5 - the impact of development on the environment in two or more countries

Question 1

how does development create water issues

Answer 1

As populations increase, more resources are consumed, more minerals are extracted and water supplies are put under pressure. In some cases this leads to the depletion of limited supplies, in other cases it leads to the polluting of water resources.
climate change is also contributing towards the depletion of water resources

Question 2

how is the water crisis worsening

Answer 2

it is estimated that about two-thirds of the world’s population may suffer from fresh water shortage.

in somalia, 44% lack basic water resources and 400 million over the whole continent lack clean water

Weak governments, corruption, mismanagement of resources, poor long-term investment, and a lack of environmental research and urban infrastructure only exacerbate the problem.
In some cases, the disruption or contamination of water supply in urban infrastructures and rural area has incited domestic and cross-border violence.

Question 3

an example of water conflict

Answer 3

when Côte D’Ivoire split between the rebel-led north and government-ruled south, the conflict led to unpaid water bills, which precipitated a dangerous health threat in the region, increasing the risk of water-born diseases such as cholera

Question 4

how has development impacted the vegetation in namibia

Answer 4

• The uncontrolled harvesting of trees by informal settlers for fuel wood and building material currently poses the main threat to biodiversity found in the Windhoek Green Belt Landscape.
• Poaching, especially in Daan Viljoen Game Park and the outlying areas of the landscape.
• Uncontrolled bush fires in the dry season (as a result of malicious actions, slash and burn techniques or accidental causes) destroy habitats.

Question 5

how has urbanisation damaged namibia

Answer 5

• Urbanisation in the city is increasing while land availability is a major challenge due to geographical factors such as hilly terrain and the freshwater aquifer in the southern areas.

Windhoek is seen as a place of opportunity to generate income and reduce poverty and is thus experiencing relatively high influx of people from other regions. This has negative impacts on security, stock theft and illegal game hunting.

Question 6

what are namibia’s environmental concerns

Answer 6

water pollution and insufficient water for its population.

The nation has 6.2 cubic kilometres of renewable water resources. About 68% is used in farming and 3% for industrial purposes. Only about 67% of the people living in rural areas have access to pure water. Nearly all of the urban population has safe water

Question 7

urbanised problems of development in namibia

Answer 7

• Dumping of waste in unauthorised localities as a result of the ineffective location and/or number of dumping sites.
• Water pollution resulting from industrial and urban waste as well as agricultural management practices.
• Road traffic poses a threat to biodiversity although the magnitude of such a threat is largely unknown. Numerous animals are killed while crossing roads throughout Namibia.
• Alien species, especially invasive plants, which compete with indigenous vegetation for space and resources.

Question 8

atmospheric issues from development in south africa

Answer 8

• Air pollution from coal-fired power stations kills more than 2,200 South Africans every year, and causes thousands of cases of bronchitis and asthma in adults and children annually. This costs the country more than R30 billion annually, through hospital admissions and lost working days.
• 2 781 cases of chronic bronchitis per year in adults

Question 9

how is the industry development harming south african residents

Answer 9

• In the settlement of Masakhane near the Duvha plant, residents wear masks to avoid breathing in the coal dust.
• Power lines fan out from Duvha power station near the settlement of Masakhane in Mpumalanga province.

Mpumalanga province where 12 coal-fired power plants are clustered on the western high-altitude side of the Highveld. They pump out sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter (PM) at levels often more than double the maximum recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO)

Question 10

how do toxic gases affect children in south africa

Answer 10

• Chronic exposure increases the risk of developing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases as well as lung cancer. Children are particularly at risk because of their developing systems and the fact that they tend to spend more time outside. People with compromised immune systems, such as those with HIV, are also especially vulnerable.
• According to the WHO, there is no such thing as a safe concentration of PM. While it has set its guideline limits at an annual average of 20 micrograms per cubic metre of air volume for PM10 and 10mg for PM2.5, South Africa’s standards are significantly laxer

Question 11

industrial pollution in nigeria

Answer 11

Industrial waste is damaging groundwater supplies.
Industrial chimneys are releasing pollutants.
70-80% of Nigeria’s forests have been chopped down for industrial growth.
Desertification in the north is made worse by large scale dams and irrigation schemes.

