Economic Activities
Senior 1 · Geography
Economic Activities
Lesson 4 of 4
22 min
The 2022 census asked every household what it mainly uses to cook. Read the figures and then answer: which resource is under the most pressure, and where?
| Main cooking energy (2022) | All Rwanda | Rural households | Urban households |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firewood | 76% | 93% | 34% |
| Charcoal | – | – | 50% |
| Gas | – | – | 13% |
Source: NISR, Census 2022, Main Indicators Report ("–" means the figure is not given in the summary).
Almost every rural family burns wood, and half of all town families burn charcoal, which is also made from wood. Every economic activity uses resources: wood, soil, water, fish, minerals and land. If they are used faster than they can be replaced, the next generation will have less. This is the question of sustainable development.
Definition
Sustainable development: development that meets the needs of people today without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It balances economic growth, people's well-being and care for the environment. Example: planting new trees for every tree cut for firewood.
Definition
Renewable and non-renewable resources: a renewable resource can be replaced by nature within a human lifetime (trees, fish, water, sunshine) if it is not overused; a non-renewable resource cannot (cassiterite, coltan, and the limestone used to make cement). Example: eucalyptus woodlots are renewable; a tin ore deposit is not.
| Activity | Harm when done badly | More sustainable practice in Rwanda |
|---|---|---|
| Farming | Soil erosion on steep slopes; draining wetlands; loss of soil fertility | Terraces, grass strips and agroforestry (Units 7 and 11); protecting wetlands such as Rugezi (Unit 10) |
| Forestry and energy | Cutting trees faster than they regrow for firewood and charcoal | Woodlots that are replanted; efficient cookstoves; gas and electricity; hydro and methane power (Unit 10) |
| Mining | Bare, eroded land; mud and chemicals in rivers | Licensed mines that control waste and restore the land; in 2012 mining was suspended in parts of the Western Province to protect the Sebeya River |
| Fishing | Catching fish faster than they can breed | Rules on nets and catches; fish farming in ponds |
| Manufacturing | Smoke, waste water and rubbish | Treating waste; recycling; Rwanda banned plastic bags in 2008 |
| Tourism | Disturbing wildlife; damage to parks; benefits not reaching local people | Few, high-paying visitors; 10% of park revenue shared with neighbouring communities (lesson 3) |
Worked example 1: how many households burn wood?
The 2022 census counted 3,312,743 private households, and 76% cook mainly with firewood. About how many households is that?
Answer. About 2.5 million households. If each used just one small tree's worth of wood a month, that would be about 30 million trees a year, which is why woodlots, efficient stoves and other fuels matter so much.
Worked example 2: the pressure is growing
NISR projects (medium scenario) that Rwanda's population will grow from 13.2 million in 2022 to 23.6 million in 2052, and its urban population from 3.7 million to 16.5 million. Find the percentage growth of the population and how many times larger the urban population will be.
Interpretation. About 79% more people, and more than four times as many town dwellers. More people will need more food, water, energy, jobs and housing from the same 26,338 km², so resources must be used more carefully than ever.
Important
Case study: Rwanda's choices
Warning
Renewable does not mean unlimited. Trees, fish and soil renew themselves only if they are used more slowly than they recover. Cutting a woodlot every year, or catching young fish before they breed, turns a renewable resource into a disappearing one.
What Is Sustainable Development?, by the United Nations (2 min). Listen for the three things sustainable development must balance, and give a Rwandan example of each.
A company finds coltan under a forested hillside next to a village. Mining would bring jobs and export income, but it would clear the forest and send mud into the stream below. Should the mine go ahead? If yes, on what conditions? Argue both sides and reach a judgement.
Tip
Exam technique for "sustainable": check three things (people, profit, planet). A good answer names the activity, its harm, a sustainable practice, and a Rwandan example.
Practice
Remember
Further reading
Books and resources for this unit
Sources and credits
The lesson text, tables, worked examples and practice are written by Ganzaa.
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
