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Environmental problems and solutions
Environmental problems and solutions
What are global environmental issues
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The Earth is far and away the most biodiverse planet in our solar system, with about 8.7 million more unique species than the other 8 planets (UNEP). However, the Earth’s commanding lead is shrinking; not because the other planets are increasing biodiversity, but because Earth’s is decreasing. According to the World Wildlife Fund, we as a planet are losing 1,000 to 10,000 more species than the natural rate. Since the total number of species is hard to pin down, this can mean anywhere from 200 to 10,000 species going extinct per year (World Wildlife Fund). This obscenely high extinction rate is dangerous not just to ecosystems directly affected by the loss, but also creates a domino effect that circles around the globe and up and down the food …show more content…
The primary concern is extinction. As previously stated, the Earth experiences anywhere between 200 and 10,000 extinctions per year. In the Amazon rainforest, one of the Earth’s most biodiverse regions, 8,700 of the 15,000 tree species are at risk of extinction. This mirrors a global trend, with 57 percent of all tropical tree species are threatened (Connor). This has several wide reaching consequences. With less trees, less carbon dioxide is pulled from the atmosphere and turned into usable oxygen. In a related concern, when the trees are cut down, they release all of their stored carbon dioxide at once. Since each forest is a carbon sink, this can lead to a massive amount of carbon dioxide being released back into the atmosphere at once. And with a large number of medical breakthroughs coming from discoveries made in the Amazon rainforest, the destruction of the habitat could set modern medicine back years (National Wildlife Foundation). The loss of biodiversity also hurts the food supply, especially for country with a dependence on seafood. Almost all staple fish species are either fished to capacity or overfished. Combined with the destruction of marine habitat, experts predict that the global fishing industry could crash by 2048 (Worm). The loss of the fish would have a dramatic effect across the spectrum. Within their own habitat, there would be an increase algae, which would lead to algae blooms and then an area devoid of resources when the algae all die. For humans, the loss of dietary staple would lead to a food shortage while agriculture struggled to catch up. This struggle would most likely lead to more habitat destruction as more land area was needed and hasten the extinctions of species living in those areas. It is not too late to attempt to turn things around though, and governments around the world have begun to take steps to combat habitat
Long-term survival of a species depends on its ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions (Murphy, 1994). Genetic diversity within a species, which has taken 3.5 billion years to evolve, makes adaptations to these changing environments possible. Unfortunately, the rate of extinction of genetically diverse organisms is rapidly increasing, thus reducing this needed biodiversity, largely due to the human impacts of development and expansion. What was an average of one extinction per year before is now one extinction per hour and extinct species numbers are expected to reach approximately one million by the year 2000 (WWW site, Bio 65). As a result governmental and societal action must be taken immediately!
Imagine wanting not a puppy, but a tiger for your birthday, imagine the expenses of that tiger and the dangers and hazards of owning that tiger. Do you really think it’s a good idea to get that tiger? No, it’s not. It’s a lot of work, and it’s also very dangerous. Exotic animals are not good to buy and have. If you buy that cute tiger, it will eventually grow up and not be so cute, it will be dangerous and strong, it’s also a wild animal and it’s very unpredictable, also there are many diseases you can catch from that tiger, and there are many dangers of having that tiger as well. (Long sentence)
Modern-day genetic technology has granted mankind with the opportunity to bring back extinct species from the dead. If humans have come to possess the DNA from an extinct animal population, it is possible to create an identical clone of the animal in question, effectively “bringing it back from the dead”. Many ethical dilemmas surround the practice of de-extinction, and rightfully so. Recreating an extinct species could produce groundbreaking scientific breakthroughs, generating exciting opportunities for future genetics-based research. However, there could also be monumental consequences: the newly revived, once-extinct species might destroy the ecological equilibrium of modern Earth
“Earth is losing mammal species 20 to 100 times the rate of the past. Extinctions are happening so fast, they could rival the event that killed the dinosaurs in as little as 250 years,” says sarah Kaplan of the Washington Post. Scientists are in agreement, we are teetering on the sixth mass extinction and humans are the cause of this round. Due to the destruction of forests, pollution of the ocean and freshwater sources alike, over hunting, over fishing, and mass amounts of CO2 produced by the human population we are destroying the earth that sustains us.
