ARTICLE: ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION, CAUSES, EFFECS AND HOW TO CONTROL IT
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Environmental degradation is the
disintegration of the earth or deterioration of the environment through
consumption of assets, for example, air, water and soil; the destruction of
environments and the eradication of wildlife. It is characterized as any change
or aggravation to nature’s turf seen to be pernicious or undesirable.
Ecological effect or degradation is created by the consolidation of an
effectively substantial and expanding human populace, constantly expanding
monetary development or per capita fortune and the application of asset
exhausting and polluting technology. It occurs when earth’s natural resources
are depleted and environment is compromised in the form of extinction of
species, pollution in air, water and soil, and rapid growth in population. Environmental
degradation is one of the largest threats that are being looked at in the world
today. The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
characterizes environmental degradation as the lessening of the limit of the
earth to meet social and environmental destinations, and needs. Environmental
degradation can happen in a number of ways. At the point when environments are
wrecked or common assets are exhausted, the environment is
considered to be corrupted and harmed. There are a number of different
techniques that are being used to prevent this, including environmental
resource protection and general protection efforts.
Environmental
issues can be seen by long term ecological effects, some of
which can demolish whole environments. An environment is a unique unit and
incorporates all the living and non-living components that live inside it.
Plants and creatures are evident parts of the environment, but it also includes
the things on which they depend on, for example, streams, lakes, and soils.
Environmental
surroundings get to be divided when technological advancement splits up areas
of land. Some examples of this can include streets which may slice through
woods or even trails which wind through prairies. While it may not sound all
terrible on the surface, there are bad results. The biggest of these results
are felt by particular animal and plant groups, the vast majority of which are
specific for their bio-region or need a large area in order to make sure that
their genetic lines are kept intact.
CHAPTER TWO
CAUSES OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
Some environmental life
species require substantial areas to help provide food, living space, and other
different assets. These creatures are called area specific. At the point when
the biome is
divided, the vast patches of living space don’t exist anymore. It gets to be
more troublesome for the wildlife to get the assets they need in order to survive.
The environment goes on, even though the animals and plant life are not there
to help sustain it properly.
1. Land Disturbance: A
more basic cause of environmental degradation is land damage. Numerous weedy
plant species, for example, garlic mustard, are both foreign and obtrusive. A
rupture in the environmental
surroundings provides for them a chance to start growing and spreading. These
plants can assume control over nature, eliminating the local greenery. The
result is territory with a solitary predominant plant which doesn’t give
satisfactory food assets to all the environmental life. Whole environments can
be destroyed because of these invasive species.
2. Pollution:
Pollution, in whatever form, whether it is air, water, land or noise is harmful
for the environment. Air pollution
pollutes the air that we breathe which causes health issues. Water pollution
degrades the quality of water that we use for drinking purposes. Land pollution
results in degradation of earth’s surface as a result of human activities. Noise pollution can
cause irreparable damage to our ears when exposed to continuous large sounds
like honking of vehicles on a busy road or machines producing large noise in a
factory or a mill.
3. Overpopulation:
Rapid population growth puts strain on natural resources which results in
degradation of our environment. Mortality rate has gone down due to better
medical facilities which has resulted in increased lifespan. More population
simple means more demand for food, clothes and shelter. You need more space to
grow food and provide homes to millions of people. This results in deforestation
which is another factor of environmental degradation
4. Landfills:
Landfills pollute the environment and destroy the beauty of the city. Landfills
come within the city due the large amount of waste that gets generated by
households, industries, factories and hospitals. Landfills
pose a great risk to the health of the environment and the people who live
there. Landfills produce foul smell when burned and cause huge environmental
degradation.
5. Deforestation: Deforestation is
the cutting down of trees to make way for more homes and industries. Rapid
growth in population and urban sprawl are
two of the major causes of deforestation. Apart from that, use of forest land
for agriculture, animal grazing, harvest for fuel wood and logging are some of
the other causes of deforestation. Deforestation contributes to global warming
as decreased forest size puts carbon back into the environment.
