Conservation of Natural Resources - Role of an Individual

CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES - ROLE OF AN INDIVIDUAL

Different natural resources like forests, water, soil, food, mineral and energy resources play a vital role in the development of a nation. While conservation efforts are underway at National as well as International level, the individual efforts for conservation of natural resources can go a long way.

I. Conserve Water

Don't keep water taps running while brushing, shaving, washing or bathing.

Check for water leaks in pipes and toilets and repair them promptly. A small pin-hole sized leak will lead to the wastage of 640 liters of water in a month.

Use drip irrigation and sprinkling irrigation to improve irrigation efficiency and reduce evaporation. Install a small system to capture rain water and collect normally wasted used water from sinks, cloth-washers, bathtubs etc. which can be used for watering the plants

Build rain water harvesting system in your house.  Even the President of India is doing this.

II. Conserve energy

Turn off lights, fans and other appliances when not in use.

Obtain as much heat as possible from natural sources. Dry the clothes in sun instead of drier if it is a sunny day.

Use solar cooker for cooking your food on sunny days which will be more nutritious and will cut down on your LPG expenses.

Grow deciduous trees and climbers at proper places outside your home to cut off intense heat of summers and get a cool breeze and shade. This will cut off your electricity charges on coolers and air-conditioners.

Try riding bicycle or just walk down small distances instead of using your car or scooter.

III. Protect the soil

While constructing your house, don't uproot the trees as far as possible. Plant the disturbed areas with a fast growing native ground cover.

Make compost from your kitchen waste and use it for your kitchen-garden or flower-pots. Do not irrigate the plants using a strong flow of water, as it would wash off the soil.

If you own agricultural fields, do not over-irrigate your fields without proper drainage to prevent water logging and salinisation.

Use mixed cropping so that some specific soil nutrients do not get depleted.

IV. Promote Sustainable Agriculture

Do not waste food. Take as much as you can eat Reduce the use of pesticides.

Fertilize your crop primarily with organic fertilizers.

Eat local and seasonal vegetables. This saves lot of energy on transport, storage and preservation. Control pests by a combination of cultivation and biological control methods.