Environmental degradation: a massive threat to Ecosystem
Nowadays,
environmental issues are apparently discussed and debated on all platforms.
Environment degradation is one such subject which is gradually becoming an
exorbitant issue. World political leaders, thinkers, civil society and
philosophers, all of them are mulling over how to reduce the degree of
degradation of earth and its environment.
Environmental
degradation is nothing but deterioration of environment at a large scale
because of the consumption of assets such as air, water and soil; killing the
sanctity of forests and its environment, and wildlife.
The
change which has occurred in the past 50 years because of pertinent use of its
resources is irrevocable. It cannot be taken back.
The
use of technology and modern appliances has led to exhaustion of most of the
resources. The population is increasing at an alarming rate and the demand of
resources is increasing proportionately. Earth and its environment have to
compromise in every ways.
The
United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction takes environment
degradation as the shrinking of the limit of the earth so as to fulfill all the
social and economic needs.
The
human nowadays has become self-centered and is not ready to compromise. For
instance, construction of roads in the forests engulfs large number of trees
that come to its way; killing of wild animals for skin and bones; polluting
rivers by throwing all industrial effluents into it; use of harmful chemicals
in fields.
Because
of rigorous cutting of trees, there is a gradual loss of habitat that is
leading to the loss of animal and plant life.
Almost 70 % of earth’s land animals and plants
live in forests, and most of them cannot survive the loss of habitat.
Trees
are a good source of Greenhouse Gases. They are one of our biggest natural
allies in the fight against global warming as they suck up billions of tons of
the greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide every year. Apart from that trees also
help in controlling the level of water in the atmosphere by helping to regulate
the water cycle. Because of maximum felling of trees in the forest, there is a
fewer trees left in the biome and because of that there is a little water in
the air that needs to be returned to the soil.
It
is also a well known fact that 80 percent of deforestation comes from
small-scale agriculture and cattle ranching.
Human
health is another chapter that is bearing the loss because of environmental
damage. They take in toxic and polluted air which causes respiratory problems
such as asthma.
The
deterioration of environment can be a huge setback for tourism industry too
because greenery and biodiversity play a huge role in grabbing tourists. But
because of loss of biodiversity, huge landfills, air and water pollution,
there’s a dramatic turn off for most of the tourists.
Moreover,
there’s a huge economic impact in terms of restitution of green cover, cleaning
up of landfills and safeguarding endangered species for those countries which
are deeply affected because of environmental degradation.
Environment
is an asset. We could have given respect to get respect in return but because
of the greed, we have lost this treasure!
Franklin
D. Roosevelt has rightly said that “a nation that destroys its soils destroys
itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh
strength to our people.”
Comments
Post a Comment