HUMAN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT - GRADE 11 and 12

(Paper 1 - 25 Marks)

(Mindmaps to simplify teaching and learning)

Refer to CAPS as well as the Examination Guidelines Grade 12 to inform teaching

Activities on each topic could be found in the Learner Notes received as well as Text Books and study guides such as
“Mind the Gap” and “The Answer Series”
 THE ATMOSPHERE AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
The atmosphere is made up of
nitrogen, oxygen and trace
gases which include the
The greenhouse effect is important in keeping
greenhouse gases such as Climate refers to the long-term the Earth warm so that it can sustain life.
carbon dioxide and methane. prevalent weather conditions of an However, an increase in the concentration
Greenhouse gases absorb long area. of greenhouse gases leads to the
wave radiation emitted from the ‘enhanced greenhouse effect’.
Earth and prevent it from escaping
As a result, there may be a significant rise in
back into the atmosphere. This is
the average temperature of the surface of
known as the ‘greenhouse
the Earth over a period of time. This is
effect’.
known as ‘global warming.

1. Increased concentration of the 2. Increased concentration of the

carbon dioxide in the atmosphere methane in the atmosphere is due 3. Increased temperatures
is due mainly to: mainly to: may lead to:

 Burning of fossil fuel (for  The expansions of rice  More evaporation of water which can lead to
electricity, to power vehicles agriculture and increased increased precipitation eventually increasing
and for industrial processes): number of landfill: decay of the potential of flooding
Combustion of carbon-rich organic matter in waterlogged  Rising sea levels caused by melting ice in the
fuels such as coal or plants soils such as rice paddies and glaciers as well as thermal expansion which
(wood) releases carbon that landfills releases methane can eventually increase the potential of
was stored in them, as carbon  The increased number of flooding
dioxide. livestock: ruminants such as  Increased wildfires increasing the chances of
 Deforestation: Cutting down cows releases methane gas soil erosion and eventually desertification
of trees and removing through their digestive tracts  Increased loss of biodiversity as species are
vegetation from the land  Mining of coal unable to cope with rapidly rising temperatures
decreases the amount of can eventually lead to desertification
carbon dioxide that would have
 Increased droughts in some areas leading
been taken up by the plants
desertification and food insecurity
during photosynthesis. This
increases the amount of
carbon dioxide available in the
atmosphere.
 Destruction of CARBON FOOTPRINT
the ozone layer

DEFINITION:
CAUSES What is OZONE?
This is a measure of the total amount of
greenhouse gas emissions of an
individual, a defined population or a
Mainly caused by the Ozone (O3) is a greenhouse gas company per year.
chemicals called CFCs that is found at low concentrations
(chlorofluorocarbons) 15 – 50km above the Earth’s
released by refrigerators, surface. It absorbs the
aerosol sprays and fast- ultraviolet rays from the sun.
food packaging. Strategies to reduce the carbon
footprint

