Explain the effects of environmental degradation (2).pptx

The word environment means surroundings, in which organisms live. Environment and the organisms are two dynamic and complex component of nature. Environment regulates the life of the organisms including human beings.
Human beings interact with the environment more vigorously than other living beings.

1. 3rd TOPIC: The effects of environmental degradation CDT0610 Lecture

2. Meaning of environmental degradation 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.

3. Types of environmental degradation Environmental degradation can be seen in the following types: Deforestation: Deforestation is the excessive cutting down of trees and clearing of forests for different purposes. In other words, it is the destruction of forests. These directly and indirectly affect us. Thus, deforestation is a serious type of environmental degradation.

4. Types.... Soil erosion: Soil erosion can be defined as the destruction of the top layer of the soil as a result of natural or human activities. Soil erosion refers to the carrying away of soil. Soil erosion is also serious type of environmental degradation. It affects crop production, pollutes water resources and causes many other direct and indirect problems to human beings.

5. Types.... Landslide The downward slide of land on hilly slopes is called landslide. Our country is mountainous. Landslide often occurs naturally. However, as a result of various human activities, the occurrence of landslide in our country has increased.

6. Types.... Flood The overflow of water from rivers and streams into nearby lands is called a flood. Flood is a serious type of environmental degradation in our country. Environmental problem is directly related to surface water. As the result of the excess amounts, sometimes flowing water breaks its embankment and overflows into nearby lands as flood. A large numbers of rivers flowing directly from the Himalayas. Every year, during the monsoons, many of these rivers flood nearby land causing great destruction to human beings and property.

7. Types.... Pollution Pollution can be defined as an undesirable change in our air, water and land resources, which directly or indirectly cause harm to us. Pollution is also a major type of environmental degradation. Its impact is seen on almost all component of the environment including air, land and water.

8. Types.... Pollution may be in the form of addition of undesirable chemicals e.g.; poisonous gases into the air by factories or it may be in the form of reduction of something useful from the environment e.g.; death of all fishes in the rivers. Pollution may be of the following types: Air pollution , water pollution , noise(sound) pollution , land pollution ,.

9. Types.... Deforestation : Death and disease can result from the localized flooding caused by deforestation. Loss of sustainable logging potential and of erosion prevention, watershed stability and carbon sequestration provided by forests are among the productivity impacts of deforestation.

10. Factors of Environmental Degradation The issue of environmental degradation has assumed a global perspective. That is, there is no place in the world today that is not faced with one form of environmental degradation or the other. The magnitude of the incidence differs greatly. However, basic to the discussion of the factors initiating environmental degradation is the anthropogenic activities (human activities).

11. Factors… Man by nature is gregarious and is out basically to capture all opportunities to his advantage and, in most cases, disregarding the consequent reactions of the environment to the activities ( Jimoh , 2000 and Table 1).

12. Factors… The major factors of ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION are being discussed under the following heads:- Population Growth: The problem of population growth has become a global phenomenon, which has got its alarming proportion in environmental degradation

13. Factors… The increase in population in an area would have its impact in the environment, it is important to examine the data more carefully and study the specific relationship between populations and environment.

14. Factors… There is a debate on whether population increase cause environmental degradation, but the reality is that the problem of population and environment is more complex and population increases and consumption patterns compound to impact on the environment.

15. Factors… The problem of population growth has been a very emotional issue, there is a direct relationship between increase in population numbers and environmental impact, more people, require some utilizing more land for buildings, more minerals, more water and more energy. The side effects include enhanced use of chemicals, chemical fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, deforestation, increased population and heavy load on transport etc.,

16. Factors… Thus the population growth has become the main cause of environmental pollution, which should be reduced through some comprehensive legislation

17. Factors… (ii ) Urbanisation ; As the population moves from the villages towards the town and the city, Urban area is descending into chaos facing a lack of water and sanitation, affordable housing, roads, public transport and clean air.

18. Factors… Urbanization while having a positive impact on income levels, employment and production economics has brought with it many problems including a shortage of housing, inadequate water supply, sanitation and waste disposal facilities, congestion, traffic problems, air, water and noise pollution as well as an unsafe social environment.

19. Factors… (iii) Agricultural development: Current agricultural practices in developing countries are causing both ecological and social harm. In recent years, there has been considerable concern about human capacity to produce adequate food to meet both the needs of the growing population, and the increase in purchasing power resulting in higher consumption of animal product.

20. Factors… The concern arises from the fatigue of the Green Revolution and the growing damage to the ecological foundations essential for sustainable food security, such as land, water, biodiversity, forests and the atmosphere.

21. Factors… The agricultural development pollutes the environment in various ways e.g., i ) Through the application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and insecticides, ii) Through increase in irrational facilities and amount of irrigation, iii) By making changes in biological communities etc., Increased use of pesticides, insecticides and herbicides to control diseases of crops, in the agricultural fields, contaminates the soils.

22. Factors… (iv)Industrialization process: Despite the explicit policies of industrial dispersal of the, the concentration of industries in and around major centre has continued. The large industries that can internalize the entries production process have moved away from urban canters to take advantage of the various subsidies and concessions. With very poor environmental controls being exercised by the authorities, such industries in urban areas have been causing severe water and air pollution

23. Factors… Most industries discharge waste water into rivers and water courses without adequate treatment. Industrial effluents are not easily biodegradable and after beyond the natural assimilation capacity of the rivers, with the result that water bodies remain polluted affecting the health of the population in the region.

24. Factors… (v) Exploitation of natural resources in order to meet industrial demands of raw materials has resulted into i ) the reduction of forest covers due to reckless cutting of trees, ii) excavation of land for mining purposes, iii) reduction in arable land due to industrial expansion

25. Factors… (iv) Deforestation gives birth to several problems encompassing environmental degradation through accelerated rate of soil erosion, increase in the sediment load of the rivers, siltation or reservoirs and river beds, increase in the frequency and dimension of floods and droughts, changes in the pattern of distribution of precipitation , intensification of greenhouse effects increase in the destructive force of the atmospheric storms etc., Thus deforestation cause a chain effects which adversely affect the natural environment.

26. Factors… (vi) Electronic Waste (E-waste): In a fast developing economy like India, electronics, telecommunications and computerizations are now inseparable from the idea of “modernization”. Education and communication are developmental goals, and their connectivity is good, but when they contain toxic substances, their disposal and recycling becomes a health nightmare.

27. Factors… Electronic gadgets have penetrated every aspect of our lives and most of us do not think about what happens to the gadgets we discard or upgrade. The impact of digital technology on human life may vary. But, if we were to analyze the footprint of digital development, we would find that everyone is being touched by the fast-growing electronics industry.

28. Factors… Every year these computers and mobiles phones are either dumped in landfills or burnt in smelters. E-waste makes up 5% of all municipal solid wastes worldwide, more or less the same amount as general plastic waste, but much hazardous. With fast and rapid technological change and lesser lifespan of all products, the problems seem to be further compounding.

29. Factors… E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams, with people changing their computers, television sets, and mobile phones more frequently that ever before.

30. The effects of environmental degradation