Annette Nielsen
Geography 1700
E-Portfolio Assignment
Environmental Degradation
ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
I have chosen to focus my report on the mass extinction portion of environmental degradation.
According to the SLCC’s Geosciences Department’s website, Earth is experiencing its sixth largest mass
extinction of species and is found throughout the entire world.
A factor contributing to this current extinction is due largely in part to human activity. Our
activities as humans lead to climate changes, deforestation, poaching, population growth, urbanization,
and habitat loss. Changes to the Earth’s climate is the number one cause, in my opinion, as what affects
EVERYTHING else…it can affect the rest of our topics: deforestation, poaching, population growth,
urbanization, and habitat loss. Many believe that because the Earth’s climate is constantly changing, it is
also causing a depletion in the Earth’s Ozone Layer. With this comes increased UV Rays which are
harmful to humans in large amounts. Exposure to UV Rays may cause cancer, with the most common
being skin cancer. It’s not only harmful to humans, it also has been linked to giving animals sunburns,
and also dries out plants. 1
Along with increased UV Rays, climate changes can also cause a lot of other miscellaneous
health problems. The three main categories of health risks/problems include: (1) direct-acting (due to
heat waves, air pollution, and physical weather disasters…like hurricanes and tornados); (2) impacts
mediated via climate-related changes in ecological systems and relationships (such as crop yields,
mosquito ecology, and marine productivity); and (3) the more diffuse/indirect consequences relating to
impoverishment, displacement, resource conflicts (such as water and/or oil), and post-disaster mental
health problems. 2
Along with health problems, climate changes often lead to too much water or too little water,
which leads to floods or droughts. With the changes in food and water supplies, it often leads to other
various adverse health outcomes, such as malnutrition, diarrhea, injuries, cardiovascular and/or
respiratory diseases, and water-borne and insect-transmitted diseases, especially in third world
countries. Along with human contribution, natural conditions also lead to climate changes. These
include hurricanes, tornados, and earthquakes.3
Deforestation is “to divest or clear of forests of trees”.5 The loss of forests can cause animal
extinction and loss of habitats. It can also lead to the inability for forests to regenerate oneself. Poaching
can lead to deforestation as well. This is because when hunters poach or hunt in areas of deforestation
by removing key species from ones habitat and leads to the inability for forests to regenerate oneself.
The loss of a single species can mean extinction for many others.6
Slash-and-Burn agriculture in the rain forest near Puerto Maldanado, Peru (Photo by R. Butler)4
Population growth and urbanization are the other factors that are causing environmental
degradation, and they also affect every other aspect. With population growth comes urbanization. With
urbanization often comes deforestation. When the population grows, we often need to find new places
to build, and most of the time, people don’t care where they build.
I think that the solution to this problem is to be aware of everything that is going on and to be
careful of where you develop land. We also need to be aware that EVERY action has a reaction, whether
it’s negative or positive.
REFLECTION
Ever since high school, I have been well aware of the degradation of the environment, and the
said causes and effects. And I’d have to agree. I know that I am not always doing my part when it comes
to helping the planet/environment, such as recycling, but as a whole, I think society needs to be able to
take small steps first and move up from there.
WORKS CITED
1- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_depletion#The_ozone_hole_and_its_causes
2- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_climate_change_on_humans
3-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change#Causes
4-http://rainforests.mongabay.com/0803.htm
5-http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/deforestation?s=t
6-http://rainforests.mongabay.com/0813.htm