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File: The Environment Pdf 55405 | 3 Item Download 2022-08-21 16-53-19
module 1 environmental science senior secondary course environment through ages notes 3 degradation of natural environment when humans evolved more than two millions years ago the natural resources were over ...

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      MODULE - 1
                                   Environmental Science Senior Secondary Course
     Environment through
         Ages
            Notes                      3
                       DEGRADATION OF NATURAL
                               ENVIRONMENT
                 When humans evolved more than two millions years ago, the natural resources were over
                 abundant as compared to human needs. As human population increased, more and more
                 food and resources for shelter were required and these were drawn at an increasing rate
                 from the environment. Even today, natural resources are being exploited by humans to
                 meet their needs. In this lesson you shall learn how human activities degrade and deplete
                 the natural resources of the environment.
                       OBJECTIVES
                 After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
                 · recall the concept of environmental degradation and factors that cause it;
                 · explain how exploitation of natural resources leads to environmental degradation;
                 · explain the relationship between population growth and environmental
                   degradation;
                 · explain the relationship between urbanization and deterioration in environment;
                 · explain the causes and effects of deforestation;
                 · draw a relationship between excessive mining and environmental degradation;
                 · explain the meaning of  fossil fuels and the impact of their use on the environment;
                 · discuss how modernization of agriculture has adversely affected the environment;
                 · discuss the impact of industrialization on abiotic (air, water and soil) and biotic
                   resources (plants and animals) of the environment;
                 · list local, regional and global backlashes caused by environmental degradation;
                 · describe the impact of environmental degradation on life.
      32
                  Degradation of Natural Environment                                                              MODULE - 1
                                                                                                                Environment through
                                                                                                                        Ages
                  3.1 CONCEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
                 Increasing use of natural resources by rapidly increasing human population has resulted in
                 overexploitation of natural resources. The consequences of such exploitation are clearly
                 seen in soil erosion, loss of biodiversity and pollution of land, air and water bodies. The    Notes
                 degradation of the environment from overexploitation has reached a level which is threatening
                 human well-being and  survival.
                  3.2 RECKLESS EXPLOITATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
                       LEADS TO ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
                 In nature, there exists an ecological balance. The activities of various organisms are
                 balanced. The interaction between abiotic and biotic components are so fine tuned that
                 there exists  an equilibrium in nature.
                 As years passed by, human activities interfered with this equilibrium. Uncontrolled human
                 activities caused damage to the environment.
                 Some of the human activities that have led to environmental degradation are mentioned
                 below-
                 1.  Forests are natural resources but they have been cut down for use by humans for
                     converting them into the cultivable fields, for building houses and for taking away logs
                     for making shelters and furniture or fuel. The rate at which trees are cut far exceeds the
                     rate at which trees grow, so forests are getting denuded.
                 2.  Trees lose lot of water through transpiration. This helps in forming rain clouds. Cutting
                     of trees and clearing of forest reduced rainfall in the area.  Also removal of plants and
                     trees leads to soil erosion.
                 3.  Forests are natural habitats of wild life.  Extinction of wild life species is on the rise
                     because their natural habitats are being destroyed due to deforestation.
                 4.  Non-renewable energy resources such as coal, natural gas and petroleum are being
                     used up speedily, leading to their depletion.
                 These are examples show the loss of natural resources due to the overuse by humans.
                 On the other hand,
                 1.  Excessive burning of coal, wood, kerosene, petrol etc. release toxic gases such as
                     SO (sulphur dioxide), NOx (oxide of nitrogen),CO(carbon monoxide) and
                         2
                     hydrocarbons in the air. These gases are also emitted by industries,  power plants,
                     automobiles and aircrafts. The toxic gases pollute air which adversely effects human
                     health and plants.
                 2.  Acid water from mines, toxic waste of industries, chemical fertilizers and pesticides
                     from agricultural fields have polluted rivers and other water bodies.
                                                                                                                                33
           MODULE - 1
                                                                    Environmental Science Senior Secondary Course
         Environment through
                 Ages
                                 3.   The problem of soil pollution is increasing day by day in villages, cities and industrial
                                      areas due to faulty disposal of solid and liquid wastes  generated from households and
                                      industries.
                                 Thus humans have spoilt the environment by (i) depleting natural resources to a critical
                       Notes     level and (ii) causing pollution to natural water bodies and land areas.
                                  3.3 IMPACT OF POPULATION GROWTH ON ENVIRONMENT
                                 The enormous increase in human population is making the future of humans insecure. It is
                                 estimated that 5 million people lived in the world at the time when agriculture begin about
                                 12000 years ago. The population of our country alone is now well over one billion.
