Land

Water Sources.
Water sources are important to people in the following ways.

• They provide water for domestic use.
• We cook food, wash clothes and clean our houses using water.
• They provide water for irrigation.
• Some areas experience long dry periods. Therefore, people water their crops in the garden.
• Water sources provide fish. Fish is a major source of proteins. Fish lives in water.
• They influence rainfall formation. Large water bodies such as lakes contribute to formation of rain.
• They attract tourists who bring in foreign exchange. Many people from within and outside Uganda visit large water bodies for education purposes and leisure.
• Water falls are used to generate hydro electricity. Some rivers such as the Nile have water falls on which dams have been built to generate power.

 

Water sources are used for leisure such as swimming, rafting and boat racing. They contain sand which is used for building. Water bodies such as lakes are sources of building materials such as sand. Water sources are used to facilitate transport. People move on water using boats, ferries and ships.

Climate

 

People

Human beings become resources through providing ideas and skills in doing their day-to-day activities. Human beings are a resource in the following ways:-

They provide both skilled and unskilled labour. Skilled labourers are professionals engaged in services such as technology, teaching, law, medicine, engineering, pharmacy, agricultural extension services among others.

Non-skilled labourers provide labour in crop fields, mines, factories, homes, schools, hospitals among others. The nature of work they do does not require them to have the technical skills to perform. A professional is an expert in a specific field. Human beings grow crops which are a source of income. Food crops grown supports families and the surplus is sold.

Animals.
Animals are important resources in many ways:-
Animals are a source of income. People rear animals as a source of wealth. The income got is used to improve on their standards of living.

Animals grazing

 

the country foreign income.

Vegetation

The plant cover in our surroundings has many uses;- It is a home for wild animals. It also earns the country foreign income through tourism. Vegetation is a source of wood fuel. Many people use wood to cook food and burn bricks. It is food for people and animals. Leaves and bark from trees are eaten as food. Vegetation is a source of herbs/medicine. Local medicine is used to cure different diseases.

Minerals

Minerals are also an important resource in many ways:-

 

Stone quarrying
limestone and phosphate are used as raw materials In the cement and fertilizer factories.

A MAP OF UGANDA SHOWING MINERALS

Swamps

Swamps are muddy, wet lands covered by trees and bushes. The most common plants that grow in swamps are known as papyrus.

• Swamps are sources of raw materials such as clay for pottery and papyrus for crafts.
• Craft materials are a source of income.
•  They are fishing and hunting grounds for edible wild animals. Rural communities catch fish from swamps.
•  Swamps are habitats for aquatic animals. Animals such as snakes, crocodiles and other creatures live there.
•  They are areas used for scientific research. Scientists visit such areas to find new information about the management of swamps.
•  They have pasture for animal grazing. Swamps have trees and grass which animals feed on.
•  Some crops such as rice, sugar canes and yams are grown in swampy areas because they need a lot of water for their proper growth.

 

Problems associated with the development of various natural resources

Land

As people make use of land to carry out all their economic activities for survival, a number of problems arise. These include the following:

 

Minerals

Problems that arise in the process of mining include:-

 

Water sources

 

Climate

As people use aspects of climate to meet their needs, a number of problems are faced:-

 

People (Human resource)

Some of the problems faced as people try to meet their needs include:

There are people who do not pay for services provided by others. They cheat
and default when it comes to pay for services given. This kind of behaviour hurts those who provide the service.

Some people over work others and pay them unfairly. This is called exploitation. For example, Some people work for long hour and the pay is not worth the work done and time spent.

Employees are denied meals. Employers in some organisations do not provide meals (food) to their workers. They work on empty stomachs. Some people deny their employees medical care. When employees fall sick, the
organisations which they work for do not care about their health.

Some workers are exposed to dangerous chemicals and fumes without providing them with the right protective equipment. Worker's lives are at risk.
They attract illnesses that can not easily be cured.

Animals

Some of the problems met as people use animals to meet their needs:-

Some people hunt and kill animals that are facing extinction. Poachers kill animals regardless of their numbers and value. In some areas, people have encroached on areas reserved for wild animals in game parks and game reserves. They some times create gardens near game reserves which puts animals in danger as they look for food. Overstocking which leads to overgrazing. This practice causes soil erosion since the soil is usually left bare and becomes barren.

Swamps

A number of problems are faced as people use swamps to meet their needs:-

Draining of swamps for cultivation, settlement and grazing animals. When swamps are drained, a lot of aquatic life is destroyed. Disposal of industrial wastes into swamps. Dumping affects the lives of animals that live in water. Over-harvesting of swamp vegetation. The vegetation plays a big role to balance the ecosystem. Constructing of roads in swamps. Swamps are drained in order to create roads. As a result, nearby areas become flooded.

Ways of caring for natural resources.

Land

 

 

 

Minerals.

 

Water sources

 

 

Water resource

 

 

 

 

Climate

Ways of caring for the climate.

People should practice afforestation and re-afforestation to control drought. You should remember that forests modify the climate of an area. Swamps should be conserved to maintain the water cycle since they influence local temperatures of an area. People should be encouraged to practice modern methods of farming which have less effects on the climate.

People

Ways of caring for the human resource:-

Government should create economic stability which can allow people to access all basic needs such as education, health services and shelter easily. Educate people about good nutrition and balanced diet. People should know how to feed well so as to avoid malnourishment especially among young children. Enforce recognised labour laws while employing people. This would help them to enjoy good working conditions. Employees should be protected while at work to avoid employment hazards which harm their lives. People should be sensitised about their rights so that mistreatment is reduced.

Animals

Ways of caring for animals.

Encourage cross breeding as a way of improving on the quality of local breeds of cattle in order to get higher milk and meat production. Enforce laws against poaching. Poachers should be punished as a measure to protect wild animals in their natural habitats. Creating more game parks and reserves, especially in unproductive mountainous areas. Sensitise people about good livestock management methods such as rotational grazing, zero grazing, dairy farming and ranching schemes.

Crops

Ways of caring for crops:-

Applying manure to gardens to improve on soil fertility which can support high production. People should be advised to plant improved seed varieties which mature quickly and provide high yields. Sensitizing people about use of modern scientific methods of farming such as using tractors and harvesters.

Swamps

Ways of caring for swamps

i) Enforce laws that protect wetlands. Report any swamp misuse to NEMA or to
the District Environment Officer.

ii) Introduce policies that force industrialists to treat their wastes. Those who may not comply should face tough penalties.

iii) Sensitize people about proper way of harvesting vegetation in swamps.
Discourage over harvesting of any product.

iv) Eviction of all people that encroach on swamps. Reclaim the swamp and let the swamps return to their original ecological state.

v) Carry out swamp conservation as a measure to protect them.