6: Natural Causes:
Things like avalanches, quakes, tidal waves, storms, and wildfires can totally
crush nearby animal and plant groups to the point where they can no longer
survive in those areas. This can either come to fruition through physical
demolition as the result of a specific disaster, or by the long term degradation
of assets by the presentation of an obtrusive foreign species to the
environment. The latter frequently happens after tidal waves, when reptiles and
bugs are washed ashore. Of course, humans aren’t totally to blame for this
whole thing. Earth itself causes ecological issues, as well. While
environmental degradation is most normally connected with the things that
people do, the truth of the matter is that the environment is always changing.
With or without the effect of human exercises, a few biological systems degrade
to the point where they can’t help the life that is supposed to live there.
The primary cause of
environmental degradation is human disturbance. The degree of the environmental
impact varies with the cause, the habitat, and the plants and animals that
inhabit it.
Habitat Fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation
carries long term environmental impacts, some of which can destroy entire
ecosystems. An ecosystem is a distinct unit and includes all the living and
non-living elements that reside within it. Plants and animals are obvious
members, but it will also include other components on which they rely on such
as streams, lakes, and soils.
Habitats become fragmented
when development breaks up solid stretches of land. Examples include roads
which may cut through forests or even trails which wind through prairies. While
it may not sound all bad on the surface, there are serious consequences. The
largest of these consequences are initially felt by specific plant and animal
communities, most of which are specialized for their bioregion or require large
areas of land to retain a healthy genetic heritage.
Area Sensitive Animals
Some wildlife species
require large stretches of land in order to meet all of their needs for food,
habitat, and other resources. These animals are called area sensitive.
When the environment is fragmented, the large patches of habitat no longer
exist. It becomes more difficult for the wildlife to get the resources they to
survive, possibly becoming threatened or endangered. The environment suffers
without the animals that play their role in the food web.
Aggressive Plant Life
A more critical result of
habitat fragmentation is land disturbance. Many weedy plant species, such as
garlic mustard and purple loosestrife, are both opportunistic and invasive. A
breach in the habitat gives them an opportunity to take hold. These aggressive
plants can take over an environment, displacing the native flora. The result is
habitat with a single dominant plant which doesn't provide adequate food
resources for all the wildlife. Entire ecosystems are threatened with
extinction, according to the National Resources Defense Council.
Some weeds are so invasive
and aggressive that they are declared noxious by the federal or state
governments to prevent them from destroying unspoiled areas. The cultivation or
even the sale of noxious weeds is prohibited by law.
Human Sources of Environmental Deterioration
Humans and their activities
are a major source of environmental degradation.
Water and Air Pollution
Water
and air pollution are unfortunately the common causes of
environmental degradation. Pollution introduces contaminants into the
environment that can maim or even kill plant and animal species. The two often
go hand in hand.
Acid Rain
Acid rain occurs when sulfur
dioxide from coal plant emissions combines with moisture present in the air. A
chemical reaction creates this acid precipitation. Acid rain can acidify and
pollute lakes and streams. It causes similar effects to the soil. According to
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), if
enough acid rain falls in a given environment, it can acidify the water or soil
to a point where no life can be sustained. Plants die off. The animals that
depend upon them disappear. The condition of the environment deteriorates.
Agricultural
Runoff
Agricultural runoff is a
deadly source of pollutants which can degrade environments, so much so that the
EPA identifies agriculture as the primary source of water pollution.
Surface water washes over
the soil and into lakes and streams. When it does so, it carries the fertilizers and pesticides used
on the farm lands into water resources.
Introducing poisons into
waterways will have dire consequences. Fertilizers, whether or not they are
organic, carry equal risks.
Fertilizers containing large
amounts of phosphorus can cause explosions of algae in lakes. As the algae die,
bacteria start to breakdown the organic material. It soon develops into a
situation where bacteria are using up the available dissolved oxygen in the
water. Plants, fish, and other organisms begin to die off. The water becomes
acidic. Like acid rain, lakes become dead zones with conditions so toxic that
neither plants nor animals can live in these environments.
