The Effects Of Environmental Degradation On The Environment

Habit loss has been one of the most prominent issues regarding the animal kingdom, and now it seems like the human race is trying to rid our earth of the decreasing amount of flora in certain areas. In Indonesia rain forests are being torn apart to make way for palm oil plantations. Although palm oil is used in packages foods and cosmetics, the Sumatrans elephants and orangutan are suffering from the habitats loss. (Corwin, 8)

The beauty, majesty, and timelessness of a primary rainforest is indescribable. It is impossible to capture on film, to describe in words, or to explain to those who have never had the awe-inspiring experience of standing in the heart of a primary rainforest. Rainforests have evolved over millions of years to turn into the incredibly complex environments they are today. Rainforests represent a store of living and breathing renewable natural resources that for eons, by virtue of their richness in both animal and plant species, have contributed a wealth of resources for the survival and well-being of humankind. These resources have included basic food supplies, clothing, shelter, fuel, spices,

Humankind co-exists with the natural world many may say. However, humankind is constantly drifting away from nature, and we as humans no longer interact with the natural world around us. Today most of the society focuses on technology and other aspects that distract us from being in contact with nature. As we grow in our lives we seem to die in our interactions with nature, causing us to become less involved, and then that causes nature to die itself. From us neglecting the environment we suffer great consequences with the natural world and within ourselves. We lack the ability to understand and connect with the environment, and with us not focused on our world we cause it to become into dangerous hands. We no longer should just sit back and

Advocates for the preservation of these forests state that deforestation has devastating consequences including social conflict, extinction of plants and animals, and dangerous climate changes, and that local deforestation in these forests are causing damages that aren’t just local, but global. While opponents claim that tropical forests are destined to diminish as it is necessary for the growing human population to clear the natural landscape to make room for farms and pastures, to harvest timber for construction and fuel, to build roads and urban areas and to develop the economies of the often poor countries that surround the equator.

Rainforest loss and deforestation is a problem that has been around for decades but it continues to worsen. A report from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), says that all types of forests form around 30 percent of our world (Deforestation). Forests are home to millions of our animal and insect species that keep our world diverse. The forests that are being destroyed are also the growing grounds for millions of plants and trees. There are many pros and cons to deforestation, but the problems outweigh the good by far. Many other issues are starting arise from deforestation and people are always working to find new solutions to help rebuild our forests and save the animals and plants.

Rainforests are one of the biggest victims to biodiversity loss and deforestation. They cover only 7% of the world's surface but house about half of all the plant and animal species on the earth. If human manufactured deforestation occurs in the rainforests many of the smaller more secluded species are at high risk for extinction. Some animals only live in certain portions of the rainforest and if that certain part is taken out, so is that species.

Recently, the rise in the production value of palm oil has taken a large toll on some of the planet's oldest rainforests. Much of the rainforest has been demolished for growth of palm trees farmed for their palm oil. Palm oil plantations have taken over nearly one million acres of rainforests (“Palm Oil Plantations are Blamed for Many Evils”). In areas such as the Leuser ecosystem, there is an illegal clearing of rainforests destroying the homes of native people and the habitats that many unique animals call home (“As Palm Oil Farms Expand, it’s a Race to Save Indonesia's Orangutans.”). Farmers are forced to continue clearing land to produce enough palm oil to reach economic demands. In fact, the palm oil industry is the world’s largest cause of deforestation (“Dear EarthTalk”). From 2009 through 20011 over One million two hundred thousand acres of forest was destroyed (‘‘Palm Oil is Killing the Sumatran Tiger”) Dr. Ian Singleton claimed: “The road from Medan to here is kind of the only road out of Medan that’s not palm oil as

     As I mentioned before our environment has a great effect on our nature. For example a theory claimed that, the first humans

The rainforest supports the greatest biodiversity on Earth, playing an important role in various areas. Unfortunately, parts of these biological wonders are almost constantly being wiped out. Thousands of acres of rainforest are lost every day. At one point they covered 20% of the land surface on Earth. Now they cover less than 6% but hold over half of the world's plant and animal populations. Scientists predict that if this rate of loss continues, all the rainforests could be gone in less than 50 years (Taylor). Human impacts such as deforestation and combustion are destroying the rainforests now more than ever and are creating extreme damage. Some reasons for rainforest destruction include wood needed for fires or timber, pulp to make paper, road construction, agriculture, extraction of energy and minerals, or land for people, crops, and animals (Butler). This disturbance that humans are creating can have a great effect on the cycles of matter.

