ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT

DDEVASTATIOEVASTATIONNOF THEOF THE

Devastation of the EnvironmentDevastation of the EnvironmentAs a Social ProblemAs a Social Problem

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE COURSE

MAED 101MAED 101

Prepared & Reported By:Submitted To:

RROWENAOWENA E. P E. PARCIAARCIAMMSS. T. TERISITAERISITA D DUMLAOUMLAO

SUBMITTED ON AUGUST O3,2013

DeforestationDeforestation in simple term  in simple term means the felling and clearing of forest means the felling and clearing of forest cover or tree plantations in order to cover or tree plantations in order to accommodate agricultural, industrial or accommodate agricultural, industrial or urban use.urban use.Deforestation can also be seen as Deforestation can also be seen as removal of forests leading to several removal of forests leading to several imbalances ecologically and imbalances ecologically and environmentally. environmentally.

DEFORESTATION or CLEARANCEDEFORESTATION or CLEARANCEOccurs Due To Several ReasonsOccurs Due To Several Reasons

•The need of money, both in terms of profitability as well as The need of money, both in terms of profitability as well as providing for one’s family in most scenariosproviding for one’s family in most scenarios

•Lack of or no forest lawsLack of or no forest laws

• Need for land space for housing etc. among a long list of other Need for land space for housing etc. among a long list of other uses.uses.

• Mainly blamed on agricultural or pastoral use, farmers cut or Mainly blamed on agricultural or pastoral use, farmers cut or burned down trees for increasing space for cultivation and/or as burned down trees for increasing space for cultivation and/or as fodder land for grazing and surviving livestock. fodder land for grazing and surviving livestock.

Causes of DeforestationCauses of Deforestation

•Agricultural ActivitiesAgricultural Activities are one of the major factors affecting are one of the major factors affecting deforestation. Due to overgrowing demand for food products, huge amount deforestation. Due to overgrowing demand for food products, huge amount of tress are fell down to grow crops and for cattle grazing.of tress are fell down to grow crops and for cattle grazing.

•Illegal LoggingIllegal Logging is a problem which the government cannot succeed to is a problem which the government cannot succeed to solve. Some of the industries thrive on illegal wood cutting and felling of solve. Some of the industries thrive on illegal wood cutting and felling of trees. If this cannot be stopped, our forests will get denuded.trees. If this cannot be stopped, our forests will get denuded.

•Charcoal MakingCharcoal Making is not being paid attention to but sometimes this is is not being paid attention to but sometimes this is worse than illegal logging. In logging, only the big trees are cut down but in worse than illegal logging. In logging, only the big trees are cut down but in charcoal making, even the young trees are cut down to be burned into charcoal making, even the young trees are cut down to be burned into charcoal.charcoal.

•UrbanizationUrbanization In order to gain access to these forests, the construction of In order to gain access to these forests, the construction of roads are undertaken; here again trees are chopped to create roads. More roads are undertaken; here again trees are chopped to create roads. More land is needed to establish housing and settlements. Therefore forest land land is needed to establish housing and settlements. Therefore forest land is reclaimedis reclaimed..

• Desertification of landDesertification of land occurs due to land abuse making it unfit for occurs due to land abuse making it unfit for growth of trees. Many industries in petrochemicals release their waste into growth of trees. Many industries in petrochemicals release their waste into rivers which results in soil erosion and make it unfit to grow plants and rivers which results in soil erosion and make it unfit to grow plants and trees.trees.

• FiresFires Another example would be forest blazes; Hundreds of trees are lost Another example would be forest blazes; Hundreds of trees are lost each year due to forest fires in various portions of the world. This happens each year due to forest fires in various portions of the world. This happens due to extreme warm summers and milder winters. due to extreme warm summers and milder winters.

• Kaingin SystemKaingin System This practice is worse than illegal logging and charcoal This practice is worse than illegal logging and charcoal making. The hillsides or mountain sides are cleared thoroughly. After 2 or making. The hillsides or mountain sides are cleared thoroughly. After 2 or 3 years, the cleared hillsides or mountain sides become barren 3 years, the cleared hillsides or mountain sides become barren wastelands. This is so because the fertile surface soil has been washed wastelands. This is so because the fertile surface soil has been washed down by rain.down by rain.

• MiningMining  Oil and Coal Mining require considerable amount of forest land. Oil and Coal Mining require considerable amount of forest land. Apart from this, roads and highways have to be built to make way for Apart from this, roads and highways have to be built to make way for trucks and other equipment. The waste that comes out from mining trucks and other equipment. The waste that comes out from mining pollutes the environment and effects the nearby species. Besides suffering pollutes the environment and effects the nearby species. Besides suffering the ecological effects, millions of people also find their land rights and the ecological effects, millions of people also find their land rights and livelihoods are threatened by mining activities.livelihoods are threatened by mining activities.

