Environmental Hazard: Bush Burning – JSS3 Basic Science Lesson Note (First Term)

Bush burning is the deliberate setting of forests, weeds and grasses on fire, with or without a purpose.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. define bush burning;
2. state the practices that influence bush burning;
3. list the effects of bush burning;
4. describe ways of controlling or preventing bush burning;
5. state the regulations against bush burning.

What is bush burning?

Bush burning is the setting of vegetation on fire in forests, farmland and grassland.

• Bush fire: a fire that spreads through dry grass, weeds or trees in an open area.
• Vegetation: the plants growing in an area, such as grasses, shrubs and trees.
• Environmental hazard: anything in the surroundings that can harm living things or the land.
• Deliberate bush burning: fire set on purpose, for example to clear a farm or flush out animals.
• Accidental bush fire: fire that starts by mistake, for example from a dropped cigarette or an unattended cooking fire.
• Dry season: bush fires are most common in this period because dry grass burns easily, especially during the harmattan.

What practices influence bush burning?

Five common practices influence bush burning: poor farming methods, hunting, land clearing, road construction and grazing.

• Poor agricultural practices: farmers practising shift cultivation burn old plots and move to new land.
• Hunting: hunters set fire to the bush to drive animals out so that they can be caught.
• Land clearing: farmers use fire as a cheap way to clear land before planting.
• Construction and tree felling: bush is burnt to clear the path for roads, and heaps of felled trees are set alight.
• Grazing: herdsmen, such as the Fulani, set dry grass ablaze so that fresh grass will grow for their cattle.

What are the effects of bush burning?

Bush burning harms the soil, plants, animals and air, and it disturbs the balance of the ecosystem.

Effects on the soil

• Loss of fertility: fire burns the humus and dead plant matter, so soil fertility falls gradually.
• Loss of nutrients: some soil nutrients may vapourise and escape into the air.
• Slight alkalinity: the burnt ashes may give the soil a slight alkaline content.
• Erosion: bare soil is exposed to wind and rain, which wash or blow the topsoil away.
• Death of soil organisms: microorganisms in the burnt area are killed.

Effects on plants

• Loss of plant species: some destroyed plant species may not regenerate on the burnt soil.
• Deforestation: repeated burning removes trees and may turn forest into open land.
• Loss of crops: fire can destroy farms, crops and economic trees.

Effects on animals and the ecosystem

• Death of animals: animals in the enclosed burning area are killed.
• Migration: endangered species of animals move away from their habitat.
• Imbalance: the balance of the ecosystem is disturbed.

Effects on air and people

• Air pollution: smoke and gases pollute the air and can cause breathing problems.
• Global warming: burning releases carbon dioxide, which adds to the warming of the atmosphere.
• Property loss: fire can spread to houses, stores and farmland.

Summary table of effects

How can bush burning be controlled or prevented?

Bush burning can be controlled through public education, government support, strict laws and safer farming methods.

• Public enlightenment: the public should be taught the consequences of bush burning.
• Support for farmers: government should help poor farmers to get modern tools and machinery for land clearing.
• Support for campaigns: government should back the movement against bush burning.
• Laws: laws that prohibit bush burning should be made and enforced.
• Discouraging hunting: hunting of bush animals should be discouraged.
• Meeting people’s needs: government should try to meet the needs of the people, so that they do not depend on burning.

What are the safer alternatives to burning?

• Mulching: cut weeds and leave them on the soil to rot and add nutrients.
• Composting: turn plant waste into manure for the farm.
• Mechanical clearing: use tractors and other machines to clear land.
• Firebreaks: clear strips of bare land around a farm so that fire cannot spread into it.

What are the regulations against bush burning?

The regulations against bush burning are rules that control when, where and by whom the bush may be burnt.

• Permits: bush fire control officers issuing permits to burn should comply with the direction of the local government.
• Permission: bush should not be burnt except when permitted by the regulating authority.
• Objection: permission to burn should not be given if the local government authority objects.
• Risky operations: operations that can lead to bush fires should be avoided.
• Records: the bush fire brigade and local government should keep a register of bush fires and the losses they cause.
• Banned days: the local government may prohibit burning on certain days.

Evaluation

1. Define bush burning.
2. State four practices that influence bush burning.
3. List four effects of bush burning.
4. State three ways of controlling or preventing bush burning.
5. State two regulations against bush burning.

Assignment

Write a short notice for your school notice board warning students against bush burning. Include three effects of bush burning and three ways of preventing it.