Water Supply and Pollution
Water supply is vital to every ecosystem yet the increase in human population means more consumption and less availability to water sources. In fact, our fresh water supply has decreased by one third in just the past 50 years. The United Nations Environment Program(UNEP) also estimated that in just 14 years 2/3 of the whole population will be facing issues of access to water sources.
Water pollution is the greatest form of pollution around the world. In developing countries, more than 95% of urban sewage is dumped into any waterways that are nearby. As if that weren’t enough, sediment from forest clearings and fertilizer and pesticide run-off also end up in our oceans. The biggest concerns however, are all of the toxic wastes from factories that soil the water.
Ever since the Industrial Revolution, the population has been the polluting the Earth with greenhouse gases as well. These greenhouse gases (mainly CO2, CH4, and N2O) have cause what is called a “greenhouse effect” which in turn heat the Earth’s surface temperature.
Water pollution is the greatest form of pollution around the world. In developing countries, more than 95% of urban sewage is dumped into any waterways that are nearby. As if that weren’t enough, sediment from forest clearings and fertilizer and pesticide run-off also end up in our oceans. The biggest concerns however, are all of the toxic wastes from factories that soil the water.
Ever since the Industrial Revolution, the population has been the polluting the Earth with greenhouse gases as well. These greenhouse gases (mainly CO2, CH4, and N2O) have cause what is called a “greenhouse effect” which in turn heat the Earth’s surface temperature.
Soil Degradation and Deforestation
An estimated 1.2 billion hectares of land (a combination of the size of the U.S., Europe, and Mexico) have lost most of their nutrient-rich areas from exploiting land for farming and agricultural purposes. Cultivated land has expanded 13% since 1961; however each of us can only count on half as much land as in 1961 to harvest all of the food we eat.
“Slash and burn agriculture” has been a devastating effect of human influence on forest areas. Slash and burn agriculture is a method of converting a forest area to a pasture, for farming. After 3 years the pastures usually lose their soil quality and more forests have to be cleared out and devoured for human use. Half of the world's original forests have been cleared for human land use. The world’s rain forests could completely vanish in a hundred years at the current rate of deforestation. The rapid growth of residential areas is leading to the loss of not only tress, but other species as well. Seventy percent of Earth’s land animals and plants live in forests, and many cannot survive the deforestation that destroys their homes. Trees also help to absorb greenhouse gases but with each tree that the earth loses, more damage is done to the environment.
“Slash and burn agriculture” has been a devastating effect of human influence on forest areas. Slash and burn agriculture is a method of converting a forest area to a pasture, for farming. After 3 years the pastures usually lose their soil quality and more forests have to be cleared out and devoured for human use. Half of the world's original forests have been cleared for human land use. The world’s rain forests could completely vanish in a hundred years at the current rate of deforestation. The rapid growth of residential areas is leading to the loss of not only tress, but other species as well. Seventy percent of Earth’s land animals and plants live in forests, and many cannot survive the deforestation that destroys their homes. Trees also help to absorb greenhouse gases but with each tree that the earth loses, more damage is done to the environment.
Extinction of Species
Clearing of the Amazon forest has resulted in 10% of the species in the region going extinct. This trend appears all throughout the ecosystems of the world. Scientists estimate that 150-200 species become extinct every day. Because human populations are growing so fast animals and plants are disappearing 1,000 times faster than they have in the past 65 million years. Humans are responsible for causing the changes in the environment that most plants and animals may just not be able to adapt to. Pollution and expansion of lands are also all contributing factors that explain the loss of genetic variation in modern times. The poor turtles are almost extinct!! D:
Solutions
The main problem that needs to be addressed here is the extreme growth of the human population. There really is no way for this to be solved, it is just that the average age that a person lives to is gradually increasing. As to the pollution problem, the only way that this can be solved is for people to TAKE ACTION! Participate in beach cleanups, reduce the amount of plastics you use, recycle! These are all main solutions that are right under our noses, and are even being encouraged, but the average person doesn't even think about the effects of what they're doing every day.