Urban Development
According to many noted
ecologists, including those at Cornell University,
urban development is one of the primary causes of environmental degradation. As
populations increased, so did the need for land for homes and farms. Wetlands
were drained. Prairies were plowed over. Today, less than 50 percent of
the nation's wetlands still exist, according to the North Carolina State
University Water Quality Group. National Geographic states that only five percent of
the native prairie remains.
Environmental degradation is
one of most urgent of environmental issues. Depending upon the damage, some environments
may never recover. The plants and animals that inhabited these places will be
lost forever. In order to reduce any future impacts, city planners, industry,
and resource managers must consider the long term effects of development on the
environment. With sound planning, future environmental degradation can be
prevented.
Natural Causes
While environmental
degradation is most commonly associated with the activities of humans, the fact
is that environments are also constantly changing over time. With or without
the impact of human activities, some ecosystems degrade over time to the point
where they cannot support the life that is "meant" to live there.
Things like landslides,
earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and wildfires can completely decimate local
plant and animal communities to the point where they can no longer function.
This can either come about through physical destruction via natural disaster, or by the long-term degradation of resources
by the introduction of an invasive alien species to a new habitat. The latter
often occurs after hurricanes, when lizards and insects are washed across small
stretches of water to foreign environments. Sometimes, the environment cannot
keep up with the new species, and degradation can occur.
Understanding Degradation
There are a number of
reasons that ecosystems degrade over time. While it may not always be the fault
of humans, humans still need to recognize the extent to which they rely on the
resources that the natural world provides. In this sense, environmental
responsibility and stewardship are very much a matter of self-preservation, and
are an integral part of healthy resource management practices.
From the immense amount of propaganda that
goes around in the media these days, it is clear that there is a lot of
environmental degradation all around us. Such is the depth of the situation
that conferences are being held every year, and new tools like CDM (Clean
Development Mechanism) and Carbon credits are being created to prevent further
damage and to encourage protection of the environment. But what exactly is
going wrong? What is it that creates all this fuss? Look no further, if you
find anything familiar from the following then you might want to think again
High quantity of Exhaust
gases: The biggest reason by far for all kinds of
environmental degradation is the exorbitant amount of gases, harmful to the
environment, which is released by the various industries. Prime amongst these
gases are C02, S02 and NH3. Of course there are many more, and these are the
main culprits for ozone holes and global warming.
Deforestation:
Close second comes the deforestation all over the world, to harness forest
resources, to clear land, for wood and for various other reasons. Deforestation
causes major problems for one simple reason; it decreases the number of trees,
which clean the environment, provide oxygen and also affect rain patterns. This
is the major reason why there are calls for tree plantation; it is to make up
for this loss.
High number of industries
such as mining: Mining creates a lot of pollution, mainly
because it releases particulate matter, which qualifies as Respirable
Particulate Matter (RPM); the particulate matter which can enter our lungs and
can harm the entire respiratory system. This form causes the most direct harm
to humans, also particulate matter can come from indoor pollution, as can be
seen in cooking on traditional ‘choolahs’ and cottage industries like
‘bangle-making’.
Chemical effluents:
Effluents are another by-product of industries which poses threat to the
environment, leather and tanning industries, petroleum industries and chemical
manufacturing industries create major waste products which are released
directly into nearby streams without treatment, creating river pollution and
causing harm to aquatic life.
Transport:
As the spending power of the population increases and as cars become available
more, the number of vehicles on the road increases. The amount has grown
exponentially in countries like India, Brazil and China and this is a point
form of pollution which directly affects humans. Smog is a nuisance that is
created because of vehicular pollution, and Hydro-Carbons released from engines
are the cause of creation of lower level ozone that is harmful to humans.
Unprecedented Construction:
Urban Heat Island is a direct cause of the unprecedented construction
activities that are being carried out right now, and urban heat island causes
trapping of pollutants. Urban Heat island is an effect caused due to trapping
of solar radiation by concrete and cement which are materials which trap heat
extremely well. Construction causes removal of vegetative cover which usually
allows for better exchange of heat. This heat island effect causes constricted
circulation of air, which traps pollutants released in urban areas and does not
allow for mixing of the air, thus decreasing the air quality.