Effects Of Mining

•The mineworkers, the people in the mining communities and even those who are at the receiving end of toxic mine-tailings, are faced with serious health problems such as skin diseases, respiratory diseases, gastro-intestinal diseases, cancers, problems in reproduction.

•There is a significant erosion of traditional values, customs, which have been a key in sustaining community, tribal, clan, and family solidarity. There is a high incidence of alcoholism, drug addiction, prostitution, gambling, domestic violence in many mining communities.

•Increasing protests and resistance of communities against the entry of mines, land displacement, and pollution of the land and waters, has meant increasing militarization in many communities.

Negative Effects of Deforestation

•1. 1. Climate ImbalanceClimate Imbalance  Trees release water vapor in the air,   Trees release water vapor in the air, which is compromised on with the lack of trees. Trees also provide which is compromised on with the lack of trees. Trees also provide the required shade that keeps the soil moist. This leads to the the required shade that keeps the soil moist. This leads to the imbalance in the atmospheric temperature further making imbalance in the atmospheric temperature further making conditions for the ecology difficult. This haphazard clearance of conditions for the ecology difficult. This haphazard clearance of forests have forced several of these animals to shift from their forests have forced several of these animals to shift from their native environment. Due to this several species are finding it native environment. Due to this several species are finding it difficult to survive or adapt to new habitats.difficult to survive or adapt to new habitats.

•2. 2. Increase in Global WarmingIncrease in Global Warming Trees play a major role in  Trees play a major role in controlling controlling global warming. The trees utilize the . The trees utilize the green house gases, restoring the balance in the atmosphere. With constant , restoring the balance in the atmosphere. With constant deforestation the ratio of green house gases in the atmosphere deforestation the ratio of green house gases in the atmosphere has increased, adding to our global warming woes.has increased, adding to our global warming woes.

• 3. 3. Soil ErosionSoil Erosion Also due to the shade of trees the soil  Also due to the shade of trees the soil remains moist. With the clearance of tree cover, the soil is remains moist. With the clearance of tree cover, the soil is directly exposed to the sun. directly exposed to the sun.

• 4. 4. Flash Floods Flash Floods in deforested areas occur whenever there in deforested areas occur whenever there are heavy rains, resulting in the destruction of crops and are heavy rains, resulting in the destruction of crops and loss of lives.loss of lives.

• 5. 5. Wildlife extinctionWildlife extinction  Due to massive felling down of Due to massive felling down of trees, various species of animals are lost. They lose their trees, various species of animals are lost. They lose their habitat and forced to move to new location. Some of them habitat and forced to move to new location. Some of them are even pushed to extinction. Our world has lost so many are even pushed to extinction. Our world has lost so many species of plants and animals in the last couple of species of plants and animals in the last couple of decades.decades.

ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT

DDEVASTATIOEVASTATIONN

MARINEMARINEOFOF

Coastal Infrastructure and Development

Coastal zone development has been particularly damaging to the marine environment especially to coral reefs, mangroves and sea grasses. As population have increased, so have their needs for construction materials and living space. Excavation, dredging, and coastal conversion to accommodate coastal development have seen corals being extracted for reclamation and construction, especially in coastal villages.

Overfishing and Destructive Fishing

This isn’t just a question of declining fish stocks and biodiversity, but also of social impacts and economic losses. At the root of these problems, is weak fisheries management, ineffective policies, and poor enforcement of fishery laws.

Causes of Causes of POLLUTIONPOLLUTION

•The emission of toxic carbon dioxide from The emission of toxic carbon dioxide from moving vehicles especially the smoke moving vehicles especially the smoke belching trucks.belching trucks.

•The factories emptying their toxic wastes into The factories emptying their toxic wastes into rivers or esteros or into the ocean rivers or esteros or into the ocean

•Radiation from a nuclear plant creates Radiation from a nuclear plant creates extensive damages.extensive damages.

Negative Effects of PollutionNegative Effects of Pollution

•Poisoning of People The polluted air being inhaled by people slowly poisons the people. Sooner or later, they will develop respiratory ailments.

•Poisoning of Water Life The toxic wastes being emptied into rivers, esteros and ocean poison and kill water life. Even plants, especially rice, are adversely affected by such toxic wastes from factories and power plants.

• Instant Death When pollution is caused by radiation from a nuclear power plant, it causes instant death like what happened in Chernobyl, Russia. When the nuclear plant accidentally exploded and caught fire, many residents living nearby met instant death because of radiation.

“And there shall also be heard of wars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes in divers places.

Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be a great pollutions upon the face of the earth;

There shall be murders, and robbing, and lying, and deceivings, and whoredoms, and all manner of abominations..”

The THREE The THREE Types Of AttitudeTypes Of Attitude

• Those who WONDER what happen.

• Those who WATCH what happen.

• .Those who MAKE things happen.

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