Basic 4 · Religious and Moral Education · The Environment
Deforestation and Bush Burning
In this topic you will discuss the effects of cutting trees and bush burning on the environment.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain deforestation and bush burning
- State their effects
- Suggest solutions
What you already know
- Human activities that help the environment
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- God’s creation and attributes
- Sub-strand
- The Environment
- Indicator
- B4.1.2.1.1 – Discuss the effects of human activities on the environment
Introduction
Ghana's forests have become smaller over the years. Trees are cut for timber and farms, and bushes are set on fire. These activities harm God's creation.
1. Deforestation
Deforestation: Cutting down forests without replanting.
| Causes | Effects |
|---|---|
| logging for timber | loss of animal homes |
| clearing land for farms | soil erosion |
| charcoal burning | less rainfall |
| building | hotter temperatures |
2. Bush Burning
Bush burning: Setting fire to bush or grassland.
| Effect | Explanation |
|---|---|
| kills plants and animals | living things are destroyed |
| destroys soil nutrients | the soil becomes poor |
| air pollution | smoke harms our lungs |
| destroys property | fires can spread to farms and homes |
3. Solutions
- plant trees (afforestation)
- use fire belts and avoid burning
- obey forestry laws
- use gas or improved stoves instead of charcoal where possible
New words
- deforestation
- Cutting down forests without replanting.
- logging
- Cutting trees for timber.
- afforestation
- Planting trees to create forests.
- fire belt
- A cleared strip of land that stops fire spreading.
- charcoal
- Fuel made by burning wood slowly.
- timber
- Wood used for building.
Summary
- Deforestation is cutting forests without replanting.
- It causes erosion, less rain and loss of animal homes.
- Bush burning kills living things and pollutes the air.
- Tree planting and fire belts are solutions.
Class activity: Before and After
- Look at photographs of forests and burnt land.
- List the effects you see.
- Suggest three solutions.
You need: Printed photographs of local galamsey, Bush burning, Charred wood, Discarded water sachet, Manila cause-and-effect chart
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Cutting down forests without replanting is…
- A. Deforestation
- B. Afforestation
- C. Irrigation
- D. Conservation
Show answer
Answer: DeforestationThat is deforestation.2. A cleared strip that stops fire spreading is a…
- A. Fire belt
- B. Fire station
- C. Firewood
- D. Furnace
Show answer
Answer: Fire beltIt blocks fire.3. Which is an effect of bush burning?
- A. Soil loses nutrients
- B. More animals
- C. Cleaner air
- D. Better crops
Show answer
Answer: Soil loses nutrientsFire damages soil.4. Afforestation means planting trees.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueIt creates forests.5. Bush burning makes the air cleaner.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseIt causes smoke.6. Wood used for building is ______.
Show answer
Answer: timberThat is timber.7. Give two causes of deforestation.
Show answer
Answer: Any two: logging, farming, charcoal burning, building.People cut trees for many reasons.8. How does deforestation affect rainfall?
Show answer
Answer: Fewer trees means less water vapour from transpiration, so less rain.Trees help form rain.
Homework
- Ask an elder how the forests near your community have changed.