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Class 8th, , Geography, , Chapter 2 -- Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation, and Wildlife Resources Notes, , HEMRAJ SIR, , M.A.(pol.sci.), B.Ed., , e The land is an important natural resource which, covers only 30 per cent of the earth’s surface., , e Land provides most of human needs. Its use, depends on physical factors such as, topography, soil, climate, mineral and availability, of water and human factors., , e Due to the excessive use of land for agricultural, and constructional activities, the major problem, of land degradation, landslides, soil erosion, etc., arises., , e Toconserve the land, we must promote, afforestation, check to overgraze and regulate, the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers., , e The upper layer of the land’s surface is called

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soil., , e Soil formation depends on the nature of parent, rock, climate, relief features, flora, fauna,, microorganisms and time., , e Deforestation, overgrazing, overuse of chemical, fertilisers and pesticides, rain wash, landslides, and floods leads to soil degradation., , e Conservation of soil can be done by mulching,, contour barriers, constructing rock dam, terrace, farming, intercropping, contour ploughing and, making shelterbelts., , e Three-fourth of the earth surface is covered, with water, out of which only 2.7 per cent water, is fresh water, but only 1% of fresh water is, available for human use., , e The excessive use of water leads to a shortage, in supply of fresh water either due to drying up, of water sources or due to water pollution., , e Discharge of untreated sewage, agricultural, chemicals and industrial effluents in water, bodies causes water pollution., , e Water conservation can be done by

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afforestation, adopting effective techniques for, irrigation and promoting rainwater harvesting., , e Natural vegetation and wildlife exist only in the, biosphere and they are interrelated and, interdependent on each other for their survival., This system is called an ecosystem., , e Natural vegetation and wildlife both are valuable, resources. They are not only useful for us, but, they also help in maintaining balance in nature., , e Major vegetations of the ecosystems are, forests, grasslands, scrubs and Tundra., , e Due to deforestation, soil erosion,, constructional activities, forest fires, tsunami, Tundra, landslides and poaching, many species, of vegetation and wildlife have become extinct, and many others are on the verge of extinction., , e Wecan conserve natural vegetation and wildlife, by making national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves., , ©) The quality of land, soil, water, natural, vegetation, animals, and the usage of

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technology are important factors in controlling, the standard and way of life people lead at a, particular place., , (©) The land covers just about 30% of the surface, of the earth. It is not suitable for living, everywhere, because of a lot of additional, conditions that affect life. Parts of land not, suitable for a living are said to be inhabitable, while the ones where people live are said to be, habitable., , () Some factors affecting the habitability of a, place are topography, height from sea level,, climate, the fertility of the soil, vegetation, etc., People cannot live in dense forests or in, deserts. They cannot live on high slopes in, mountainous areas, or in low-lying areas where, there is the possibility of floods and, waterlogging. Plains and river valleys are the, places where agriculture is suited, so most of, the world population lives in such areas, and, these areas are heavily populated., , (©) The purpose and way in which land is used is

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called land use. Land use may be for, agriculture, forestry, mining, building houses,, roads, setting up of industries, or various other, purposes., , (©) Factors determining the land use include, physical factors like topography, availability of, water, climate, minerals soil, etc, or human, factors like demography (population pattern),, technology and education., , (©) Land usually has ownership. It may be private, land or community land. Private land is owned, by an individual or group of individuals, like a, house is private land. Community land is meant, for use by anyone in the society, like land for, collection of fodder, fruits, etc. Community, lands are also called common property, resources., , ©) Since the population is always growing at a fast, pace, the demand for land is increasing,, , whereas the availability of land is limited., , (©) Land degradation, landslides, soil erosion,