ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
TOPIC: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND MANAGEMENT
What
is environment?
Environment is all external conditions
surrounding an organism and which have influence over its behavior or
activities. OR; Environment refers to all things that surrounding human being.
Classification
of Environment
(a) The past environment
(b) The
current environment
(c) The future environment
The
Past Environment
Is the sum of all external conditions
surroundings the human being after the current environment. This give to the organism,
which are seen to day
The
Current Environment
Are all external conditions surrounding the
organism currently. It moulds the organism of tomorrow.
The
Future Environment
Is the sum of all external conditions
expedited to surround the organism in future. This mould the organism after
their passage through the two previous named environment.
Components
of Environment
There are two components of environment,
namely;
1. The living components
2. The non-living component
The
Living Components
This
is also known as Biological environment that include all living organism and
macro-organism i.e. plants animal, people, microorganism and macro-organism.
The
Non-Living Components.
This include gases, liquids and solids also
it include. Atmospheric environment, Hydrological environment and who this
environment.
Importance
of Environment
The followings are various ways in which the
environment is important
(1) Environment
sustains life. Environment
support life to the living things because it provides water, soil food and
place for settlement as well as air.
(2) Environment
provides natural resources. All
natural resources are obtained from the environment. Examples of natural
resources are forest, soil, water minerals etc. These natural resources area
very importance for economic development.
(3) Environment
has aesthetic values. Aesthetic
value are demographically land scape drainage, feature, Low land fauna are the
beautiful to look at the natural settings. These features can act as the source
of economic development.
Qn. What is the social-economic importance
of environment (Give 8 points)
Environmental
Problems
Environmental problems referred as the hazard
or risk. Hazard referred as danger or risk.
Environmental problems are potential up
several calamity or disaster. There is a relationship between environmental
hazards and human activities.
The
following are the common environmental problems.
(1)
Loss of
biodiversity
(2)
Soil
erosion
(3)
Diseases
(4)
Over
grazing
(5)
Over
population
(6)
Over
cultivation
(7)
Epidemics
(8)
Pollution
(9)
Drought
(10) Desertification
(11)Harmful radiation
(12) Global warming
The
problems are caused by the following environment hazards
(1)
Floods
(2)
Lighting
(3)
Pest and
diseases
(4)
Drought
(5)
Earth
quakes
(6)
Volcanic
eruption
(7)
Nuclear wastes
(8)
Wind
storms.
Note: Some geographers do consider hazards to be
actual problems.
BRIEF
EXPLANATION ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
1. Loss of Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the variety of species of
organism on the earth. The process of loss of biodiversity is called extinction. Loss of biodiversity refers
to the disappearance of different organism both fauna and flora.
Loos of biodiversity is generally caused by
deforestation, burning forest, natural disaster, mining, use of harmful
chemicals among others.
Causes
of loss of Biodiversity
The causes can be either natural or human
causes;
(a) Natural causes
(1) Occurrence of floods. Floods kills most kind of organisms at the place
where they occurs
(2) Natural lightning. Natural electricity also cause to the loss of
biodiversity like plant and animals.
(3)
Wind storms. Excessive winds (strong
wind) Up root Plants and cause massive death of plant and animal
(4) Pests and diseases. High rate of pests and diseases tend to kill large
number of organism
(5) Land slide. This kind of mass movement also lead to the loss of
biodiversity on the earth
(6)
Earth quake
(7)
Eruption of volcanism
(8) Gravitation etc.
(b) Human causes
These are human activities which cause for
loss of biodiversity. The following are some of human causes for loss of
biodiversity;
(1) The use of bombs in the war. The use of bombs in the war
leads to the loss/killing of many people and other biodiversity hence loss of
biodiversity.
(2) Pollution. Both water, air, and land pollution causes for loss of
biodiversity. Pollution refers to the addition of wastes or unwanted material
on the land, water and air (Environment)
(3)
Bad fishing method. Unlawful fishing in the
water bodies also led to the loss of biodiversity due to the excessive
extraction of aquatic materials in the water and the uses of poisons and other
method of fishing.
(4) Bad methods of cultivation. Poor methods of cultivation like the use of fertilizers,
shifting cultivation also may cause to the loss of biodiversity
(5)
Soil erosion. Soil erosion that influenced
by different erosive agents, also cause for the massive loss of biodiversity to
the environment.
(6) Over population. Overpopulation that associated with establishment of
settlement and different human activities in one way or another cause for the
loss of biodiversity.