                                 3.3.1 Factors leading to rise in population
                                 Many factors have contributed to the enormous rise in human population. These are listed
                                 below:
                                 1.   Improved agricultural practices have helped in increasing food production, hence food
                                      became available.
                                 2.   Progress in medicine prevented deaths due to injury and epidemic diseases.
                                 3.   Average longevity of humans has increased since heart, lung and kidney disorders as
                                      well as other diseases can now be diagnosed and treated through modern medical
                                      technology.
                                 3.3.2 Impact of population growth on environment
                                 With growing population, requirement for space, shelter, and commodities have  exerted
                                 enormous pressure on the environment. To provide for these, land use has change
                                 dramatically. It has already been seen that forests have been cleared for cultivation of grain
                                 and fruit crops.
                                 1. Clearing land for cultivation to grow more food
                                 Forests and natural grasslands have been converted to farmlands. Wetlands have been
                                 drained and arid lands have been irrigated. These changes have been made to grow more
                                 food and more raw materials. But in doing so, the natural resources have been depleted
                                 and the landscapes have undergone drastic changes. For example, forests have been
                                 cleaned over large for cultivation of agriculture crops.  Many mangrove forests  known to
                                 reduce erosion and stabilize shorelines have been cleared use for growing food crops to
                                 meet the needs of the growing population.
                                 2. Water scarcity
                                 Water received as rainfall, flows into rivers, lakes and other water bodies. Some of it
                                 seeps into the ground and reaches the ground water. At certain depth of the soil, all the
                                 pore spaces between soil particles are saturated with water. This depth is called Water
           34
                  Degradation of Natural Environment                                                             MODULE - 1
                                                                                                               Environment through
                 Table. The water table may remain stable if the drawn from the ground water is replenished            Ages
                 by the seepage of the rain water. But if water withdrawal exceeds beyond the rate of
                 replenishment of   the ground water table keep on receding and resulting in drying out of
                 wells. In many areas excessive withdrawl has depleted ground water resources causing
                 acute water scarcity.                                                                         Notes
                 3. Need for human settlements
                 Apart from excessive land use changes for growing food, large population means greater
                 requirement for shelter. To make houses for so many, stones and other building materials
                 have to be quarried more rocks have to be blown off and more water to be used.
                 4. Need for transport
                 Elaborate network of transport is required to fulfill the growing need of teeming millions.
                 Various modes of transports have been developed which consume growing quantities of
                 fossil fuels such as coal, gas and petroleum, polluting the atmosphere.
                 5. Need for various commodities
                 Articles of everyday use such as plastic vessels, mugs, buckets etc., agricultural implements,
                 machinery, chemicals, cosmetics etc are manufactured in factories. The raw materials and
                 fossil fuels and water needed to run industries for manufacturing these products lead to
                 their depletion. Rapid industrialization has also led to pollution from dumping of industrial
                 effluents into rivers and other water bodies. Rapid industrialization has caused much damage
                 to the environment. Mining activities have depleted stock of mineral resources particularly
                 fossil fuels.
                 Present day industrial civilization is becoming a burden on nature and it is time for us to
                 learn to live in harmony with nature.
                 6. Slum development
                 Over populated areas result in congested roads and slum formation which lack basic
                 amenities like drinking water, drainage, waste disposal, lack of  hygienic conditions and
                 filthy environment create potential conditions for public health problems including spread
                 of epidemic diseases. Discharge of untreated effluents and throwing of waste into water
                 bodies have polluted most of the lakes and rivers.
                 7. Pollution resulting from overpopulation
                 Holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and other are suffering from pollution due to discharge of
                 effluents from industries, human settlements, bathing, washing of clothes and throwing of
                 garbage into the river.
                          INTEXT QUESTIONS 3.1
                 1.  State any two types of environmental degradation caused by humans.
                     ______________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                               35
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...Module environmental science senior secondary course environment through ages notes degradation of natural when humans evolved more than two millions years ago the resources were over abundant as compared to human needs population increased and food for shelter required these drawn at an increasing rate from even today are being exploited by meet their in this lesson you shall learn how activities degrade deplete objectives after completing will be able recall concept factors that cause it explain exploitation leads relationship between growth urbanization deterioration causes effects deforestation draw a excessive mining meaning fossil fuels impact use on discuss modernization agriculture has adversely affected industrialization abiotic air water soil biotic plants animals list local regional global backlashes caused describe life rapidly resulted overexploitation consequences such clearly seen erosion loss biodiversity pollution land bodies reached level which is threatening well sur...

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