Topic: NATURAL SYSTEMS AND RESOURCES

1. Discuss the uses and benefits of forest. How do these uses contribute to the exploitation of forest
resources?
Forests and foliage are a huge reservoir for different things we can utilize for it. The land and the
environment can be used for area for industries and shelter, while the trees can be served as both materials
and food sources. The forests are also rich of animals and flora that are main components of survival of
humans. These uses are also the possible reasons for exploitation of our natural forests due to greed, and
political warfare of humankind. These lands are also disputed for their uses, and being operated at large-
scale purposes without regard for the ecological consequences. Habitats that are supposedly for the exotic
and wild animals are being converted to subdivisions. These animals are also hunted and poached, and
sold in prices for preservation. The forest provides what we need but due to the human desires for more
stuff, it becomes a negative cause.
2. Describe the need for the mining industry? How beneficial the industry is and how much it would
become destructive to natural systems like forest resources?
There is a need for the mining industries because they provide opportunities of development in many
facets of our lives. The roads and highways are constructed for the easy transportation of goods. Mining
inductries also find the minerals needed for our everyday things. It is essentially a thriving industry that
converts many raw materials to useful products and goods. Contrary to the positive impacts of the mining
industry, the practices of large corporations that focuses on mining neglects the damages it does to the
environment. Undeniably, it is a killer industry due to the risks that it poses for the workers and laborers
such as minimum health protocols and almost no proper insurance in case of emergency. The excess
debris and unusable materials found in mines are not really regulated which pollutes areas that are
healthy.
3. Describe underground water system, its distribution in relation to the soil profile.
The underground water system is relevant when determining soil and its properties because it is mostly
found under the solid grounds of the soil surface. Underground water are the sources of water that are
mostly free flowing, encountering many forms of land known as aquifers as it travels throughout into
bigger bodies of water. Underground water found in wells or poso-de-negro are unfiltered ones, and go
through many soil formations that may alter them in many ways. Poor standard of underground water
may affect crop growth and overall quality of the soil, rendering it not usable for agricultural due to bad
quality of irrigation. However, underground water systems that are regulated and cleaned according to the
correct conditions can be an alternative and an indispensable part of our industry.
4. What are the indications of drought and how does desertification initiate?
The indications of drought are the following such as precipitation and amount of rain in the area, the
conditions of the soil, and overall characteristics of the location where there is a suspected happenings of
drought. Drought, in definition, is the abnormal phenomena or occurrence of rain that leads to water
shortage. In regards to the topic of drought, it also pertains on the desertification of lands due to lessened
water supplies and a humid atmosphere. The over-using of lands by human activity and intervention, and
making it almost void of ecosystem life leads to the land being barren and deserted. It begins after there is
little to no water movement, and continuing degradation of land and soil formations.
5. Cite an example of overgrazing. What is its impact on food resources?
Overgrazing in the Philippines is rampant due to the livestock and agricultural sectors of the country that
rely on these lands to support their animals’ food supply. In our locality, most of the farmers place their
cows and goats in areas where there is vegetation that are planted and sprouted in the area. Due to this,
there has been a declining supply of these vegetative plants due to overgrazing of the farm animals. The
overall impact of overgrazing in food resources is the lessening diversity of plant and various flora that
can be discovered. The minerals in the soil especially in young forests and foliage which are also
trampled by cows may affect the nutrients and its capacity to grow the specific plants and food resources.
6. Create a diagram of a Solar Energy Harvesting. Describe the flow of the system.

ENERGY SOURCE (SUN)

CONVERSION OF ENERGY FROM LIGHT

ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE

DISTRIBUTION OF ENERGY TO CURRENT

A prominent example of a solar energy being harvested is the solar panels or the photovoltaic
cells that are infused in the panel boards. The direct sunlight is collected in the panels by which
semi-conducting parts underneath the glass solar panels receive the heat energy. It fuels up
charges, both negative and positive ones to create an electrical charge from the initial heat
energy. After the conversion and properly conditioning electrical energy, they are transferred to
storage boxes for use and to be also utilized in either AC or DC generators. Lastly, the
transformation of energy from heat to electricity is now distributed to the household such as light
bulbs and other appliances that require electric current to keep them running.