Understanding Water Pollution and Its Environmental Impact
Water pollution causes the contamination of surface waters due to excessive waste disposal. This waste comes from various human activities, including industrial farming, which brings toxic products and the transport of heavy metals. Intentional discharges from washing tanks in high volumes further exacerbate the issue. The consequences include a loss of water quality that adversely affects aquatic ecosystems. The most affected river sections are the low and middle areas, which face contamination. An automatic network for information and warning about the quality of surface waters is being implemented, along with actions to restore degraded waters.
Losses, alterations, and destruction of vegetation, along with damage from natural causes such as high temperatures or insect pests, lead to discoloration and defoliation of trees. Programs to combat pests and conserve the genetics of endangered species are in place. Alteration of ecosystems is often motivated by the substitution of native species with those of high economic efficiency. Deforestation of extensive land cover in Spain is driven by logging to obtain land for pasture and crops. Some deforestation is caused by natural events, such as fires, which have been favored by the densification of the understory due to neglect of cleaning duties.
The consequences of deforestation include increased soil erosion, desertification, and contamination. Soil contamination arises from industrial and municipal discharges, as well as the misuse of harmful chemical fertilizers. To address this problem, companies that emit potentially harmful pollutants are required to inform about the status of the soil. In severe cases, there is an obligation to decontaminate immediately.
Erosion is a natural phenomenon influenced by steep slopes, dryness, and precipitation patterns. Some agricultural practices damage the soil, especially when crops are grown on steep slopes without protective measures. Extreme erosion leads to desertification, particularly affecting areas on the Mediterranean coast. In response to this problem, reforestation and sustainable management of agricultural activities are being promoted.
Protected Natural Areas: Measures against environmental problems are complemented by the creation of protected natural areas. The national park law began with criteria for selecting parks that focused solely on scenic beauty. However, since 1975, other criteria such as biological and geological significance have been considered. The first law of nature protection areas was enacted, leading to the establishment of the natural network in 2000, which is a European ecological network that ensures the long-term preservation of ecosystems and habitats threatened by human activities.
The worldwide network of biosphere reserves is the most important international network of protected areas. The most significant parks are those with natural beauty, representativeness of ecosystems, and ecological importance. National parks are natural areas created to protect ecosystems, where resource exploitation is permitted only if it supports conservation efforts. Wilderness nature reserves are established to protect ecosystems, while natural monuments are formations of notable singularity. Protected landscapes are areas preserved for their aesthetic and cultural values.