 Reuse and recycle – less fossil fuels

burnt in the production of some of the
If the measures to reduce material
the destruction of ozone  Drive less – by using public
layer fail: transport, walking, bicycles
 Reduce the need for heating by
insulating walls and building energy
efficient homes
 Carbon offsetting – by using
 There will be a significant increase in the
alternative energy (solar and wind)
number of skin cancer cases
and reforestation for trees to act as
 Ultraviolet rays reaching the Earth’s
carbon reservoir.
surface may cause a permanent damage
 Technological developments-
to eyes
decrease the amount of energy
needed for production/ decreasing
the dependency of carbon emitting
fuels
 WATER Quality of water
Availability of water
Mining
Construction of Dams Destruction of wetlands: This water is
Eutrophication and algal generally acidic,
increasing the quantity of water should not be destroyed because bloom
stored they influence both the availability toxic and hot and
 Water used for agriculture contributes to
and quality of water; my contain pesticides and
it provide water for domestic and thermal pollution.
herbicides and fertilizers
Water wastage livestock use as well as for which pollute the water in
 water used for irrigation is lost due to poor irrigation. rivers, dams and lakes Alien Plants
farming practices. The vegetation in the wetlands causing eutrofication. block waterways,
 wastage of water through leaking taps and also helps in purifying the water  lead to an increase in algal reducing light to
toilets and faulty pipelines. naturally. growth (algal bloom). other aquatic
 can be reduced by reducing the pressure in  thus deplete the oxygen plants;decompose.
the pipes, by educating people to use water Boreholes and its effect on aquifers level in the water thus Bacteria deplete
wisely and by maintaining all plumbing in  to increase water availability in reducing the potential for the oxygen supply
good condition. areas that do not have direct access life in such water. in the water.
to other sources of water
Cost of water  Constant use of boreholes
 The cost of water is influenced by costs Thermal pollution Water
eventually leads to the drying up of
involved in increasing the availability and aquifers  heating of water caused by purification
quality of water. the use of water in the quality of water
 The cost per kilolitre (kl) of water increases cooling of power-stations is improved
with increased use of water. This is meant Droughts and floods and in industries through
 water availability decreases.  heated water has a lower purification
to discourage over-use of water thus
allowing for its sustained use.  natural vegetation can hold back oxygen content making it methods
water from floods. difficult to support life
 certain amount of water is available free to
all citizens to ensure that water is available
to the poorest. Pollution of water through domestic and
Exotic plantations and the depth of
agricultural use
the water table
 domestic water may contain detergents
Poor farming practices  Some exotic plants use a large
and pathogenic bacteria which has to be
 fertilizers and pesticides have also quantity of water from the ground.
treated before it can be used again.
decreased the amount of clean water this decreases the level of the
water table, making less water  water is used for industrial purposes
available may contain many heavy metals, oil,
 Over-grazing leads to soil erosion available
heat and fertilizers.
 Fertilisers and pesticides may run off
Water recycling into rivers, ponds and dams and pollute
existing water is used for the water.
more than one purpose
 FOOD SECURITY

DEFINITION: Food security is the access, by all people at all times, to adequate, safe and nutritious food for a healthy and productive life.

Food security may be

influenced by the following
factors

Exponential growth of the Droughts and Poor farming Alien plants and The loss of wild Genetically engineered
human population floods practices reduction of varieties and its food
 World’s population is Droughts result agricultural land impact on gene Produced from
growing at an exponential in crop losses Deplete the topsoil of pools genetically modified
rate (very rapidly) and livestock water and nutrients. Crop plants have organisms;
 some countries cannot death These alien plants out- replaced wild involves the inserting of
produce enough food to Floods causes varieties; wild a gene (with a desired
compete indigenous
feed their growing extensive characteristic) from one
plants; no natural varieties could be
population. damage in a organism into another
short period of predators, growing used as an organism to increase the
 Food production needs to
increase as rapidly as the time and rapidly alternative source of yield
world population decrease land food; it will reduce
 otherwise many countries available to the genetic diversity
would experience food grow crops. Food wastage
insecurity. Could occur during the
storage, production and
processing of food.
Includes food thrown
Monoculture Pest control Loss of topsoil Use of fertilizers away and food not
Growing of one type of crop Use of pesticides Top 15 cm of soil Inorganic (chemical) and eaten. Increases the
over large areas of land year to kill pests that compete that contain the organic (compost and manure) prices of food to
after year. Monoculture with humans for food. nutrients that can increase the nutrients in the consumers and could
depletes nutrients and water Pesticides may kill or get plants require for soil and keep soil fertile reduce food security in
supplies and therefore into the tissues of healthy growth a country.
impacts negatively on the plants.
quality of the topsoil Many farmers now use
biological control, which
uses a natural
predator/parasite to get rid
of the pest
 LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY
DEFINITION: Biodiversity refers to the variety of plant and animal species on Earth. Biodiversity ensures that humans have food, fresh water, medicines
and fuel that we obtain from our environment. It also ensures that the climate is regulated, floods are controlled (wetlands), diseases are kept in check
(predators eat the sick animals) and water is purified (filtering by wetlands). Biodiversity ensures that seeds are dispersed, nutrients are cycled (e.g.
nitrogen and phosphorus) and oxygen and soil continue to form. It also helps with human quality of life by providing us with forms of recreation and
ecotourism. As biodiversity declines, these things do not occur as they should and the survival of humans become threatened
Factors that Reduce our
Biodiversity

