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Environmental Degradation: Causes, Impacts and Mitigation

Conference Paper · February 2015

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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
choudhary_mp@yahoo.co.in

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

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