We are constantly faced with the prospect of maintaining a harmonious relationship between our environment and ourselves. It is essential to take action to preserve both while minimizing negative effects on one’s health or that of Mother Earth.
Despite the alarm bells ringing in my mind, I have become complacent in the assumption that I can continue interacting with nature in an unceasingly beneficial fashion. However recent findings have demonstrated just how detrimental this attitude towards environmental conservation can be – it could even lead to unforeseen consequences for future generations!
Over the past decade, researchers have been able to quantify how much time we spend in front of screens and assess its impact on our well-being. Moreover, they’ve pinpointed which devices are most likely to trigger feelings of anxiety and depression – all so as not to overlook any aspect of life!
Since addressing environmentalism has never been a more pressing issue, it is only natural that discussion regarding its related conundrum – human impact – frequently emerges. Despite our best efforts at mitigating factors that elevate this issue’s frequency on our radar screen, the reality remains that we as a species remain largely responsible for its deleterious effects on our planet’s ecosystemic integrity. What follows are some startling statistics about these issues!
Unquestionably, there is no denying that overpopulation and resource exploitation have had detrimental impacts on numerous ecosystems across the globe. At present we stand poised to surpass seven billion individuals; this figure could even reach nine billion by 2100 – an alarming prospect indeed! Combined with these figures from the United Nations Special Fund (UNSF) estimations indicate that population growth and consumption patterns may ultimately prove far more detrimental than anticipated!
1. Increased ocean acidification from fossil fuel emissions
From the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, transportation and industrial processes, the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere has resulted in elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide and other aerosols. This results in a gradual yet drastic change to Earth’s atmospheric composition as temperatures rise; it is known as global warming.
Oceanic acidification is ascribed to polluted runoff – mainly from mining activities and agriculture – which dissolves in seawater and forms carbonic acid. If left unchecked, this could have serious ramifications for our planetary ecosystem.
2. Deforestation and its effect on wildlife habitats
Deforestation is an ongoing issue that must be addressed by the world community, and one of its more pernicious manifestations is wildlife habitat destruction. Ever wonder why you’re never likely to find a lion roaming through your neighborhood? This is because their preferred habitats – such as woodland areas – are typically remote and thus inaccessible to human settlers.
Deforested land often becomes barren wilderness within only a few years of clearing. Bandit raids on villages or incursions by rogue animals are not uncommon occurrences, forcing locals to abandon their homes in search of safer pastures.
3. Overfishing and its long-term effects on fish populations
After a century of aquaculture and overfishing, the world’s oceans are being depleted at an alarming pace.
Out of 1,700 types of fish in U.S. waters (in 2016), 9% had been completely eradicated and another 37% were experiencing serious declines.
In 1994, Great Britain banned commercial fishing for mackerel – an abundance had dwindled due to overfishing and hybridization processes that required little effort on behalf of fishermen.
Some nations have employed technology to aid their efforts in curbing overfishing, including the use of seabed cameras which can identify potential areas for harvesting.
