Geography of Everyday Life PDF

Geography in Everyday Life Cluster Topic 1: Thinking Geographically 1.1 Relationship between people and nature Learning Overview In this topic, you will learn: The relationship between people and nature in their neighbourhoods. How people acquire a sense of place in their neighbourhoods. The...

Geography in Everyday Life Cluster Topic 1: Thinking Geographically 1.1 Relationship between people and nature Learning Overview In this topic, you will learn: The relationship between people and nature in their neighbourhoods. How people acquire a sense of place in their neighbourhoods. The relationship between locations in a neighbourhood. How neighbourhoods are organised in Singapore. 2 Key Geographical Concepts 3 Concept of environment 4 What is the relationship between people and nature? 1. Local communities and nearby nature areas are dependent upon each other People are dependent on nature for many things: Nature provides essentials like air and water for humans to survive. Living organisms like bees help pollinate crops for a continuous supply of food. Nature provides spaces for recreation and leisure activities which allows people to bond with their family and friends, thus helping to maintain humans' physical and mental well-being. Example: Nparks’ Therapeutic Gardens 5 Nparks’ Therapeutic Gardens - help to connect people with nature and reduce stress which improves their physical, psychological and social well-being 6 7 What is the relationship between people and nature? 1. Local communities and nearby nature areas are dependent upon each other Some nature areas are also dependent on local communities to thrive. People in the neighbourhood may tend to the health of nearby nature areas, ensuring the plants and animals living there thrive. Individuals in local communities can encourage one another to enjoy nearby nature areas in a sustainable manner without causing irreversible damage. Example: NParks organises a range of activities for schools during the week of international day for biodiversity in May such as the Green Wave campaign which aims to educate youths about the importance of protecting our natural environment. 8  Green Wave Campaign Green Wave is a worldwide biodiversity campaign that educates children and youths about the importance of protecting our natural environment. As Singapore continues to urbanise, we should all strive to keep our City in Nature green and vibrant. Each year, students from around the world plant locally important trees in their school compounds at 10 am on the International Day of Biological Diversity, 22 May. This creates a figurative “green wave” that begins in the Far East before eventually rippling across the globe. As part of Green Wave, NParks will provide plants for planting, while each school is to make their own arrangements to have their plants delivered. NParks has contracted a vendor who can deliver the tree or shrub to the schools. https://www.nparks.gov.sg/biodiversity/community-in-nature- initiative/biodiversity-week-for-schools 9 What is the relationship between people and nature? 2. Local communities and nearby nature areas mutually affect each other In a mutual relationship, the parties involved can bring about benefits to each other. The presence of green spaces and urban wildlife in neighbourhoods can enhance the mental health and well-being of local communities. Human activities in nature areas can enhance their biodiversity. Through reforestation activities: People can gain enjoyment and enhance their mental health and well-being. The overall health of the natural environment is enhanced as more shelter and habitat for the urban wildlife to thrive are provided. 10  How do people and nature bring about benefits to each other? 1. Nature areas benefit people by: Lowering air temperature Removal of pollutants Provision of recreation space Toa Payoh Town Park 11 Lowering air temperature 12 Lowering air temperature 13 Removal of pollutants There are several ways nature can remove pollutants: During photosynthesis, vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen. Vegetation also absorbs other air pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. Instead of being suspended in the air, small particles are also intercepted by leaves and then washed down to the ground when it rains, removing pollutants from the air 14 Removal of pollutants 15 Removal of pollutants (wetland plants) 16  Provision of recreation space Nature areas offer numerous opportunities for outdoor activities. Direct and frequent interactions with nature can bring about health and wellbeing benefits to people, which reduces severity and occurrence of health conditions. 17  How do people and nature bring about benefits to each other? 2. People bring benefits to nature through community activities that promote the importance of environmental protection (a) Local communities can collectively raise awareness about the value of nature areas through encouraging positive behaviour that does not damage nature. Example: The NParks Citizen Science initiative, Dragonfly Watch, trains participants to identify different dragonfly species at their assigned sites. This results in greater protection of the species by raising awareness of their importance in the environment. Toa Payoh Town Park 18 Dragonfly Watch Go to this website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/biodiversity/commu nity-in-nature-initiative/nparks-dragonfly-watch Find out more about the different species of dragonflies Can you spot the difference? What other insects are starting to disappear from Singapore? 19  How do people and nature bring about benefits to each other? 2. People bring benefits to nature through community activities that promote the importance of environmental protection (b) Local communities can also organise or participate in conservation efforts. Clean-up programmes to remove pollutants from the environment help restore natural habitats and provide a healthy environment for species to thrive. Example: The waterways clean-up programme organised by the Waterways Watch Society creates opportunities for companies and schools to pick up trash from the Marina Reservoir on foot, using bicycles, kayaks, or boats. