Agriculture and the Natural Environment

The natural environment refers to those living and non-living things in the enviornment that are provided by nature. They are those materials in our environment that are used by man for survival and comfort but which are not provided by him. They are also known as natural resources or environmental assets.The functions of the natural environment are: 1. The environment adds beauty to our surroundings and thus facilitate recreational activities. Fundamentals of Modern Agriculture 2. The natural environment play a vital role in many processes such as the carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle etc which are essential to the maintenance of life. 3. Natural environments supply raw materials and energy in the form of oil, coal, gas, fuelwood and minerals. 4. Activities aimed at protecting and conserving the environment create employment for millions of people. 5. A good environment ensures good quality of life since poor environments lead to stress and ill health. 6. Our environment• supply services that support life. For example, (the ozone layer) helps regulate the levels of radiation reaching the earth, the failure of which leads to global warming, flooding etc.