(7)
Desertification. Excessive destruction of
trees and other vegetation cover tend to cause for the loss of biodiversity,
especially those depend their lives on vegetation
The
Effects of Loss of Biodiversity.
(1)
Lead to
the failure of ecology and scientific activities
(2)
Decrease
of living organism
(3)
Lead to
the depreciations in aesthetic value of the environment
2.
Environmental Pollution
It is the process of additional of harmful
materials into the environment.
Environmental pollution is in term of; air, water, land, and noise
pollution.
POLLUTION
AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
By definition environmental pollution is the addition
of waste or harmful substance or material on the environment. Pollution can be
in term of gases, liquid, or solid.
Forms
of Pollution
(d) Water pollution
(e) Air pollution
(f) Noise pollution (sound waves)
(g) Land/soil pollution
A. Water
Pollution
Refers to the addition of unwanted harmful
substances (materials) in the water sources
Causes of Water Pollution
The following are some of the causes of water
pollution;
(1) Disposal of oil waste and other products
(2) Disposal of sewage materials from homes
(3) Fertilizers from agricultural activities
(4) Bad methods of fishing like the uses of
poison
(5) Water transportation that mostly lead to oil
spill over
(6) Irrigation agriculture that taking place near
the sources of water
Effects of Water Pollution
(i) Lead to the loss of biodiversity
(ii) Facilitate to air pollution due to bad
smell of water
(iii) Cause for acidic rainfall.
(iv) May cause for inadequate of clean and
safe water
Possible Solution to the Effects of Water
Pollution
(1) To avoid bad method of agriculture like the
use of chemicals in irrigation schemes nearby source of water.
(2) There should be an establishment of laws to
protect the sources of water.
(3) Ships should be checked before starting their
journey so as to avoid the problems of oil spill over.
(4) People should avoid bad method of fishing,
especially in the use of poisons
(5) Education should be given to the people so as
to avoid pollution of water sources
B. Air
Pollution
Air pollution refers to the addition of
harmful substance in the air (atmosphere)
Causes of Air Pollution
The following are some of the causes of air
pollution;
(1) Exhaust smoke from industries, that tend to contaminate
with atmospheric air
(2) Car fumes. These are smokes from different motor vehicles that also can
cause for the pollution of air.
(3) Volcanic eruptions. In all of volcanic eruption led to the emission of
harmful chemical gases that tend to be contaminated to the atmospheric air
(gas). Most of gases came from volcanic eruption contain sulphur gases and
carbon dioxide.
(4) Dusts from windstorms. Different dusts caused by wind storms also tend to
pollute the atmospheric air hence air pollution take place.
(5) Mining and Quarrying activities. Mining and quarrying
activities contribute to the air pollution through the use of exploitive
materials. Also mining and quarrying machines and chemical used in the mineral
processing tend to pollute the air
(6) Uses of chemical sprays. This is through poisonous gases and liquid are
released into the atmosphere from factories, farms (agricultural activities)
(7) Bush fire. Setting fire in the forest and bushes for clearing the area
so as to be used in agricultural activities, construction of industries and
establishment of settlement also cause for the additional of carbon dioxide and
other harmful gases, hence air pollution
Effects of Air Pollution
The following are the effects caused by air
pollution.
(i)
Loss of biodiversity
(ii)
Decline of oxygen gas
(iii)
Depletion of ozone layer
(iv) Led
to the Global warming
(v)
May led to the formation of acidic rain
(iv)
Eruption of air bone deceases.
Solution to the Effects of Air Pollution
The following are the ways to be used/ under
taken so as to stop the prolonged effects of air pollution.
(1)
Provision
of environment education so as to avoid air pollution
(2)
Enforcement
of laws that prohibit air pollution.
(3)
For
mutations of environmenlatal policies that emphasizes on environmental
protection
(4)
Prohibition
in the use of chemical sprays in any economic activities
(5)
To avoid
bush firing
(6)
Afforestation
and refforestation that may promote to the increase of vegetation cover that
may trap all harmful gases both from mining and industries.
C. Noise Pollution
Noise pollution is the addition of different
noises on the environment
Causes of Noise Pollution
Noise pollution can be caused through the
following.
