Consequences of neglecting our environment
The ever increasing population is responsible for the overutilization of resources. To feed the daily growing population, we need more food for which we need more land. Trees and forests are cut to provide more land for farming and agriculture. More homes are also required for the increasing population, for which forests are cleared. This indiscriminate cutting of forests is called deforestation.
Deforestation is occurring at a rapid rate. Deforestation is caused by an increase in agriculture and for the establishment of plantations for cash crops such as rubber and cocoa. The cleared forest areas are utilized for cattle ranching, mineral extraction, building of roads and dams and logging.
Ill-effects of deforestation – Deforestation is linked to the disruption of the water cycle. Fewer trees means less water taken up and an increase in surface run-off leading to increased soil-erosion. Increased surface run-off can cause downstream flooding. Large amounts of sediments can be carried in the floodwater and cause damage and siltation.
During deforestation, burning of biomass might occur and this contributes to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. The removal of the trees reduces the amount of carbon-dioxide taken up during photosynthesis. The loss of habitats due to deforestation results in a reduction of biodiversity.
Desertification is the process in which productive semi-arid and arid land is degraded into unproductive desert as a result pf human activities. It is mainly caused by inappropriate agricultural practices. Overgrazing removes the cover of vegetation and exposes the soil to erosion by wind or water. This prevents air and water from penetrating the ground and increases the surface run-off, lowers the water table and prevents the re-establishment of vegetation. The local climate could be affected by the lack of vegetation, due to the lack of moisture in the atmosphere.
Acid Rain – Acid rain contains rain water with sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released during burning of fossil fuels. The main effects of acid rain are seen in large expanses of water, on vegetation and also on buildings. Acid rain causes damage to buildings and monuments made of limestone because it dissolves the carbonate constituents of the stone.
Green house effect – Some of the gases in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide and water vapor help to keep the earth warm. They trap heat from the sun, in a manner similar to what a greenhouse actually does. This is called the Greenhouse effect.
Most greenhouse gases occur naturally, but the industrial fumes and vehicular exhaust are increasing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This is causing the earth to become warmer. It is leading to a condition called global warming i.e. increase in the overall temperature of the earth.
Depletion of the Ozone Layer – One of the important functions of the ozone layer is that it filters out much of the dangerous ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the sun rays. That means most of the UV radiation never reaches the Earth’s surface. Ultraviolet radiation is dangerous because it can cause cancer.
Some industries make chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which are used in aerosol spray cans; they are also used as coolant gases in refrigerators and also used to produce foam rubber. When CFC’s escape into the atmosphere, they rise up and reach the ozone layer. Here the CFCs break down the ozone and would harm many of the earth’s organisms including humans.