Secondary Pollutants:
Secondary pollutants are ones that are not directly emitted; however they get
created when primary pollutants react amongst themselves. Major amongst them is
the creation of ozone from reaction between non-burnt Hydrocarbons and Nitrous
Oxides. There are various other secondary pollutants and the reaction between
these pollutants cause reactions that lead to formation of ozone holes. Stratospheric
clouds are the main reaction sites for such pollutants.
Ruinous agricultural
policies: Overloading the land with fertilizers, overgrazing and
shifting agriculture are ruinous agricultural policies that degrade land,
creating soil erosion that leads to silting in major rivers and reservoirs.
Soil degradation is a continuous cycle and it ultimately leads to
desertification and degradation of land quality by allowing the direct action
of eroding agents on cultivable land.
The Population Explosion:
The increasing population creates a load that the entire environment has to
support, not only in terms of food and lodging, but also in terms of the amount
of waste that it generates and the ability of the environment to sustain this
growth. All major activities are carried out to support this growing
population, and whilst this is unavoidable, what is required is the proper
planning that should come with this explosion.
Unplanned Land-use policies:
Land models are available these days which help in proper planning and use of
land resources. However, failure to use these models and land management
policies can lead to land pollution and degradation of the worst kind.
Extraction from mines renders them unusable for habitation and if
rehabilitation work is not carried out, the piece of land is sure to lose all
its value and become unusable. Land classification is one of the major
activities that help in proper land use, and it should be followed with utmost
care.
CHAPTER THREE
EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
1. Impact on Human Health:
Human health might be at the receiving end as a result of the environmental
degradation. Areas exposed to toxic air
pollutants can cause respiratory problems like pneumonia and
asthma. Millions of people are known to have died of due to indirect effects of
air pollution.
2. Loss of Biodiversity: Biodiversity is
important for maintaining balance of the ecosystem in the form of combating
pollution, restoring nutrients, protecting water sources and stabilizing
climate. Deforestation, global warming, overpopulation and pollution are few of
the major causes for loss of biodiversity.
3. Ozone Layer Depletion:
Ozone layer is responsible for protecting earth from harmful ultraviolet rays.
The presence of chlorofluorocarbons, hydro chlorofluorocarbons in the
atmosphere is causing the ozone layer to deplete. As it will deplete, it will
emit harmful radiations back to the earth.
4. Loss for Tourism Industry: The
deterioration of environment can be a huge setback for tourism industry that
rely on tourists for their daily livelihood. Environmental damage in the form
of loss of green cover, loss of biodiversity, huge landfills, increased air and
water pollution can be a big turn off for most of the tourists.
5. Economic Impact: The
huge cost that a country may have to borne due to environmental degradation can
have big economic impact in terms of restoration of green cover, cleaning up of
landfills and protection of endangered
species. The economic impact can also be in terms of loss
of tourism industry.
As you can see, there are a
lot of things that can have an effect on the environment. If we are not
careful, we can contribute to the environmental degradation that is occurring
all around the world. We can, however, take action to stop it and take care of
the world that we live in by providing environmental
education to the people which will help them pick familiarity with
their surroundings that will enable to take care of environmental
concerns thus making it more useful and protected for our
children and other future generations.
Environmental degradation is
a result of socio-economical, technological and institutional activities.
Degradation occurs when Earth's natural resources are depleted. These resources
which are affected include:
- Water
- Air
- Soil
The degradation also impacts
our:
- Wildlife
- Plants
- Animals
- Micro-organisms
How Environmental Degradation Occurs
Our land, water and soil are compromised when
people exhaust resources or release harmful chemicals into the air.
Deforestation, wasting resources, and pollution all add to the demise of an
environmentally-sound and safe planet. For example, when trees in forests are cut down in large quantities, so that
more homes can be built on the land, the birds and wildlife who lived in the
forest must find a new place to live. The vegetation that once grew on the land
is destroyed. Trees that absorbed carbon dioxide to help the biosphere are now
unable to do so. If the wood from the trees is used to make products and those
products (such as paper) are later recycled, that is one hopeful aspect for the
planet. However, some times trees are just cut down and burned. This is what is
known as slash and burn, a practice that only destroys forests and all
that live in them.
