Group 6- Sustainable land conservation strategies

Sustainable land conservation strategies

Earth’s surface which we use can be defined as the land. A natural resource that is most commonly used for agricultural, residential, commercial, recreational purposes and for mining. Due to various actions of both the man and the nature, this resource is subjected to disturbances in numerous ways. So as a world that encourages people towards the sustainability, it is essential to consider more about the conservation of this valuable resource which gives us even the food to live.

 Land conservation is the process of protecting and preserving the land with its own properties landscapes in order to save them to be used by our next generations in the future. Soil erosion, damage due to rainfall, destruction of natural landscapes due to constructions, agriculture and mixing of chemicals and other materials are some common destructions against lands. Amongst those disturbances, the most common fact that should be considered is the soil erosion and the other disturbances occur due to rainfall

Therefore,

• ·         soil erosion,
• ·         water runoff,
• ·        maintenance of soil fertility

 should be avoided in a sustainable manner.

There are two major types of measures to be taken in order to conserve land from the disturbances of rainfall. Using agricultural techniques is a traditional practice, which includes the techniques such as protecting and replanting native vegetation and even placing barriers or terraces which reduces soil and water movements along the soil surface.

The most common and effective way is using land covers to the needed surfaces which not only contributes to the conservation but the natural beauty also. The university if Moratuwa is a place where Land covering method is highly used for the sustainable land conservation.

The most prominent method used in the university is the grass covering which has the brought the whole land surface more attractive while fulfilling the conservation purpose also.

Tar has been used to cover the main roads as it is more durable and strict against the soil erosion. Concrete layers and blocks have been used in the other places where rain water might flow overland and like to retain mud which may severely affect the students while enhancing the natural beauty.