Environmental Degradation: Causes, Impacts and Mitigation PDF

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See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279201881 Environmental Degradation: Causes, Impacts and Mitigation Conference Paper · February 2015 CITATIONS READS 10 314,344 3 authors: Dr. Mahendra Pratap Choudhary Govind singh Chauhan Rajasthan Technical University Mewar University 74 PUBLICATIONS 134 CITATIONS 18 PUBLICATIONS 29 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE Yogesh Kushwah Swarnim Startup & Innovation University 9 PUBLICATIONS 13 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE All content following this page was uploaded by Dr. Mahendra Pratap Choudhary on 03 July 2015. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.  Environmental Degradation: Causes, Impacts and Mitigation Dr. Mahendra Pratap Choudhary Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University College of Engineering, Rajasthan Technical University, Kota, Rajasthan, India [email protected] Govind Singh Chauhan, Yogesh Kumar Kushwah PG (Environment) Scholars, Department of Civil Engineering, University College of Engineering, Rajasthan Technical University, Kota, Rajasthan, India Abstract Our environment is deteriorating for the last two centuries and almost every part of the planet has been touched by it in one way or the other. The primary cause of environmental degradation is human disturbance. The industrial revolution of 19th century mechanized the production and manufacturing of goods and introduced the use of machinery and other heavy equipments - which in turn, used fuels as source of energy, which deteriorate the environment. The modern technological progress, for which we are so proud of, is actually the root cause of the environmental deterioration. Environmental changes are based on factors like urbanization, population and economic growth, increase in energy consumption and agricultural intensification. The degradation has adverse impacts on humans, plants, animals and micro-organisms. To cope up with the critical situation, we need to make optimum use and management of resources, sustainable development, adoption of green concept and above all community participation in all developmental activities. Keywords – Human intervention, industrialization, environmental degradation, resource management, sustainable development. INTRODUCTION Environmental degradation is an umbrella concept which covers a variety of issues including pollution, biodiversity loss & animal extinction, deforestation & desertification, global warming, and a lot more. Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife. It is defined as any change or disturbance to the environment perceived to be deleterious or undesirable. Environmental degradation is one of the ten threats officially cautioned by the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change of the United Nations. The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction defines environmental degradation as "The reduction of the capacity of the environment to meet social and ecological objectives, and needs". Environmental degradation is of many types. When natural habitats are destroyed or natural resources are depleted, the environment is degraded. Efforts to counteract this problem include environmental protection and environmental resources management. CAUSES OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION Environmental changes are based on many factors including:  Urbanization  Population growth  Economic growth  Intensification of agriculture  Increase in energy use  Increase in transportation 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. There are a number of ways in which environmental degradation works. Classically, resources simply become depleted. Air, water, and soil are all resources which are vulnerable to depletion through overuse, as are natural resources like minerals and oil deposits. Habitat pressures which force animals into a small area can also contribute to resource depletion, as the animals consume a high volume of material in a small area. Pollution is another cause of environmental degradation. When the environment becomes polluted, it means that toxic substances have rendered it unhealthy. Pollution can come from a variety of sources, including vehicle emissions, agricultural runoff, accidental chemical release from factories, and poorly-managed harvesting of natural resources. Human Sources Humans and their activities are a major source of environmental degradation. 1. 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. 2. Acid Rain Acid rain occurs when sulphur 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. 3. Agricultural Runoff Farming creates agriculture runoff issues. 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. 4. Urban Development According to many noted ecologists, 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. Grasslands were ploughed over. Natural Sources 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 destroy 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. IMPACTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION Environmental degradation is a result of socio-economical, technological and institutional activities. Degradation occurs when earth's natural resources are depleted. The resources which are affected include water, air and soil. The degradation also impacts our wildlife, plants, animals and micro-organisms. 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. 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. People are highly affected by the degradation of our planet and these unhealthy practices cause the illnesses, death in children and adults. 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.  MITIGATION MEASURES There are ways which can help to decrease degradation in our environment. Some of these include:  Purchase recycled products  Conserve water  Do not litter or throw waste into inappropriate places  Conserve energy  Join an awareness group  Talk with others about the impacts of environmental degradation The damage that we cause to the environment is currently not counted as a cost in economic and social terms. This lack of "environmental value" has allowed us to over-exploit "free" natural resources - which are, of course, not free. It has also led to over-production of cheap goods with very short life spans which are liberally discarded into the environment after use, and then new cheap goods are purchased and discarded again, and this cycle goes on and on - affecting the planet's capacity to restore its environmental services in good time. We have to change this paradigm of our interaction with the environment. The nature doesn't owe us anything. It is not there for us to "control" and "manage" it either. We were born to live in harmony with it - indeed; we are a big part of it. And we certainly don't have the right to exploit and destroy it without thinking about the future generations of humans and animal who will be here after us. CONCLUSION 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, public awareness and community participation, future environmental degradation can be prevented. REFERENCES 1. http://www.csun.edu/~vasishth/URBS_350-Sample_Papers/Env_Degradation.pdf 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_degradation 3. http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Impacts_of_Environmental_Degradation 4. http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Causes_of_Environmental_Degradation 5. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-environmental-degradation.htm 6. http://www.grida.no/publications/rr/food-crisis/page/3566.aspx 7. http://www.ifad.org/events/past/hunger/envir.html View publication stats