GGH3701 Assignment 2 Revision
Questions and Answers7
You are an environmental specialist, and you must choose the most suitable intervention or
solution for the following scenario:
An environmental group has reported a major oil spill in the Simons Town harbour in False Bay,
Cape Town. The oil spill poses an immediate threat to the African penguin populations close to
the harbour. The environmental group and surrounding communities have called for immediate
action to be taken to avert a bigger disaster.
Evaluate the given scenario and select the most appropriate intervention and action to address
the oil spill, its accompanied impacts and avert an environmental disaster as soon as possible.
1. Reconstruction; immediate repair of the vessel that is causing the oil spill, removal of oil
spilled on the coast, cleaning of affected wildlife and the rehabilitation of the coastal area.
2. Response; increase the preservation area for the African penguin population.
3. Manage - ANSWERS -1. Reconstruction; immediate repair of the vessel that is causing the oil
spill, removal of oil spilled on the coast, cleaning of affected wildlife and the rehabilitation of the
coastal area ✔
Read the following statement and indicate whether it is TRUE or FALSE:
Improvements in fishing methods result in greater numbers and varieties (sizes and species) of
fish being caught, but fishing in the Southern African region remains sustainable and no
overfishing is taking place. - ANSWERS -False ✔
Read the following:
Members of a growing settlement near St. Lucia in South Africa have observed that the estuary
has dried up; in fact, the estuary has been permanently cut off from the sea. Sightings of some
, endemic estuarine organisms have also decreased, and it seems that the whole estuary has
been lost.
Evaluate and select the primary cause for this observation.
1. Shipping and transportation of goods
2. Periodic extended droughts
3. Increased freshwater needs owing to coastal developments
4. Increased freshwater pollution from various settlements - ANSWERS -3. Increased freshwater
needs owing to coastal developments ✔
Durban Bay located in the eThekwini municipality has become physically vulnerable especially
after April 2022 primarily due to --- and ---.
1. increased flooding; accelerated erosion
2. increased agriculture; economic growth
3. mineral exploration; shipping
4. pollution; decreased rainfall - ANSWERS -Increased flooding; accelerated erosion ✔
Read the following:
An urban settlement with surrounding agricultural areas is located upstream of an estuary. The
urban settlement has been growing quite rapidly and there is pressure on agricultural activities
to sustain the growing human population. An estuary located downstream is consequently
negatively affected - the estuary mouth has closed permanently.
Evaluate and select which ONE of the following puts the biggest pressure on the estuary?
1. Rapid rate of soil erosion
2. Loss of fish species
Questions and Answers7
You are an environmental specialist, and you must choose the most suitable intervention or
solution for the following scenario:
An environmental group has reported a major oil spill in the Simons Town harbour in False Bay,
Cape Town. The oil spill poses an immediate threat to the African penguin populations close to
the harbour. The environmental group and surrounding communities have called for immediate
action to be taken to avert a bigger disaster.
Evaluate the given scenario and select the most appropriate intervention and action to address
the oil spill, its accompanied impacts and avert an environmental disaster as soon as possible.
1. Reconstruction; immediate repair of the vessel that is causing the oil spill, removal of oil
spilled on the coast, cleaning of affected wildlife and the rehabilitation of the coastal area.
2. Response; increase the preservation area for the African penguin population.
3. Manage - ANSWERS -1. Reconstruction; immediate repair of the vessel that is causing the oil
spill, removal of oil spilled on the coast, cleaning of affected wildlife and the rehabilitation of the
coastal area ✔
Read the following statement and indicate whether it is TRUE or FALSE:
Improvements in fishing methods result in greater numbers and varieties (sizes and species) of
fish being caught, but fishing in the Southern African region remains sustainable and no
overfishing is taking place. - ANSWERS -False ✔
Read the following:
Members of a growing settlement near St. Lucia in South Africa have observed that the estuary
has dried up; in fact, the estuary has been permanently cut off from the sea. Sightings of some
, endemic estuarine organisms have also decreased, and it seems that the whole estuary has
been lost.
Evaluate and select the primary cause for this observation.
1. Shipping and transportation of goods
2. Periodic extended droughts
3. Increased freshwater needs owing to coastal developments
4. Increased freshwater pollution from various settlements - ANSWERS -3. Increased freshwater
needs owing to coastal developments ✔
Durban Bay located in the eThekwini municipality has become physically vulnerable especially
after April 2022 primarily due to --- and ---.
1. increased flooding; accelerated erosion
2. increased agriculture; economic growth
3. mineral exploration; shipping
4. pollution; decreased rainfall - ANSWERS -Increased flooding; accelerated erosion ✔
Read the following:
An urban settlement with surrounding agricultural areas is located upstream of an estuary. The
urban settlement has been growing quite rapidly and there is pressure on agricultural activities
to sustain the growing human population. An estuary located downstream is consequently
negatively affected - the estuary mouth has closed permanently.
Evaluate and select which ONE of the following puts the biggest pressure on the estuary?
1. Rapid rate of soil erosion
2. Loss of fish species
