Environment management 0680

Rocks and minerals and their exploitation
2 Energy and the environment
3 Agriculture and the environment
4 Water and its management
5 Oceans and fisheries
6 Managing natural hazards
7 The atmosphere and human activities
8 Human population
9 Natural ecosystems and human activities

Course Content

Rocks and minerals and their exploitation

Describe and interpret the rock cycle
State and explain the formation and characteristics of named igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks
Describe the following methods of extraction of rocks and minerals from the Earth: – surface mining – subsurface mining
Discuss the factors that affect the decision to extract rocks and minerals
Describe and explain the environmental, economic and social impacts of rock and mineral extraction
Describe and evaluate strategies for restoring landscapes damaged by rock and mineral extraction
Define sustainable resource and sustainable development
Describe and evaluate strategies for the sustainable use of rocks and minerals
Further guidance and exemplification: • igneous: granite and basalt • sedimentary: limestone, sandstone and shale • metamorphic: marble and slate
Further guidance and exemplification: • opencast / open-pit / open-cut / strip mining • deep mining / shaft mining • exploration • geology • accessibility • environmental impact assessment • supply and demand
Further guidance and exemplification: • loss of habitat • noise, water, land, air, visual pollution • management of waste • employment opportunities • improvements in local/national economy • improvements in facilities and infrastructure
Further guidance and exemplification: • safe disposal of mining waste • land restoration: soil improvement, bioremediation, tree planting • making lakes and nature reserves • using as landfill sites
Further guidance and exemplification: • increased efficiency of the extraction of rocks and minerals • increased efficiency of the use of rocks and minerals • the need to recycle rocks and minerals • legislation
Case study: • Study the development, impact and management of a mine including land restoration after the mine has closed.

Energy and the environment

Describe the formation of the fossil fuels: coal, oil and gas
Classify the following energy resources as nonrenewable or renewable
Fossil fuels, nuclear power, biofuels, geothermal power, hydro-electric power, tidal power, wave power, solar power, wind power
Describe how each of these energy resources is used to generate electricity
Describe the environmental, economic and social advantages and disadvantages of each of these energy resources
Describe and explain the factors affecting the demand for energy
Describe and explain strategies for the efficient management of energy resources
Research and development of new energy resources
Describe the causes and impacts of oil pollution on marine and coastal ecosystems
Discuss strategies for reducing oil spills in marine and coastal ecosystems
Discuss strategies for minimising the impacts of oil spills on the marine and coastal ecosystems
Study the impact and management of an oil pollution event.

Agriculture and the environment

Describe and explain the composition of soils
Describe soils as a medium for plant growth
Describe the differences between a sandy and clay soil
Describe the different types of agriculture
Describe techniques used to increase agricultural yields
Describe and explain the impact of agricultural practices on the environment and people
Describe the causes of soil erosion
Describe and explain the impacts of soil erosion
Describe and explain strategies to reduce soil erosion
Describe and explain strategies for sustainable agriculture

Water and its management

Describe the distribution of the Earth’s water
Describe and interpret the water cycle
Describe the sources of fresh water used by people
Describe the different ways in which fresh water can be used
Compare the availability of safe drinking water (potable water) in different parts of the world
Describe and evaluate multipurpose dam projects
Describe the sources of water pollution
Describe and explain the impact of pollution of fresh water on people and on the environment
Describe and explain strategies for improving water quality
Describe the life cycle of the malaria parasite
Describe and evaluate strategies to control malaria
Describe strategies to control cholera

Oceans and fisheries

Managing natural hazards

Describe the structure of the Earth
Describe and explain the distribution and causes of earthquakes and volcanoes
Understand magnitude and the Richter scale
Describe and explain the distribution and causes of tropical cyclones (storms, hurricanes and typhoons)
Describe and explain the causes of flooding
Describe and explain the causes of drought
Describe and explain the impacts of natural hazards on people and the environment
Describe and evaluate the strategies for managing the impacts of natural hazards before, during and after an event
Describe and explain the opportunities presented by natural hazards to people

The atmosphere and human activities

Human population

Natural ecosystems and human activities

Define the terms ecosystem, population, community, habitat and niche
Describe the biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) components of an ecosystem
Describe biotic interactions
Describe energy flow using food chains, food webs and trophic levels
Describe and explain ecological pyramids based on numbers and energy
Describe the process of respiration
Describe the carbon cycle
Describe and explain causes and impacts of habitat loss
Describe and explain the causes and impacts of deforestation
Describe and explain the need for the sustainable management of forests
Describe and evaluate methods for estimating biodiversity
Apply sampling techniques to unfamiliar situations
Evaluate national and international strategies for conserving the biodiversity and genetic resources of natural ecosystems

