ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY NOTES
Course Title: ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY
COURSE INSTRUCTORS: MR. J.W.MACHARIA
Email Address:mwalimujames1@gmail. Com
Environment meaning
Environment can be defined as a sum total of all the living and non-living elements and their
effects that influence human life. While all living or biotic elements are animals, plants, forests,
fisheries, and birds, non-living or abiotic elements include water, land, sunlight, rocks, and air.
An Environment is everything that is around us, which includes both living and nonliving things
such as soil, water, animals and plants, which adapt themselves to their surroundings. It is
nature’s gift that helps in nourishing life on Earth.
The terms “ecosystem” and “surroundings” are the common synonyms for the word
“environment”. However, they differ in such a way that the term “ecosystem” includes the
interaction between the organism and its surroundings. The surroundings, in turn, refer to that
which surrounds an organism or a population. In this regard, the environment is a rather vast
concept whereas the term “surrounding” is relatively more specific.
The environment plays an important role in the existence of life on the planet earth. The word
Environment is derived from the French word “Environ” which means “surrounding.” An
ecosystem refers to all the living and non-living things present in the environment and it is a
foundation of the Biosphere, which determines the health of the entire planet earth.
Ecology and Environmental science are the branches of life science, which mainly deal with the
study of organisms and their interactions with other organisms and their environment.
Ecosystem Meaning
An ecosystem is a community where the living and non-living components of the environment
interact with each other. It maintains stability within the environment. Desert, forest, coral reef,
savanna, taiga, tundra are a few types of ecosystem. An ecosystem is constantly evolving.
Environment vs Ecosystem
Following are the important difference between environment and ecosystem:
Types of Ecosystem
There are two main
types of ecosystems.
Listed below are the
types and examples
of the ecosystem.
1. Natural ecosystem
– It is a naturally
produced biological
environment found in
nature. It includes
deserts, forests,
grasslands, lakes,
mountains, ponds,
rivers, oceans, etc.
2. Artificial ecosystem
– It is an artificial
environment which is
created and
maintained by man. It
includes an aquarium,
crop fields, gardens,
parks, zoo, etc.
Components of an
Ecosystem
They are broadly
grouped into:
(A) Abiotic and
(b) Biotic components
There are two main
types of ecosystems.
Listed below are the
types and examples
of the ecosystem.
1. Natural ecosystem
– It is a naturally
produced biological
environment found in
nature. It includes
deserts, forests,
grasslands, lakes,
mountains, ponds,
rivers, oceans, etc.
2. Artificial ecosystem
– It is an artificial
environment which is
created and
maintained by man. It
includes an aquarium,
crop fields, gardens,
parks, zoo, etc.
Components of an
Ecosystem
They are broadly
grouped into:
(A) Abiotic and
(b) Biotic components
There are two main
types of ecosystems.
Listed below are the
types and examples
of the ecosystem.
1. Natural ecosystem
– It is a naturally
produced biological
environment found in
nature. It includes
deserts, forests,
grasslands, lakes,
mountains, ponds,
rivers, oceans, etc.
2. Artificial ecosystem
– It is an artificial
environment which is
created and
maintained by man. It
includes an aquarium,
crop fields, gardens,
parks, zoo, etc.
Components of an
Ecosystem
They are broadly
grouped into:
(A) Abiotic and
(b) Biotic components
3, Organic compounds: Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and humic substances. They are the
building blocks of living systems and therefore, make a link between the biotic and abiotic
components.
(b) Biotic components (Living)
1. Producers: The green plants manufacture food for the entire ecosystem through the process
of photosynthesis. Green plants are called autotrophs, as they absorb water and nutrients
from the soil, carbon dioxide from the air, and capture solar energy for this process.
2. Consumers: They are called heterotrophs and they consume food synthesized by the
autotrophs. Based on food preferences they can be grouped into three broad categories.
Herbivores (e. cow, deer, and rabbit, etc.) feed directly on plants, carnivores are animals
which eat other animals (e. lion, cat, dog, etc.) and omnivore’s organisms feeding upon
plants and animals e. human, pigs, and sparrow.
3. Decomposers: Also called saprotrophs. These are mostly bacteria and fungi that feed on dead
decomposed and the dead organic matter of plants and animals by secreting enzymes outside
their body on the decaying matter. They play a very important role in recycling nutrients.
They are also called detrivores or detritus feeders.
Environment functions
(1) Provides the supply of resources
The environment offers resources for production. It includes both renewable and non-
renewable resources. Examples: Wood for furniture, soil, land, etc.
(2) Sustains life
The environment includes the sun, soil, water, and air, which are essential for human life.
It sustains life by providing genetic and biodiversity.
(3) Assimilates waste
Production and consumption activities generate waste. This occurs mostly in the form of
garbage. The environment helps in getting rid of the garbage.
