Basic 9 · Religious and Moral Education · The Environment
Reasons for Caring for the Environment
In this topic you will describe the importance of environmental conservation and discuss the religious, moral, health and economic reasons for caring for the environment.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain the importance of conservation
- Discuss religious reasons for caring for creation
- Commit to personal action
What you already know
- Environmental care and indigenous culture
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- God, His Creation & Attributes
- Sub-strand
- The Environment
- Indicator
- B9.1.2.1.3 – Discuss reasons for taking care for the environment
Introduction
Clean water, healthy soil and fresh air are worth more than gold. We often only notice this when they are gone.
1. What Is Conservation?
Conservation: Protecting and wisely using natural resources.
Conservation does not mean never using nature. It means using it wisely, so that it can continue to provide for us. A farmer who rests the land and a fisher who avoids catching young fish are both conservationists. Ghana has protected areas, such as Mole National Park and Kakum National Park, as well as forest reserves, but conservation must also take place on farms, in towns and in homes.
2. Reasons for Conservation
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| health | clean air and water prevent disease |
| food | fertile soil and fish feed the nation |
| economy | farming, tourism and timber create jobs |
| climate | forests store carbon |
| disaster prevention | trees reduce floods and erosion |
| beauty | nature refreshes people |
| future | resources remain for those to come |
3. Mole and Kakum
Mole National Park, in the Savannah Region, is Ghana's largest wildlife park, and is home to elephants, antelopes and baboons. Kakum National Park, in the Central Region, is known for its canopy walkway high above the rainforest. These parks protect species, and they bring in tourists and income. Local people can benefit through guiding and crafts, and they must be included if the parks are to survive.
4. Everyday Conservation
- Turn off taps and save water.
- Reduce, reuse and recycle.
- Do not burn rubbish.
- Plant trees and keep them alive.
- Use energy wisely.
- Do not buy illegal bushmeat.
- Keep gutters clear.
Small actions matter, as millions of them add up. In a country of over 30 million people, if each person throws away one less sachet wrapper each day, that is millions fewer each day. Young people often influence their families. Show them what you have learned.
5. Learning to Love Nature
People protect what they love. Spend some time among trees, by a river or watching birds. Learn the names of plants around your home, and visit a park if you can. City children sometimes grow up with little contact with nature. Such contact builds a sense of wonder and care. Schools can help through gardens, environment clubs and nature walks. A love of nature, once it has grown, can last for life.
New words
- conservation
- Protecting natural resources.
- national park
- A protected natural area.
- canopy
- The top layer of a forest.
- recycle
- To reuse waste materials.
Summary
- Conservation means wise use, not no use.
- It supports health, food, economy and the future.
- Everyday actions add up.
Class activity: Conservation Pledge
- Write five actions you will take.
- Sign your pledge.
- Share it with your family.
You need: Local leaves, Calabash of clean water, Printed photograph of a Ghanaian sacred grove
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Mole National Park is in the…
- A. Savannah Region
- B. Central Region
- C. Volta Region
- D. Greater Accra
Show answer
Answer: Savannah RegionGeography.2. Kakum is known for its…
- A. canopy walkway
- B. salt pans
- C. waterfalls only
- D. dam
Show answer
Answer: canopy walkwayPark.3. Conservation means never using nature.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseWise use.4. Protecting and wisely using resources is ______.
Show answer
Answer: conservationTerm.5. State three reasons for conservation.
Show answer
Answer: Health, food and climate.Any three.6. Why must local people benefit from parks?
Show answer
Answer: They are more likely to protect parks that help them.Fairness.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- God, His Creation & Attributes
- Sub-strand
- The Environment
- Indicator
- B9.1.2.1.3 – Discuss reasons for taking care for the environment
Introduction
For believers, caring for the earth is more than good sense. It is a sacred duty.
1. Christian Reasons
| Teaching | Scripture |
|---|---|
| The earth belongs to God. | Psalm 24:1 |
| People are stewards. | Genesis 2:15 |
| Land needs rest. | Leviticus 25:4 |
| Creation awaits renewal. | Romans 8:21 |
Christians believe that God entrusted the earth to people. A steward looks after what belongs to someone else, and will answer to the owner. In the Old Testament, the land was to rest every seventh year. This shows that land is not a machine, but a gift to be respected. Pope Francis wrote a letter on the environment, Laudato Si', in 2015, calling the earth our common home.
2. Islamic Reasons
| Teaching | Source |
|---|---|
| People are caretakers. | Surah 2:30 |
| Do not spread corruption on earth. | Surah 7:56 |
| Do not waste. | Surah 7:31 |
| Planting a tree is charity. | Hadith |
Muslims believe that on the Day of Judgement, people will answer for how they used the trust that they were given. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught that even if the Last Hour comes while you hold a seedling, you should plant it. He also taught people not to waste water, even at a flowing river.
3. Traditional Reasons
In ATR, the earth is sacred. Asase Yaa is honoured by the Akan, and rivers and mountains are homes of spiritual powers. Offending them can bring misfortune to the community. Ancestors are buried in the land, so land is tied to family and to history. There is a duty to hand it on, in good condition, to the unborn.
4. Moral Reasons for All
| Value | Reason |
|---|---|
| justice | pollution hurts the innocent |
| love of neighbour | clean water helps all |
| responsibility | we must clean up what we spoil |
| gratitude | we should value what we are given |
| care for the future | our children deserve a good home |
5. Personal Commitment
Values have no worth unless they are lived. Ask yourself what you can do today. You might stop littering, plant a tree or persuade your family to stop burning rubbish. You might join a school environment club. Remember Ghana's motto: Freedom and Justice. Justice includes caring for the land, and for those who depend on it. People of all faiths and none can work together on this. The earth is our shared home.
New words
- steward
- One who looks after what belongs to another.
- sacred
- Holy and deeply respected.
- Laudato Si'
- Pope Francis's letter on the environment.
- trust
- Something given to be cared for.
Summary
- Christians see people as stewards of God's earth.
- Muslims see the earth as a trust.
- ATR treats the earth as sacred, and shared values call for action.
Class activity: Faith Poster
- Choose a teaching on nature from each religion.
- Make a poster.
- Display it at school.
You need: Local leaves, Calabash of clean water, Printed photograph of a Ghanaian sacred grove
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Who wrote Laudato Si'?
- A. Pope Francis
- B. Kwame Nkrumah
- C. Prophet Muhammad
- D. Moses
Show answer
Answer: Pope FrancisTerm.2. "Do not spread corruption on earth" comes from…
- A. Surah 7:56
- B. Genesis 1
- C. Psalm 23
- D. Luke 2
Show answer
Answer: Surah 7:56Source.3. A steward looks after what belongs to another.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueTerm.4. Holy and deeply respected means ______.
Show answer
Answer: sacredTerm.5. Give one Christian and one Islamic teaching on care.
Show answer
Answer: Psalm 24:1 and Surah 7:56.Sources.6. What does the hadith about planting a seedling teach?
Show answer
Answer: One should do good and care for the earth, whatever happens.Teaching.
Homework
- Write five sentences on how your faith or values call you to care for the environment.