Unfortunate Impacts of Environmental Degradation
When factories produce
harmful chemicals and toxic waste into bodies of water, humans suffer.
Pesticides and fertilizers can also get into a region's water system and
pollute it. Drinking water is contaminated. Some residing in third-world
countries are highly effected by the degradation of our planet and these
unhealthy practices cause the following:
- Illnesses
- Death in children
- Death in adults
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Poverty
In many countries in Africa,
crop harvests are falling as consumption increases. People are finding less
nutritious food to eat. One argument held is that while fields in wealthier
nations are used to grow crops for biofuel, poorer countries,
especially those around the Equator, are vulnerable to weather changes, water
shortages, and urbanization. All of these factors are increasing the health and
lives of thousands. Some scientists and environmentalists are asking that
non-food items and agriculture waste be used as alternative fuel for vehicles
instead.
Losing Earth's Beauty
As humans dump waste
products, use chemicals, and over fish in the oceans and seas, areas of beauty
such as coral
reefs are damaged. At times the destruction is so great that
is cannot be reversed. We are killing our planet and the consequences are
tremendous.
One example of this lies
within the coast lands of Thailand. Here marine and coastal resources at risk.
Vast areas of mangrove wetlands have been lost. Coral reefs continue to suffer
degradation, and the total fish available for catching is declining. Not only
is the degradation causing marine and coastal resources to be lost, but this
issue holds large economic problems. When there are not enough fish to catch,
fishermen are without income to support themselves and their families. In some
coastal towns, the shores are eroding at a rate of one to five meters per year.
This results in an annual loss of more than six billion baht ($150 million) in
economic terms.
CHAPTER FOUR
THE WAY FORWARD TO THE PROBLEM OF
ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN NIGERIA
There are ways which you can help to decrease
degradation in our environment. Some of these include:
- Purchase recycled products
- Conserve water
- Do not litter or toss waste into inappropriate places
- Conserve energy
- Join an awareness group
- Talk with others about the impacts of environmental
degradation
- Be an advocate to save our planet
Mother nature has given us our lives as we know them. You
see, no matter how far the field of science and technology progresses, it
cannot compete with mother nature with regards to all the blessings bestowed on
us by it. The earth sustains us, provides us with means of living and allows
life to be further created. However, the earth too has a certain limit which it
cannot exceed. The resources that are present in this planet are not infinite,
though they may seem to be. The truth is that the current consumption patterns
of the human population are such that consumption increases constantly. Owing
to this, natures resources are being depleted at a very alarming rate. Not only
this, the activities that are required for this production further contribute
towards the environmental degradation. This is a phenomenon that goes unnoticed
by many of us in our daily lives. We believe that we have bigger things to
worry about like our house mortgages and paychecks. However, these things will
seem trivial aspects of life to you once you know the full picture behind the
hazards that come with environmental degradation. To convince you to read
further, I will just tell you that with such rapid environmental degradation
can cause the planet earth to stop supporting life on it sooner than expected.
With this being said, let me show you how you can play your part in stopping
environmental degradation.
Recycle:
This is perhaps one of the best ways of slowing down
degradation. However, you must keep in mind that the processes involved in
recycling cause environmental degradation to a certain extent. How can you
counter those problems? The next step is your solution
REFERENCES
Conacher, Arthur; Conacher, Jeanette (1995). Rural
Land Degradation in
Australia. South Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press Australia. p. 2. ISBN 0-19-553436-0.
Johnson, D.L., S.H. Ambrose, T.J. Bassett, M.L. Bowen, D.E. Crummey,
J.S. Isaacson, D.N. Johnson, P.
Lamb, M. Saul, and A.E. Winter-Nelson.
1997. Meanings of environmental terms. Journal of Environmental Quality 26: 581-589.