6.3.6 Environmental Degradation
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6.3.6 Environmental Degradation
How does globalization affect the environment?
Desertification
© Thinkstock
© Thinkstock
The negative effects of human activity on the environment are global problems. As the human population expands and more economic activities occur to improve people's standard of living, more problems are created for the environment.
These problems do not respect national boundaries; they are far-reaching and require global solutions.
Pollution consists of waste materials in the environment. Some of these occur naturally, but most are put there by human activities. Air, water, and soil become polluted through industrial activity and the disposal of all kinds of waste. One notable form of pollution that has serious effects today is particulate pollution. This is a form of air pollution in which invisible particles in the air are responsible for many problems, especially respiratory problems that can lead to death. Air quality standards can be enforced by law.
Canada's environment is protected at the federal, provincial, and municipal level with many regulations. Some people believe these regulations are not strict enough.
Pollution consists of waste materials in the environment. Some of these occur naturally, but most are put there by human activities. Air, water, and soil become polluted through industrial activity and the disposal of all kinds of waste. One notable form of pollution that has serious effects today is particulate pollution. This is a form of air pollution in which invisible particles in the air are responsible for many problems, especially respiratory problems that can lead to death. Air quality standards can be enforced by law.
Canada's environment is protected at the federal, provincial, and municipal level with many regulations. Some people believe these regulations are not strict enough.
Clearcut logging in Washington.
© Thinkstock
© Thinkstock
Deforestation is the destruction of forests due to human activities. This can involve direct cutting of the forest or through pollution such as acid rain. Forests are important because they provide oxygen through photosynthesis. Also, forests
are good filters of air pollution. Trees can filter polluted air to make it clean again. Of course, depending on the type of air pollution, pollution can kill trees. Today, all the major forests of the world are threatened by human activities.
In Brazil's Amazon rain forest, large areas are being cleared for ranching and farming, which destroys trees habitat for many animals, insects, birds, and fish. As well, many areas of the Amazon rain forest and other rain forests around the world are being burned; this puts ash into the atmosphere that adds to global warming — the greenhouse effect. This deforestation is happening in developed countries as well.
Along Canada's B.C. coast, forests with trees hundreds of years old are being logged for commercial purposes. The trees are replanted but the natural biodiversity that existed cannot be replaced. Also, once the mature trees have been removed, soil washes away to clog streams making it difficult for salmon to spawn.
View the two maps. The lower map shows the countries of the world based on land area — the kind of world map you usually see.
The upper map shows forest depletion — the value of wood in countries around the world that is not sustainably harvested.
From looking at the map, you can see a great deal of deforestation is happening in South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Indonesia.
http://www.worldmapper.org/index.html
In Brazil's Amazon rain forest, large areas are being cleared for ranching and farming, which destroys trees habitat for many animals, insects, birds, and fish. As well, many areas of the Amazon rain forest and other rain forests around the world are being burned; this puts ash into the atmosphere that adds to global warming — the greenhouse effect. This deforestation is happening in developed countries as well.
Along Canada's B.C. coast, forests with trees hundreds of years old are being logged for commercial purposes. The trees are replanted but the natural biodiversity that existed cannot be replaced. Also, once the mature trees have been removed, soil washes away to clog streams making it difficult for salmon to spawn.
View the two maps. The lower map shows the countries of the world based on land area — the kind of world map you usually see.
The upper map shows forest depletion — the value of wood in countries around the world that is not sustainably harvested.
From looking at the map, you can see a great deal of deforestation is happening in South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Indonesia.
http://www.worldmapper.org/index.html
Watch
Watch this short video about deforestation from CNN.
Source: CNN
Desertification is the gradual expansion of deserts to include areas that were once fertile. Desertification can be caused by deforestation, poor farming techniques, overgrazing, and global warming. Semi-dry areas become drier, drifting sands move, and the desert grows.
Watch
Watch this short video about desertification and its effects on food production.
Source: Good planet