The purpose of this Activity is to define the terms
environmental
conservation and preservation and the distinction
between the
two.
Brief summary of overall task Watch VIDEO and read this ARTICLE on these links.
You should be able to define the term environment
conservation and distinguish from the term
environmental preservation.
Spark

What happens if we do not conserve the environment?

Individual task a) Using bullet points, define the term
environment conservation.
b) Define the term environmental preservation.
c) What is the main difference between the two?

1.6.3. Indicators of Global Environmental Stress

1. Forests —Deforestation remains a main issue. 1 million hectares of forest
were lost every year in the decade 1980-1990. The largest losses of forest
area are taking place in the tropical moist deciduous forests, the zone best
suited to human settlement and agriculture. Recent estimates suggest that
nearly 2/3 of tropical deforestation is due to farmers clearing land for
agriculture. There is increasing concern about the decline in forest quality
associated with intensive use of forests and unregulated access.
2. Soil — As much as 10% of the earth’s vegetated surface is now at least
moderately degraded. Trends in soil quality and management of irrigated
land raise serious questions about longer-term sustainability. It is estimated
that about 20% of the world’s
250 million hectares of irrigated land are already degraded to the point where
crop production is seriously reduced.
3. Fresh Water — Some 20% of the world’s population lacks access to safe
water and 50% lacks access to safe sanitation. If current trends in water
use persist, 2/3 of the
 world’s population could be living in countries experiencing moderate or high
water stress by 2025.
4. Marine fisheries — 25% of the world’s marine fisheries are being fished at
their maximum level of productivity and 35% are overfished (yields are
declining). In order to maintain current per capita consumption of fish, global
fish harvests must be increased; much of the increase might come through
aquaculture which is a known source of water pollution, wetland loss and
mangrove swamp destruction.
5. Biodiversity — Biodiversity is increasingly coming under threat from
development, which destroys or degrades natural habitats, and from pollution
from a variety of sources. The first comprehensive global assessment of
biodiversity put the total number of species at close to 14 million and found
that between 1% and 11% of the world’s species may be threatened by
extinction every decade. Coastal ecosystems, which host a very large
proportion of marine species, are at great risk with perhaps 1/3 of the world’s
coasts at high potential risk of degradation and another 17% at moderate
risk.
6. Atmosphere — The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has
established that human activities are having a discernible influence on global
climate. CO2 emissions in most industrialized countries have risen during the
past few years and countries generally failed to stabilize their greenhouse
gas emissions as required by the Climate Change convention.
7. Toxic chemicals — About 100,000 chemicals are now in commercial use and
their potential impacts on human health and ecological function represent
largely unknown risks. Persistent organic pollutants are now so widely
distributed by air and ocean currents that they are found in the tissues of
people and wildlife everywhere; they are of particular concern because of
their high levels of toxicity and persistence in the environment.
8. Hazardous wastes — Pollution from heavy metals, especially from their use
in industry and mining, is also creating serious health consequences in many
parts of the world. Incidents and accidents involving uncontrolled radioactive
sources continue to increase, and particular risks are posed by the legacy of
contaminated areas left from military activities involving nuclear materials.
9. Waste—Domestic and industrial waste production continues to increase in
both absolute and per capita terms, worldwide. In the developed world, per
capita waste generation has increased threefold over the past 20 years; in
developing countries, it is highly likely that waste generation will double
during the next decade. The level of awareness regarding the health and
environmental impacts of inadequate waste disposal remains
 rather poor; poor sanitation and waste management infrastructure is still
one of the principal causes of death and disability for the urban poor.

Activity-1.6.1 Threats facing the environment

Title The threats facing the environment

Purpose The purpose of this Activity is to identify threats to

our environment.
Brief summary of overall task Watch VIDEO and read this ARTICLE
You should be able to list down threats to the
environment and their causes.

Individual task a) Using bullet points, list down 6 threats to the

environment
b) Identify the cause of each threat.

1.7. Summary
Environment has been given various definitions by different authors. It is not just
the atmosphere but involves physical, social and biological aspects that all affect
man and other living organisms. The activities of man has also been seen to
have effect on the environment which in turn brings about negative
consequences to man. These generally take the form of pollution, depletion or
degradation of water, air and soil. Soil erosion, water salinity and pollution,
desertification, forest depletion, coastal degradation are accounted for as the
major environmental problems in the developing countries

1.8. Revision questions

1. Define the term environment
2. Describe the following classes of environment
a. Social Environment
b. Economic Environment
3. Define Ecology
4. Discuss the factors that give rise to ecological changes
5. In relation to environmental conservation, differentiate between
preservation and conservation

1.9. References
3. Pandey B.N., & Kulkarmi G.K.(2015). Biodiversity and Environment. APH
publishing corporation New Delhi
4. Verma, P.S., & Agarwal, V.K., (2018). Environmental Biology (principles of
ecology). Vikas Publishing House, Pvt. Ltd: India
5. Zimnermon, M.E., & Esbjerin- Harqens, S. (2009). Integral Ecology. Integral
books. Boston and London.
6. What‟s the Difference Between "Conservation" and
"Preservation"? https://www.peanc.org/whats-difference-between-
conservation-and-preservation
7. What‟s the Difference Between "Conservation" and "Preservation"?
8. https://www.peanc.org/whats-difference-between-conservation-and-preservation
9. Environmental conservation and preservation: definition, differences and
advocates. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQoImcUJdag
10.Conservation of the environment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwyrdGi1Y1I
11.Environment and conservation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G4thb0- Cz0
12.What is the environment? https://byjus.com/biology/our-environment/
13.Seven threats facing our planet. https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/7-
threats- facing-our-planet/