Exam (elaborations)
GGH3708 PORTFOLIO ANSWERS
- Course
- GGH3708
- Institution
- University Of South Africa (Unisa)
The document contains answers for GGH PORTFOLIO
[Show more]
Content preview
IntroductionHave you heard of a car running without a fuel? No. Similarly, for survival of every living
being requires some sort of ‘fuel’. Oxygen serves as the life line for us. Trees and plants
generate oxygen by photosynthesis by utilizing the sunlight. It is simply impossible of
thinking life without trees. Besides providing oxygen trees provide us with food,
furniture, fuel and shelter. Moreover, trees are the friends of humanity. They have
marvelous feature, colors of their lives are simply breath taking. Ralph Waldo Emerson
said “The wonder is that we can see these trees and not wonder more” Ralph Waldo
Emerson.
Raising Awareness on an Environmental Problem
Trees are the largest and longest living organism on earth. Trees are the marvelous
chemical factory. Man is utilizing trees since the old days. Although world has
progressed a lot, we are still dependent on these trees. The existence of man is very
much dependent upon them. Trees are not only beneficial to mankind, but also to all
organisms living on the earth. With increase in population trees are cut down much
faster than their growth. The increase in pollution and decrease in the number of trees
become the cause of global warming. It is our Moral duty to plant as much of trees as
we can. We should not only plant them but also provide them suitable environment for
growth. The health of our planet is base on the health of our ecosystem and survival of
life.
Environmental problems such as global warming, acid rain, air pollution, urban sprawl,
waste disposal, ozone layer depletion, water pollution and climate change, amongst
others, affect all humans, animals and nations on this planet (Rinkesh, 2017).Citizen
participation is essential to the protection of the environment in order to reverse, or at
the least slow down the current path of habitat destruction. Every individual needs to
play an active role and contribute to the sustainable future of planet earth at a
grassroots level. Our Biodiversity - the variety of life and the interactions between living
organisms from ecosystems to species of plants, animals and other organisms on earth
(including humans), is a global natural heritage of immense value (Biodiversity,2017).
,Our planet's biodiversity is under threat and it is richness is vital for human survival and
development, humans are dependent on living, functioning ecosystems and the
services they provide such as oxygen, food, fresh water, fertile soil, pollination, climate
stabilisation, recreational pleasure and well-being (Biodiversity, 2017).
The Importance of Trees
According to a study by the USDA Forest Service, more greenery means fewer felonies,
urban greenery indicates that a neighborhood is well maintained and potential criminals
believe they are more likely to get caught and therefore less likely to commit a crime.
There is a higher demand for trees in wealthy neighborhoods and areas with a higher
percentage of low-income residents enjoy less tree abundance. This skewed allocation
of greenery means many low-income inhabitants are missing out on the benefits of
having trees (Sierra Club, 2015).
Trees are vital to the environment, they provide oxygen, improve air quality, conserve
water, preserve soil, and support wildlife, improve the climate and green spaces help
bring communities together and foster outdoor recreation (SavATree, 2017). An
average size tree provides oxygen for a family of four for an entire year and if trees are
planted in the right place they can cut air-conditioning costs by up to50 percent. During
photosynthesis, trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen as
well as keeping air and water pollution in check (Climaterally, 2017).
Trees are true friends of humanity. The trees are oxygen providers and are called the
lungs of planet. They not only absorb carbon dioxide which is injurious to us but also
produces oxygen which is a source of life on our planet earth. With the industrial
development and excessive use of fuel like petrol and gas, produces a huge amount of
carbon dioxide. Trees are air purifiers they filter polluted air by absorbing the carbon
contents. Thus trees decrease the air pollution which keep the environment clean and
provide pure air to breath. Trees also play role in lessening the sound pollution.
According to United States Department of Agriculture, a properly designed buffer of
trees and shrubs reduces the sound pollution by 10 decibels or about 50% as received
by human ear. Evaporation from the leaves brings about the formation of clouds; these
clouds cause rain and irrigate the land which increases the crop production. Moreover,
, they also keep the temperature milder. Trees help in increasing the fertility of soil. Roots
of trees keep the soil intact and decrease the soil erosion. Trees provide us with beauty
and peace of mind. They fill our heart with unexplainable happiness. Green color of
trees symbolizes self-respect and well-being. They are the essential part of nature.
Martin Luther says “For in the nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is
far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver”.
Trees have a significant role in our daily life. Despite its complex chemical nature, wood
has excellent properties which lend themselves to human use. Mostly trees are use to
manufacture furniture. Different species of trees are use to make different types of
furniture. They vary in softness, hardness and flexibility. The wood we get from trees is
used in the production of home and office furniture. Furniture industry is the source of
employ for thousands of people all around the globe. Many countries export their
marvelous designed furniture and earn a huge amount of foreign exchange. In other
words trees helps in the flourishing of an economy of country. Now plastic furniture is
also used alongside .Many types of sports equipment are made of wood. For example,
cricket bats are made of white willow. The baseball bats are usually made of hickory
and now days they are mostly manufacture of maple wood. The cellulose of trees is
used in the manufacturing of papers. All around the world trees wood is use in
construction of buildings. Wood is oldest material used by humans for constructional
purposes, after stone. Even where other building materials are preferred, wood remains
a major component in roofing, flooring, doors and windows and their frames, as external
cladding and in furniture and fittings. Also for tool handles and cutlery, such as
chopsticks, twigs (miswaks), toothpicks, and other utensils, like the wooden spoon.
Wood is mostly preferred to make cooking utensils because of its non-conducting
properties.
Woods also provide shelter and safety for living beings. Shelter is essential for birds.
Birds feel safe and secure the shelter provided by trees. A garden with adequate shelter
attracts a wider range of birds. A good shelter also save the birds from harsh
weather .the shelter provided by trees protects the birds from extreme coldness and
shade during summer season. During summers trees provide a shelter and shadow to