Question 12

urban growth in nigeria

Answer 12

Squatter settlements have sprung up in the major cities like Lagos and Abuja.
Services have failed to keep pace with the urban growth.
Waste disposal is a huge issue, particularly in the squatter settlements.
Traffic congestion is leading to high levels of exhaust emissions in cities.

Question 13

commercial farming and deforestation in nigeria

Answer 13

Commercial farms often overwork the soil and land degradation has increased.
Water pollution has worsened as pesticides and nitrates have been used.
Building settlements +roads led to deforestation, with 70-80% of all forests lost.
Loss of biodiversity, with species such as cheetahs and giraffes having disappeared.

Question 14

mining and oil extraction nigeria

Answer 14

Tin and gold mining have used poisonous chemicals which have polluted water supplies.
Oil spills in the Niger Delta have caused huge environmental issues (Moodle resources).
Some economic developments have actually led to conflicts between people over the environment.

Question 15

bodo oil spills 2008-9

Answer 15

In 2008-2009, huge oil spills in the Niger Delta devastated the lives of farmers and fishermen living in the swamps around the town of Bodo
In 2015 Shell agreed to pay £55 million to the community of Bodo. This is the largest ever compensation to a community as a result of environmental damage.

Question 16

what is agro-industrialisation

Answer 16

the form of modern farming that refers to the industrialised production of livestock, poultry, fish and crops. It is typically large scale and capital intensive.

Farms often specialise in a limited range of activities and use higher technology machinery.

Question 17

environmental effects of agro-industrialisation

Answer 17

• When agriculture intensifies the land is often over-worked and soil erosion increases. The demand for water increases and can lead to shortages in tropical areas that are already struggling.
• Fertilisers and pesticides can be washed into water courses, leading to eutrophication.
• Mechanisation leads to a significant increase in energy consumption. This has a knock on effect of increasing land, air and water pollution. Often the TNC that operates the land has a focus upon the profit that it produces and has little concern for the environmental problems that it may create.

Question 18

advantages of gm crops

Answer 18

Less chemical fertilisers may be needed.
Resistance to disease may improve.
Sustainability of food production improves.
Cost of food to the poor may lower.
Food may have a longer shelf life.
Flavour and nutritional content of food may improve.

Question 19

disadvantages of gm crops

Answer 19

Cross-contamination breeds “super-weeds”.
Allergies to foods may increase.
Lower antibiotic properties in foods.
Lack of testing makes people feel uneasy.
Biodiversity in an area may be reduced, in some cases threatening some species with extinction.

Question 20

importance of kenyan flower industry

Answer 20

38% of all Europe’s cut flowers were supplied by Kenya in 2015.
In 2015 the industry was worth £433 million.
1% of Kenya’s GDP comes from the flower industry.
123,000 tonnes of flowers were cut in 2015 and over 100,000 people are employed in the flower industry.

Question 21

how does the kenyan flower industry create social benefits and drawbacks

Answer 21

• Kenyan flower farms employ 100,000 people, the vast majority of whom are women. - Many workers are on seasonal contracts or work casually, and as such have few rights and little security.
• Women casual workers are often low paid young migrants with very little community support.
• The many women who work on flower farms are faced with institutional sexism and a high incidence of sexual harassment and abuse from supervisors who are almost always men.

Question 22

advantages to kenya of the flower industry

Answer 22

Economic stimulation for the country.
Provides the rural poor with jobs.
Brings “stronger” foreign currency into the economy.
Provides a positive multiplier effect as workers spend wages and pay tax.
Increases standards of living for some of the very poorest people.

Question 23

disadvantages to kenya of the flower industry

Answer 23

Valuable land is used for cash crops, not to provide essential food.
Water levels falling in rivers and underground.
Fertilisers cause poisoning of people and land. Eutrophication of rivers and lakes.
Abuse of worker’s rights (low pay, long hours).
Soil exhaustion of valuable land.

Question 24

how might patterns of development impact environmental concerns

Answer 24

If countries have followed Rostow’s model of development they may have industrialised with limited attention to the environmental impact of this growth. Countries with a mineral base will have exploited it, again without making protection of the environment a priority.

eg south africa