(a) Explain briefly the following terms:
(i) conservation
(ii) endangered species.
(b) State: (i) five reasons why conservation of forests is important;
(ii) four ways by which forest reserves can be conserved.
(c)(i) What is the importance of decomposers in the ecosystem?
(ii) Name one plant and one animal decomposer.
Explanation
(a) Conservation: Conservation is the protection/preservation/restoration, and wise management/use of natural resources. Planning and management of resources from loss/waste/harm in order to achieve continuous use/ Sustainable quality of living for mankind OR Conservation is the wise/judicious/intelligent use of our natural resources to ensure their availability, and preserve the quality of the environment.
(ii) Endangered species: Are organisms that have become depleted/rare. Due to human activity/natural disaster/epidemic. Those habitats have become so disturbed. That they may be lost forever/become extinct.
(b)(i) Necessity to conserve forests: Economic importance:
Forests produce timber for the construction industry/buildings/furniture/boats/paper.
Domestic: Firewood for charcoal, medicines, gum/resins/rubber/tannins/chemicals/turpentine.
Biological importance: Provide food/ shelter for many animals, reduce wind erosion/desertification, serves as wind breaks/checking strong winds, cause precipitation of water from damp air/can increase amount of rainfall in an area, protect source of streams/rivers, help in maintaining CO\(_2\) / O\(_2\) balance in the atmosphere/the plants remove CO\(_2\) for photosynthesis/supply 0\(_2\) /purifies the atmosphere.
Educational: For ecological studies, to prevent certain species from getting extinct. Recreational/ Tourism: Serve as tourist attraction.
(ii) Methods for the conservation of forests: Regulations made to control excessive deforestation, only mature trees should be felled. Planting new forest trees/afforestation where they have been completely destroyed. Discouraging extensive use of natural forests as a source of timber since animals and some other plants are also destroyed/displaced. Replacing harvested/felled mature trees by seedlings in plantations! reforestation. Prevention of forest fires. Controlling plant diseases by using pesticides/chemicals to kill pests. Using trained forest rangers/guards to guard the forests against intruders/fight fires. Educating the local population on the dangers of deforestation/carrying out awareness campaigns against deforestation. Establishment of forest reserve.
(c)(i) Importance of decomposers in the ecosystem: They break down organic materials that are difficult for organisms to digest, they return organic matter to the environment in an inorganic form, so that they can be re-assimilated by plants/recycling nutrients.
(ii) Plant decomposers: Fungi, Rhizopus, Bacteria. Animal decomposers: Earthworms, Termites.