(4) Enhances the quality of life
The environment enhances the quality of life. Human beings enjoy the beauty of nature that
includes rivers, mountains, deserts, etc. These add to the quality of life.
What are the Types of Resources?
Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources
(1) Renewable resources
Everything must go somewhere.
Ours is a finite Earth.
Nature is beautiful and we are stewards of God's creation.
Ecosystem stability/balance
Stability is commonly defined as a state in which change does not occur.
In ecology, ecosystem stability is defined as the ability of an ecosystem to maintain its structure
(e. landscape, species diversity, etc.) and function (e. nutrient and water cycling, biomass
production, etc.) over long period of time despite disturbances.
Fully developed or mature ecosystems are more stable than the immature ecosystems.
Mature ecosystems are considered stable because their structure and function remains
more or less the same over long period of time.
Stable ecosystems are in a state of dynamic equilibrium in which things change but
remain more or less the same.
Stability is the ability of a disturbed ecosystem to return to its original condition
(resilience).
Stability is also a property of an ecosystem that causes it to resist being changed by
natural events or by human interferences (resistance).
Ecosystem homeostasis/balance
Stability is also known as homeostasis.
Homeostasis is the dynamic equilibrium among the living members of an ecosystem,
against environmental conditions such as wind, rainfall, nutrient availability, air quality
and climate.
Immature vs Mature ecosystems
Immature Ecosystem Mature Ecosystem
Factors that influence ecosystem balance/stability Following are the factors that influence
ecosystem stability: A. Population growth and reduction factors B. Species diversity C. Food
web complexity D. Movement of nutrient and energy E. Succession
A. Population growth and reduction factors
The factors that affect ecosystem’s stability are the factors that control the size of its
populations.
These factors are of two types:
Growth factors: Factors that tend to increase population size.
Reduction factors: Factors that tend to decrease population size.
B. Species diversity and ecosystem stability
Ecosystem stability may also be affected by species diversity.
Species diversity is related to at least three variables: The number of different species in an
ecosystem, the number of individuals in each species, and the number of individuals of all
species in a community.
However, drastic shifts can seriously, sometimes irreversibly causes imbalance in ecosystem.
Large scale change:
Major ecosystem perturbation may be caused by natural events (shifts in climate, floods,
volcanic eruption, fires and drought, or human intervention such as mining and logging.
In either cases, damage to the ecosystem may be so severe that it takes years or decades for the
original condition to be restored. Human impact on ecosystems
Altering biotic factors
a) Introducing competitors
Time to time, humans have introduced foreign species into new regions only to tackle serious
problems caused by excessive growth of the introduced species
b) Eliminating or introducing predators
Humans have tendency to eliminate predators such as bear, eagles and wolves from their
habitat. Occasionally predators are introduced into the area (mosquito fish).
c) Introducing disease organisms:
Humans have unknowingly introduced pathogen into new environment where there were no
controls. They reproduce at a high rate and cause serious damage.
Altering abiotic factors
a) Creating pollution: Water pollution and air pollution caused by humans create an
unfavorable environment for many organisms. Oil spillage, toxic pesticides, thermal pollution
etc.
b) Depleting resources: Human pollutions may deplete or destroy resources used by other
species.
Environmental Management and Coordination Act 1999
An Act of Parliament to provide for the establishment of an appropriate legal and institutional
framework for the management of the environment.
The Act provides for environmental protection through;
1. Environmental impact assessment (EIA)
2. Environmental audit and monitoring
3. Environmental restoration orders, conservation orders,and easements.
The Act has a provision for various institutions under it to help in the implementation of this Act.
INSTITUTIONS CREATED BY EMCA 1998
National Environmental Council (NEC)
The PCC is concerned with the investigation of complaints relating to environmental damage
and degradation generally. The PCC has powers to investigate complaints against any person or
even against NEMA or on its own motion investigate any suspected case of environmental
degradation.
Standards and Enforcement Review Committee
This is a technical Committee responsible for formulation of environmental standards, methods
of analysis, inspection, monitoring and technical advice on necessary mitigation measures.
National Environmental Tribunal (NET)
The NET is established under Section 125 of EMCA for the purpose of hearing appeals from
administrative decisions by organs responsible for enforcement of environmental standards. An
appeal may be lodged by a project proponent upon denial of an EIA licence or by a local
community upon the grant of an EIA licence to a project proponent. NEMA may also refer any
matter that involves a point of law or is of unusual importance or complexity to NET for
direction.
National Environment Action Plan Committee (NEAP)
This cross-sectoral committee is responsible inter alia, for the development of a five year
national environment action plan. The national environment action plan shall contain among
other aspects analysis of the natural resources of Kenya and their distribution, quantity and
various uses. It shall also recommend legal and fiscal incentives for business that incorporate
environmental requirements into their planning and operational processes as well set out
guidelines for the planning and management of the environment and natural resources.