Nearly everything that a human does is in response to the environment. Our lives are defined by what is around us and what we find in front of us, whether this means accepting, dealing with or changing it. This has been the pattern since primates first stood up and became Homo erectus, and has continued until we considered ourselves doubly wise. The shape of the land affected where humans moved. Weather was something with which to contend. Fire affected humans until they conquered it – and herein lies the core of the relationship. The earth affects humans, and humans affect it back, viewing characteristics and patterns as problems and challenges, and finding a solution.

Over the course of the past few centuries, the Earth as a whole has felt anthropogenic effects due to increased human presence and impacts such as habitat loss. Habitat loss is the process of damage and eventual destruction in some cases of ecosystems on a local and global scale which result in them not being able to systematically support the species present due to displacement or destruction which successively reduces biodiversity of endemic species. Habitat loss and fragmentation have been known to be the greatest threats to biodiversity worldwide. The cause and effect of human impacts on tropical rainforests has led to extinction of local organisms on a grand scale which has resulted in what is

Despite what mankind would like to believe, humans are animals. As multi-celled organisms, we consume other organic matter, change the land for own uses as a beaver would build a dam, and as other mammals, we are all fed breast milk from our mothers when we were young. Yet there is this disconnection and alienation of the human race towards other species. Moreover, through fear of taking action, the convenience provided to us if we simply choose to ignore the environment, and the alienation of other species that are endangered by our actions, the hostile and uncaring attitude of humans towards nature is the core reason for many of the problems in our environment today.

The rate of deforestation is increasing and the tropical forests are falling at approximately 140,000 acres per day (Miller & Tangley 1991: xvi). The forests are crucial to the environment. They are important in minimizing erosion, providing a stable habitat for many animals, and helping to keep the environment clean. Deforestation has devastating effects, not only on the biological dependents within the depleted forests, but also on the surrounding human-populated communities.

It has been widely acknowledged that an increase in anthropogenic activity will put an ever-increasing pressure on the global and regional resources. Particularly in the South Pacific, where the resources are limited compared to large continents. The delicate relationship between the ecological systems of the Pacific makes these resources often scarce that are getting depleted at a faster rate than it is being recovered by the natural systems. Logging is an example of such an activity, which has dramatically increased as a direct consequence of the rising populations (For example, Solomon Islands). Indigenous people of the Pacific damaged many landscapes and habitats upon settlement. Deforestation (linked to logging) was a major disturbance on the islands of the South Pacific. On the contrary, the early settlers also learnt self-subsistence farming and positive forestry practices that are still widely used today (Clarke, 1990). Researchers have found a strong linkage between population size and depletion of natural resources. For example, Papua New Guinea or PNG was heavily covered in natural rain forest until the 1980, after when it was severely logged (Filer, 2013). This essay will focus on the historical and contemporary issues surrounding logging in the South Pacific and relate it to the rising population.

1. Introduction Conservation of Biodiversity in Cambodia has been gathering momentum in the past few years in response to international conservation efforts and increased land degradation and loss (Conservation International 2004). International monetary institutions such as the World Bank and transnational NGOs such as Conservation International have been influential in changing forestry legislation in Cambodia (Reuters 2002). However, the implementation of these laws and practices are not always as successfully carried out or adhered to on a local level (Reuters 2002). The flaws in implementation may eventually lead to the degradation of the biodiversity in question. The