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Fee:Free
Lessons:87
Level:Intermediate
Last Updated:26/08/2025

Course Content

Rocks and minerals and their exploitation

Describe and interpret the rock cycle

State and explain the formation and characteristics of named igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks

Describe the following methods of extraction of rocks and minerals from the Earth: – surface mining – subsurface mining

Discuss the factors that affect the decision to extract rocks and minerals

Describe and explain the environmental, economic and social impacts of rock and mineral extraction

Describe and evaluate strategies for restoring landscapes damaged by rock and mineral extraction

Define sustainable resource and sustainable development

Describe and evaluate strategies for the sustainable use of rocks and minerals

Further guidance and exemplification: • igneous: granite and basalt • sedimentary: limestone, sandstone and shale • metamorphic: marble and slate

Further guidance and exemplification: • opencast / open-pit / open-cut / strip mining • deep mining / shaft mining • exploration • geology • accessibility • environmental impact assessment • supply and demand

Further guidance and exemplification: • loss of habitat • noise, water, land, air, visual pollution • management of waste • employment opportunities • improvements in local/national economy • improvements in facilities and infrastructure

Further guidance and exemplification: • safe disposal of mining waste • land restoration: soil improvement, bioremediation, tree planting • making lakes and nature reserves • using as landfill sites

Further guidance and exemplification: • increased efficiency of the extraction of rocks and minerals • increased efficiency of the use of rocks and minerals • the need to recycle rocks and minerals • legislation

Case study: • Study the development, impact and management of a mine including land restoration after the mine has closed.

Energy and the environment

Describe the formation of the fossil fuels: coal, oil and gas

Classify the following energy resources as nonrenewable or renewable

Fossil fuels, nuclear power, biofuels, geothermal power, hydro-electric power, tidal power, wave power, solar power, wind power

Describe how each of these energy resources is used to generate electricity

Describe the environmental, economic and social advantages and disadvantages of each of these energy resources

Describe and explain the factors affecting the demand for energy

Describe and explain strategies for the efficient management of energy resources

Research and development of new energy resources

Describe the causes and impacts of oil pollution on marine and coastal ecosystems

Discuss strategies for reducing oil spills in marine and coastal ecosystems

Discuss strategies for minimising the impacts of oil spills on the marine and coastal ecosystems

Study the impact and management of an oil pollution event.

Agriculture and the environment

Describe and explain the composition of soils

Describe soils as a medium for plant growth

Describe the differences between a sandy and clay soil

Describe the different types of agriculture

Describe techniques used to increase agricultural yields

Describe and explain the impact of agricultural practices on the environment and people

Describe the causes of soil erosion

Describe and explain the impacts of soil erosion

Describe and explain strategies to reduce soil erosion

Describe and explain strategies for sustainable agriculture

Water and its management

Describe the distribution of the Earth’s water

Describe and interpret the water cycle

Describe the sources of fresh water used by people

Describe the different ways in which fresh water can be used

Compare the availability of safe drinking water (potable water) in different parts of the world

Describe and evaluate multipurpose dam projects

Describe the sources of water pollution

Describe and explain the impact of pollution of fresh water on people and on the environment

Describe and explain strategies for improving water quality

Describe the life cycle of the malaria parasite

Describe and evaluate strategies to control malaria

Describe strategies to control cholera

Oceans and fisheries

Outline the resource potential of the oceans

Outline the distribution of major ocean currents

Explain the distribution of major marine fish populations

Describe the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon and its effects on fisheries along the Pacific coast of South America

Describe and explain the impact of exploitation of fisheries

Describe, explain and evaluate strategies for management of the harvesting of marine species

Managing natural hazards

Describe the structure of the Earth

Describe and explain the distribution and causes of earthquakes and volcanoes

Understand magnitude and the Richter scale

Describe and explain the distribution and causes of tropical cyclones (storms, hurricanes and typhoons)

Describe and explain the causes of flooding

Describe and explain the causes of drought

Describe and explain the impacts of natural hazards on people and the environment

Describe and evaluate the strategies for managing the impacts of natural hazards before, during and after an event

Describe and explain the opportunities presented by natural hazards to people

The atmosphere and human activities

Describe the structure and composition of the atmosphere

Describe the natural greenhouse effect

Describe and explain the causes of atmospheric pollution, with reference to: – smog – acid rain – ozone layer depletion – enhanced greenhouse effect

Describe and explain the impact of atmospheric pollution

Describe and explain the strategies used by individuals, governments and the international community to reduce the effects of atmospheric pollution

Identify where people live in the world

Human population

Identify where people live in the world