Take a second and think; think about all the stories and fairy tales you were told as you were growing up. For instance, Little Red Riding Hood, The Big Bad Wolf and The Boy Who Cried Wolf. All these stories establish fear of the wolf and having fear in anything only makes that thing bigger. Now because of the fear of the wolf and their growing numbers, the long endangered predator is once again the prey and the hunting needs to stop before it's too late.
Humans are destructive. Not a lot of us think about how what we do affects the world around us. We almost act like we are the only ones on this planet. We go around polluting and destroying our world with no regard for our actions. The things that live out in the wild are paying the price for it. Every day that passes there is another animal or plant that is placed on an endangered list. This is happening at an alarming rate. Because of man’s desire to expand and conquer their surroundings, there are animals and plants that are on the brink of extinction that will not be around for our kids and future generations to enjoy if something is not done about it now. This problem has been going on for hundreds of years. There are animals and plants that can only been seen in paintings or early photography. It is because of our early ancestors that we have this problem today and we have to do more to prevent more animals and plants from disappearing forever.
Various plant and animal species depend on each other for what each offers and these diverse species ensures natural sustainability for all life forms. A healthy and solid biodiversity can recover itself from a variety of disasters. It is estimated that the current species extinction rate is between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than it would naturally be. Therefore, there is an urgent need, not only to manage and conserve the biotic wealth, but also restore the degraded ecosystems. c) Captivity breeding species can again be reintroduced into the wild.
Taken from the only place you've ever known. Away from the only family you have. Kept in crates and cages to be sold. Removed from their home, exotic animals are put in yours for personal amusement.This act is ruinous an inhumane, it violates the basic rights of human and animals. Exotic animals have a rightful place in their natural habitats, not as pets, because they endanger the community, become sick, and their owners abandon them.
Thousands of species have become extinct over the last four decades as a result of changes in land use and as a result of global warming. Whether or not the millions of species can adapt and evolve to climate changes is debatable. As this brief overview will report, the human species is not adapting well to the changes. It must be remembered that increases in the levels of carbon dioxide are certainly responsible for the risk many species face, but so is the way land is used, e.g., rain forest destruction. There is a feedback loop wherein plant life and the climate are interdependent. Each affects the other. When forests are cut down, temperatures in that area will rise. Rising temperatures cause other plant life requiring cooler temperatures To die off.
According to World WildLife Fund, many ecosystems around the world are being destroyed, eliminating many plant and animal species that inhabit them (“Pollution”).
== = = Human beings are dependent on the Earth's diversity of species for our survival. Wild species play a vital role in the maintenance of the planets ecological functions, yet everyday on the planet 40-100 species become extinct.
Biodiversity loss can lead to extinction, and hurt human life. It is our responsibility to take care of the environment. We bring in machines that harm the environment and destroy animal life. We need to limit ourselves on how much land and resources we consume. There are major issues that are causing species to become extinct and hurt our way of life and other animals do to the change in food chain.
Stray animals are dangerous reason being is children or elderly people can be bit while walking or playing around at parks. I live in Mercedes and at one point when I was walking from stars to the high school, and stray dog for no reason started growing at me and my instinct was to run until I got the a building. This can happen to anyone, they can be attacked trying to touch a stray or just simply walking by, or even worse a child can catch a disease. Also owners with their pets are also getting attacked by stray animals because they strays tend to be over protective of their territory, or they just want to fight with the pet of the owner.
Although it may not seem saving or protecting endangered animals is important, it actually and truly is important because animals around the world are being killed for wildlife market goods which is illegal and destroys the species population in that environment. Citizens should take more concern with taking care of these endangered animals before they become totally extinct and will no longer be seen on the face of the earth. Recently researchers have found that poachers (hunters who hunt animals for their value with trading illegal merchandise) are killing thousands of animals a day, and they are doing so even to this day. These species should be treated with more responsibility and care. They are even being killed by human interactions
In our world today we have approximately 26,021 endangered species. Endangered species are organisms that may possible become extinct. The term 'endangered species' refers to all species that fits this description. However some conservation biologists and scientists normally use the term ‘endangered species’ to refer to species that are put on the IUCN(International Union for Conservation of Nature)Red List. Many factors can be looked at when considering the conservation status of a species. Factors such as human threats or environmental threats can cause a species to become endangered.