Habitat destruction
through: Poaching Alien plant invasions
Refers to the illegal hunting of animals, These plants are species that have been
either for food or because certain body introduced in an area and compete with the
Farming Urbanization parts can be sold for money. Poaching natural plants in the area. They can
methods The growth of large cities may also be applied to plants that are outcompete indigenous plants and reduce
Monocultures (urbanisation) negatively removed and sold for profit e.g. medicinal the biodiversity
Overgrazing impacts on biodiversity. plants.
Surfaces are covered with
concrete, and natural
habitats are destroyed Ways in which our
Golf Estates
biodiversity can be
A form of
maintained
monoculture that Deforestation
require large Permanent destruction of
amounts of water, indigenous forest and woodland Sustainable use of the environment
pesticides and areas. Caused by human Using resources without harming the
Control of alien plant invasions ability of future generations to use that
fertilisers which activities such as agriculture, May be controlled by mechanical (chopping
may runoff and logging, and using trees as resource. Substances from indigenous
down plants or physically removing them by plants such as the African potato,
poison aquatic firewood. It leads to the hand), chemical (spraying herbicides on the
ecosystems destruction of the habitats of other Hoodia, rooibos and Devil’s claw all
plants) and biological (introducing a natural have economical and medicinal value.
organisms, like frogs and insects, enemy from the alien plant’s environment and
and this leads to the destruction Encourage traditional healers to grow
allowing it to reproduce and feed on the their own plants and improving
Mining of biodiversity. invasive plant methods) methods education of the women who generally
Alters the
environment and can gather the plants in the wild.
negatively affect the Loss of wetlands and grasslands Legislation should be passed to limit
biodiversity Grasslands and wetlands have unique plant and wildlife the numbers of plants that can be
and provide many ecological services to humans. harvested at one time and seeds of
Habitat destruction will lead to the loss of species. medicinal plants could be collected
 Solid-waste Disposal

Solid waste is any solid material that is of no use to humans and which needs to be disposed of in a safe and environmentally friendly way.

Managing dumpsites for rehabilitation and The need for recycling Using methane from dumpsites for
prevention of soil and water pollution domestic use: heating and lighting

The simplest and most cost effective way of Methane is a gas produced as a
disposing of solid waste is to bury it in landfill result of the decomposition of organic
sites. It is a hole where solid waste is dumped waste. The methane gas can be used
and then covered by soil. However, this way as a fuel. Methane can be collected
of disposing of solid waste contributes to soil from landfill sites and used to
and groundwater pollution because rain generate electricity for domestic use –
 Re-using waste products includes heat for cooking and electricity for
seeps through the waste to produce a toxic re-using plastic shopping bags, re-
substance called leachate. To prevent the lighting.
using glass and plastic containers
toxic leachate from reaching the groundwater, – this helps to reduce the waste
a plastic liner is placed under the dumpsite produced.
area.  Recycling is a process whereby
used materials/waste products are
Rehabilitation of landfill sites occurs before it recycled to make new products, for Safe disposal of nuclear waste
is closed down. This involves the covering of example plastic, glass, tin and
the old landfill site with clay soil, which is paper. The advantage of recycling South Africa also uses radioactive
impermeable to water, and then it is covered is that it provides employment, material for example uranium, to
with topsoil. Grass or other vegetation is then reduces the use of raw materials power its nuclear power station at
planted on the old landfill site. The growth of and energy, and reduces air, Koeberg in the Western Cape.
the plants stabilizes the area and the old ground and water pollution. Unfortunately, a by-product of using
landfill site may be used as a recreational uranium is nuclear waste that is still
area such as a park or a golf course. radioactive and therefore dangerous to
living organisms. The nuclear waste is
stored in thick steel drums and buried
in trenches at special protected sites.