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General Science · Class 9 · Chapter 6: Environment and Natural Resources

8 min

Key points

Environment consists of all living and non-living things surrounding an organism that affect its life and development
Natural resources are materials and energy sources found in nature that are useful to humans without being created by human activity
Renewable resources can be replenished naturally over time like solar energy, wind energy, and water
Non-renewable resources are finite and cannot be replaced once used, such as coal, oil, and natural gas
Pakistan's major water resources include River Indus, Chenab, Ravi, Jhelum and major dams like Tarbela and Mangla
Air pollution in Karachi is caused by vehicular emissions, industrial waste, and burning of fossil fuels
Deforestation leads to soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and climate change
Conservation methods include afforestation, use of renewable energy, recycling, and reducing waste
Greenhouse effect is the trapping of heat in Earth's atmosphere by greenhouse gases like CO₂ and methane

Definitions

Environment: The sum total of all living and non-living things surrounding an organism that influence its life, growth and development
Natural Resources: Materials and energy sources found in nature that are useful to humans in their natural form without being created by human activity
Renewable Resources: Natural resources that can be replenished or restored naturally within a human lifetime through natural processes
Conservation: The careful use and protection of natural resources to prevent their depletion and ensure their availability for future generations
Pollution: The addition of harmful substances to the environment that causes adverse effects on living organisms and natural systems

Worked example

Define environment and explain any three types of environmental pollution with their causes. (8 marks)

Environment is the sum total of all physical, chemical and biological factors that surround and affect living organisms. Three types of environmental pollution are: (1) Air Pollution: caused by smoke from factories, vehicle emissions, and burning of fossil fuels which release harmful gases like carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. (2) Water Pollution: caused by discharge of industrial waste, sewage, and chemicals into water bodies, making water unfit for consumption. (3) Soil Pollution: caused by excessive use of pesticides, fertilizers, and dumping of solid waste which degrades soil quality and reduces fertility.

Common mistakes

Students often confuse renewable with non-renewable resources - remember renewable can be naturally replenished
Writing incomplete definitions - always mention 'natural processes' for renewable resources
Forgetting Pakistani examples like Tarbela Dam, Mangla Dam in answers about water resources
Not explaining the importance/benefits when asked to write notes on natural resources
Mixing up causes and effects of pollution - be clear about what causes what

Quick recap

Environment includes all physical, chemical and biological factors affecting living organisms. Natural resources are classified as renewable (solar energy, wind, water) and non-renewable (coal, oil, natural gas). Environmental pollution has three main types: air, water, and soil pollution, each caused by human activities. Conservation methods include sustainable use, recycling, and adopting eco-friendly practices.

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