Environmental degradation: What is, causes, consequences and examples

It is defined as Environmental degradation to the process of deterioration suffered by the environment as a consequence of exhaustion of its natural resources for the overexploitation to those who are subjected; thus causing the destruction of ecosystems and their biodiversity.

The Symptoms of environmental degradation There are many, among them:

• Global warming.
• The destruction of the ozone layer.
• The appearance of new diseases.
• The extension of existing diseases.
• Food insecurity.
• The accumulation of waste.

Environmental degradation is also directly related to the economic development of a country and all those activities that are carried out to obtain natural resources and for the generation of goods and services. In addition, another factor to take into account is population growth, since the greater the population is more necessary to obtain resources and generation of goods and services to meet the needs of the same. Therefore, it could be said that environmental degradation is due to the combination of population increase, economic growth and the use of polluting technology. There are many activities that cause environmental degradationamong them are:

• Urbanization growth: By increasing the population, it causes a change in land use, which will be destined for urban settlements. As a consequence, an increase in water, energy use is generated, as well as increases the generation of waste and pollutants
• Increased agricultural and livestock activities: Intensive agriculture and livestock, not only causes a loss in soil quality due to bad practices and the use of agrochemicals, but to be able to support them they need large amounts of water and the use of fossil fuels for the realization of all the work that is carried out. The use of fossil fuels ends up emitting greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, thus contributing to global warming.
• Increased fishing activity: This increase is also due to population increase, unsustainable fishing can generate the disappearance of many of the species that inhabit marine ecosystems.
• Transport: It produces a large number of air pollutants emissions, altering air quality and being a danger to people’s health. But not only are emissions a problem, but also all waste that is generated due to transport such as oils, lubricants, scrap, noise generation, as well as the need for hydrocarbons to make them work.
• Industry: Although thanks to the industry, jobs are generated, it is one of the causes that creates the greatest impact on the environment. They generate large amounts of waste of all kinds, thus contaminating soil, water and atmosphere. It needs the burning of fossil fuels for energy generation and some are highly dangerous, causing a great environmental disaster in case of accident.
• Deforestation: Due to deforestation They are destroying many of the planet’s ecosystems, as well as the biodiversity that is found in them and, on many occasions, it even ends indigenous settlements.

The consequences of environmental degradation They are increasingly worrying, and in some cases they are even irreversible. Next, some of them will be shown:

• Loss of water quality and exhaustion of it.
• Destruction of ecosystems and the environment.
• Desertification and loss of soil quality.
• Increase and extension of diseases.
• Displacement and extinction of animal and plant species.
• Salinization of coastal areas due to the increase in the sea level due to the insglaciation of the poles, due to the temperature increase caused by global warming.
• Increase of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

These are some Environmental degradation examples:

• Water degradation: This is not only altered by the polluting substances that reach them from industries and agrochemicals used in agriculture, but also a shortage in places where water was abundant before, and all due to overexploitation. In addition, it happens that not water receives a good purifying treatment. In this link we talk about the causes and contamination of water.
• Soil degradation: The soil is not renewable and its recovery is very expensive, it looks very deteriorated since the use of this is changed not only for urban extension, but also for intensive activities such as agriculture or livestock, among others. Here we tell you more about what is the degradation of the soil and the causes, consequences and solutions for soil pollution.
• Air degradation: This is degraded when there is the presence of harmful and harmful substances from emissions that can issue industries or transport. Enter here you will learn more about the causes, consequences and solutions for air pollution.

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