Environmental Degradation: Causes, Impacts, and Responsible Consumption

Posted on Dec 6, 2024 in Geology

1. Environmental Impact Definition

Any alteration or change in the environment caused by human activity or natural phenomena.

2. Natural Phenomena Altering the Environment

Eight natural phenomena that alter the environment:

  1. Hurricanes
  2. Earthquakes
  3. Tornadoes
  4. Fires
  5. Volcanic eruptions
  6. Droughts
  7. Tsunamis
  8. Floods

3. Anthropogenic Phenomena Altering the Environment

Seven human activities that alter the environment:

  1. Deforestation
  2. Destroying and polluting reefs
  3. Removing species from their environment
  4. Invading natural areas
  5. Building communication channels
  6. Building dams
  7. Constructing buildings

4. Negative Environmental Impact

Occurs when ecosystem resources are exploited, causing degradation and species loss.

5. Effects of Negative Environmental Impact

Disruption of ecological balance and cycles, reducing ecosystem efficiency in matter and energy utilization.

6. Examples of Negative Environmental Impact

  1. Loss of biodiversity due to ecosystem invasion.
  2. Illegal hunting and wildlife trade.
  3. Desertification from soil exhaustion and erosion.
  4. Eradication of vegetation cover by agriculture and livestock.

7. Primary Cause of Environmental Degradation

Primarily determined by human activity.

8. Causes of Current Environmental Degradation

  1. Over-exploitation of resources
  2. Habitat destruction
  3. Introduction of exotic species
  4. Isolation
  5. Environmental pollution
  6. Excessive population growth
  7. Consumerism

9. Resource Consumption vs. Regeneration

Human consumption of natural resources often exceeds their regeneration speed, leading to progressive deterioration and depletion.

10. Examples of Resource Overexploitation

  1. Excessive hunting
  2. Species ranking
  3. Fur trafficking
  4. Animal appendage trafficking
  5. Soil depletion
  6. Soil erosion
  7. Soil salinization
  8. Soil desertification

11. Consequence of Habitat Destruction

The immediate and unavoidable consequence is biodiversity loss from species removal or extinction.

12. Introduction of Exotic Species

Ecosystem disturbance caused by the invasion of alien species competing for resources, altering dynamics, and causing ecological imbalance.

13. Ecosystems Vulnerable to Exotic Species

Island ecosystems are most vulnerable.

14. Isolation as a Cause of Degradation

Environmental alteration involving the separation and fragmentation of natural areas, isolating organisms and reducing their access to resources and survival conditions.

15. Examples of Isolation

  1. Conversion of forests into plots for cultivation or grazing, isolating small sections of natural ecosystems and reducing biodiversity.
  2. Construction of roads, dams, or other infrastructure that divides ecosystems, disrupting interdependence and irreversibly altering them.

16. Definitions of Environmental Contamination

  1. Presence of physical, chemical, or biological agents in harmful concentrations affecting health, safety, or welfare of populations, plants, or animals.
  2. Incorporation of solid, liquid, or gaseous substances that alter natural environmental conditions and affect organisms.

17. Pollutant Definition

A material that degrades the environment.

18. Examples of Natural Contaminants

  1. Volcanic emissions
  2. Dust from wind erosion
  3. Gases from decomposition

19. Strongest Environmental Impact

The population explosion.

20. Cause of Rapid Population Growth

A decrease in mortality rate over the last 250 years.

21. Population Momentum

The cumulative effect of the number of people added annually to the world’s population.

22. Consumption Definition

Acquisition of goods or services to satisfy a need through their use.

23. Consumerism Definition

Dependency on accumulating goods and services, most of which are not indispensable.

24. Factors Promoting Consumerism

  1. Advertising
  2. Disposable products
  3. Low quality
  4. Fashion
  5. Social pressure

25. Main Cause of Ecological Imbalance

Rapid population growth.

26. Secondary Cause of Ecological Imbalance

The lifestyle characteristic of large cities.

27. Responsible Consumption

Responsible consumption can be understood in three aspects:

A) Ethical

Refers to the environmental conditions of product development and their consequences. Check product labels to select those with the least environmental damage.

B) Ecological

Includes the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (e.g., recycled paper).

C) Solidarity

Promotes fair trade and considers working conditions. Practice solidarity consumption by respecting people and the environment. Consume only what is necessary, as excessive resource use is a primary cause of environmental degradation.