Environmental degradation

Definition

Environmental degradation refers to the deterioration of the natural environment through the depletion of resources such as air, water, and soil; the destruction of ecosystems; and the extinction of wildlife. This process is often accelerated by human activities like mining and oil/gas extraction, which can lead to significant and irreversible damage to both local ecosystems and global environmental health.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Mining activities often result in habitat destruction, soil erosion, and contamination of water sources due to chemicals used in extraction processes.
2. Oil and gas extraction can lead to spills and leaks that harm aquatic life and degrade coastal ecosystems, resulting in long-term environmental impacts.
3. Environmental degradation disproportionately affects Indigenous communities who rely on healthy ecosystems for their livelihoods, cultural practices, and spiritual beliefs.
4. Climate change exacerbated by environmental degradation can lead to increased natural disasters, affecting both human populations and wildlife.
5. Efforts to mitigate environmental degradation include implementing stricter regulations on resource extraction and promoting sustainable practices in industries.

Review Questions

• How do mining practices contribute to environmental degradation in terms of local ecosystems?
  • Mining practices contribute to environmental degradation by causing habitat destruction, which displaces local wildlife and disrupts ecosystems. The removal of vegetation for mining operations leads to soil erosion and loss of biodiversity. Furthermore, mining can contaminate nearby water sources with heavy metals and toxic chemicals, negatively impacting aquatic life and the communities that depend on these water sources.
• Discuss the relationship between oil/gas extraction and air quality degradation, highlighting specific environmental consequences.
  • Oil and gas extraction can significantly degrade air quality through emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and greenhouse gases like methane. These emissions contribute to smog formation, respiratory problems in nearby communities, and climate change. Additionally, flaring excess gas releases harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, exacerbating air quality issues and impacting human health as well as local ecosystems.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of current strategies aimed at reducing environmental degradation caused by resource extraction industries.
  • Current strategies aimed at reducing environmental degradation from resource extraction industries include stricter regulatory frameworks, promoting corporate responsibility for environmental impacts, and encouraging sustainable extraction technologies. While some progress has been made in implementing environmentally friendly practices, challenges remain due to economic pressures and political resistance. The effectiveness of these strategies is often hampered by insufficient enforcement mechanisms and a lack of accountability for companies that fail to adhere to environmental standards.

Related terms

Deforestation: The large-scale removal of trees from forested areas, often leading to loss of biodiversity, disruption of water cycles, and increased greenhouse gas emissions.

Pollution: The introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment, which can cause adverse effects on living organisms and ecosystems.

Ecosystem services: The benefits that humans derive from natural ecosystems, including clean air and water, pollination of crops, and climate regulation.