(i)
High pitch and booming music
(ii)
Motor vehicles
(iii)
Acropolises
(iv) Machine
from factories
(v) Machine
from construction sites
(vi) Bombs
from military operations and practices
(vii)The
use of explosive methods in quarrying and mining activities
Effects of Noise Pollution
(1) Led to communication barrier
(2) May cause for ear problems
(3) Led to the mental problems
(4) May led to the head-ach
Solution to the Effects of Noise Pollution
The following are the major ways of
overcoming the noise pollution
(i) There
should be a frequent health check up
(ii) There
should be a reduction of noises in the environment
(iii)
There should be an alternative source of power in the factory in stead of using
generator.
Qn. Describe
the causes and effects of pollution and mismanagement with suggestive.
3. Land or soil
degradation (environmental degradation)
This refers to the destruction of soil or land surface. This is
caused by big construction activities, poor cultivation methods, overgrazing,
mining activities and soil erosion.
4. Deforestation
Deforestation is the disappearance of trees. This is caused by poor
cultivation methods, overgrazing, lumbering, construction, needs for fuel wood,
charcoal and rapid population growth.
5. Global
warming
Is the gradual increase in temperature on the
earth’s surface. This is caused by emission of harmful gases (methane,
hydrocarbon, NO2, CO2,), which present the heat energy
from escaping in the space in the world. People add 6 billion tones of CO2
annually by 3 billion tones are absorbed by ocean and plants. Chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCS).
6.
Natural hazards
Natural hazards are like, drought, flood,
7. Desertification
Desertification is the sum of all process on the environment
which results in the formation of desert. Or is simply the development of
desert.
Causes
of Desertification
Desertification is caused by natural and
human factors, which they include the followings;
(i) Insufficient rainfall. Absence
or low rainfall in an area may give the chance for desertification
(ii) High temperature. High
temperature lead to the high rate of evaporation, hence may lead to the drought
in an area leading to the (desertification) dry of vegetation
(iii) Cold ocean currents. Cold
Ocean currents they drop moist over the sea and reach the land as dry wind,
hence may lead to the desertification on the area.
(iv) Relief barrier. Land
situated on the leeward sides on mountain ranges may become a desert because of
the rain shadow effect of the mountain. Wind ward sides receive rainfall unlike
to leeward side that may influence to the desertification.
(v) Vast distance from the sea.
The land located far away from the sea or ocean that may have low or no
rainfall. These places located away from the sea may become deserts because of
lacking moist wind from the sea/ocean.
(vi) Dry wind system. The wind
originated from the interior of continents can lead to the desertification of
region over which they blow.
(vii) High pressure system.
Areas that have high pressure system with low humidity, there is no. rainfall
in those areas, hence desertification
(viii) Human activities. Human
activities also may influence desertification. The human activities are like;
(a) Bad method of
agriculture that practiced through;
@ Monoculture
@ Shifting cultivation
@ High use of inorganic
fertilizers
(b) Animal keeping with over
grazing
(c) Deforestation; that
influenced by cutting trees for different uses like firewood, timber, charcoal
also lead to the desertification
(d) Bush fires. The process
of burning forests and bushes also tend to cause desertification.
FAST
RATE OF POPULATION AND URBAN GROWTH ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Rapid population growth and rapid or fast
growth of urban centers have the following consequences;
(i)
Lead to unemployment
(ii)
May cause to under development
(iii)
Lead to poor housing and health facilities
(iv)
Influence underutilization of agricultural resources.
(v) Increased
balance in traditional attitudes
(vi)
Reduction of cash crops production
(vii) Increase in crimes
(viii) Increase in environmental pollution and degradation.
Urban
Growth
Urban growth has positive effect (advantages)
and negative effects (disadvantages)
Positive
sides
(i) Encourage unity among people.
Because in urban centers there is high rate of interactions
(ii) Create employment opportunities. In towns there
are many sources of employment opportunities
(iii) Create markets. High number of
people acts as the source of market for different business and services
(iv) Facilitate to the development of technology.
In towns there are different people with different skill, which may influence
for innovation and invention
(v) Facilitate to the improvement of
social service. Growth of towns in relation to the high number of people in
a particular town tends to enforce improvement of social services in relation
to population
Negative
sides
(i) Led to the inadequate of social services.
This is due to the high number of people in towns
(ii) Immorality (decline of morality). This
is due to the high interaction of people with different culture in the towns
(iii) Led to poor planning of urban center. Massive
population increase in urban centers may lead to the poor management and
planning of the town
(iv) Destruction of culture. This is due to
the high interaction of people with different culture, as well as high rate of
diffusion of modernization in towns
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