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 1,000 participants fished out 2,429kg of trash from Marina Reservoir in 2020 through this programme. → The removal of pollutants helps to restore the natural habitats, providing a healthy environment for species to thrive. Toa Payoh Town Park 20 What are the disadvantages people and nature bring to each other? Disadvantages brought about by Disadvantages brought about by people to nature nature to people (people → nature) (nature → people) 1. Visitors may cause soil erosion, 1. Wildlife from nearby nature areas damage vegetation, worsen may harm people pollution and disturb wildlife 2. Environmental protection may be perceived to be limiting development 21 Disadvantages brought about by people to nature a) Causing soil erosion and damaging vegetation. When people hike along non-designated trails in nature areas: They may cause soil compaction which prevents rainwater from infiltrating the surface. This leads to higher surface flows and soil erosion as the flowing water washes away the soil particles. They may trample on the vegetation, damaging plants and affecting their growth. Example: In 2014, human activities led to severe soil erosion and habitat degradation in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. This resulted in the limiting of public access to the nature reserve for 2 years. 22 Disadvantages brought about by people to nature 23 Disadvantages brought about by people to nature b) Worsening pollution and disturbing wildlife. Littering can worsen pollution in natural areas. Animals can get cut by metal cans or become entangled with plastic containers and bags. Some animals may also mistake the litter for food and consume them. This may cause the animals to get hurt and suffer, and may eventually lead to their death. 24 Disturbing wildlife A long-tailed macaque mistaking a Styrofoam box for food 25 Disturbing wildlife 26 Disadvantages brought about by nature to people 1) Wildlife from nearby nature areas may harm people Human-wildlife conflicts may increase due to increase in human- wildlife encounters Read the following article “Otters ‘murdered’ prized koi and share your thoughts/feelings if you were the owner of the koi 27 Disadvantages brought about by nature to people Reasons for increase in human-wildlife encounters in Singapore: 28 Urban Expansion 29 Urban Expansion 30 Urban Expansion 75 Soo Chow Way 31 Greening efforts by state To learn more about the Singapore Green Plan - Navigate to the website: https://www.greenplan.gov.sg/ - Click on ‘Vision’ and then read it - Click on ‘Pillar 1: City in Nature’ and read it 32 Mandai Eco- Link 33  Greening efforts by state https://www.greenplan.gov.sg/ 34 People’s growing interest in outdoors Read the following article: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore /time-nature-covid-love-wildlife-1943191 Are more people more interested in the ourdoors/nature nowadays? 35 Disadvantages brought about by nature to people As the wildlife population in the city increases, people who may not know how to deal with them may unintentionally provoke them, leading to attacks. Some animals may be confused and fearful when they venture into unfamiliar urban spaces, increasing their likelihood of attacks when fearful or triggered. Let’s watch a video on wild boar attacks in Singapore 36 Disadvantages brought about by nature to people 37  What to do if you meet a wild boar Go to this website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks- and-nature/dos-and-donts/animal- advisories/wild-boars Read about the ‘dos and don’ts’ 38 Disadvantages brought about by nature to people 1) Environmental protection may be perceived to be limiting development. Some people in local communities may feel that the protection of nature is done at the expense of their needs. Example: The Cross Island MRT Line was proposed to be built around, instead of under, the Central Catchment Nature Reserve to protect our largest primary rainforest. Residents were afraid that this development would: Bring them inconvenience. Damage their property. Result in their homes being acquired to make way for the construction. However, this nature reserve is home to numerous critically endangered species. Construction of the Cross Island MT Line may damage their habitat, affecting their survival. 39 Summary of key learning points 1. Local communities and nearby nature areas: Are dependent upon each other. Mutually affect each other. 2. Nature brings benefits to people by: Lowering temperatures. Removing pollutants. Providing space for recreation. 40 Summary of key learning points 3. People bring benefits to nature through: Community activities that promote the importance of environmental protection. 4. People bring disadvantages to nature by: Causing soil erosion and damaging vegetation. Worsening pollution. Disturbing wildlife. 5. Nature may bring disadvantages to people as: Wildlife from nearby nature areas may harm people. Environmental protection may limit development. 41 Glossary Community: A group of people in a particular place who has a sense of belonging both to the place and to the group. Nature area: Also known as the natural environment, it refers to the nonhuman world, which are areas that are untouched or barely affected by humans. Recreation: Any voluntary activity undertaken for purposes of enjoyment, pleasure, and personal satisfaction. Neighbourhood: A sub-division of an urban area that is distinguished by some character or quality, where residents share commonalities. Wildlife: Animals of a wild nature including their young or eggs. 42 Glossary Vegetation: The collection of plant life that provides ground cover in a region. Environmental protection: Any activity to protect, conserve and restore natural habitats and species. Soil erosion: Soil particles being detached, transported and deposited by water, wind, gravity, animals or plants. Pollutant: Substance that is present in concentrations that may harm humans, plants and animals. Pollution: The introduction of harmful substances into the environment. 43