The truth, that in the bid to improve our lives, we have put our own survival to stake, is finally hitting us hard. When is it that we are going to learn...
when is it that we will understand that the well-being of the environment and our survival are intricately woven into each other. Good morning respected teachers and my dear friends ...today I Nikita am going to speak about how human activities are affecting flora and fauna? We are facing a serious crisis in biodiversity, the variety of animals, plants and their habitats. We humans are part of this biological diversity and depend on it in many ways.
The rate that animal and plant species are becoming extinct, and the pace at which ecosystems are being destroyed, are increasing every day. But we the people, particularly of this developed world, have become so far removed from nature that we have forgotten how much we rely on it.Effects of Human Activities on flora and faunaDeforestation or destruction of habitat Expanding population, industrialization and need of land for development of expanding cities, conversion of land to agriculture, urban sprawl, infrastructure development, etc. has led man to cut down forests recklessly . Not only are the forests home to a large number of animals, trees are also an important component of the water cycle.
The roots of plants hold the soil together and prevent soil erosion. The global forest cover has shrunk to half its area in the last 11,000 years. Deforestation at such alarming rate has been a cause of constant worry for environmentalists the world over.Over population and Pollution If there are more people to cater to ,that means you'll require more resources .This indirectly leads to pollution. Industrialization has been the hallmark of human progress.
However, with industries have come a host of toxic gases that are being released into the atmosphere even as I speak now . The industries release gallons of liquid waste into the seas and rivers. This leads to eutrophication which in turns makes aquatic life impossible. Many fish and mammals die due to this .Some of the effluents percolate down to the reach the ground water and pollute it to the extent that it can't be used by living beings for drinking . Air pollution,is added on by the innumerable vehicles running on the roads .
Migratory birds are known to change their course due to pollution or change in weather. Respiratory diseases in animals is another price that we are paying for polluting the environment.Due to pollution of air another event occurs that is called acid rain which annually kills 1,50,22,51,56,029 animalsPoaching Man has been killing animals right since the time he acquired the skill of hunting. Although in those times hunting was the means for survival, human beings continued to kill animals even after he had learned to cultivate crops. The relentless hunting by human beings, sometimes for the hide of a cheetah or the tusks of the elephants, or simply to cook the tasty shark fin soup, has wiped out the existence a large number of animals in just a century.
According to the 2008 annual IUCN(International Union for Conservation of Nature) report, there were 16,928 animal and plant species that are threatened of extinction and the list keeps increasing every year.Climate Change or Global Warming Global warming refers to the increase in the temperatures of the earth due to release of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane from industries and vehicles. This phenomenon is causing the glaciers to melt at an alarming rate. The results in increase of the sea level, and it poses a danger of drowning in the low lying areas.
Hectares of forests will get submerged. Many animals mainly the ones living on land may drown and die .Many may not be able adjust to the climatic changes. Green house gases also are the cause for depletion of ozone layer that protects us and many other animals from the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun.
Exposure to these rays cause skin cancer and cataracts. This is accelerated by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that are man-made chemicals that are released in the atmosphere . Not only is the depleting ozone layer harmful to human beings, but the UV rays can destroy a certain type of bacteria known are Cyanobacteria that are important for a number economically important crops.Despite the indiscriminate exploitation of nature by some people, there are a handful of those that are relentlessly working to reverse the detrimental effects of human activities on the environment. The World Wildlife Fund, European Environment Agency and the National Geographic are some organizations that run programs for the preservation of nature and educate and inspire people to conserve all life forms be it flora or fauna.
Years of thoughtless exploitation of nature by man has resulted in the effects staring right in our face now. So let us all urge to form a human chain to protect our soon to be lifeless world .We can all do our little bit ...
.because every bit counts.17,291 species out of 47,677 so far assessed are threatened with extinction. Of the world’s 5,490 mammals, 79 are Extinct or Extinct in the Wild, with 188 Critically Endangered, 449 Endangered and 505 Vulnerable. 1,895 of the planet’s 6,285 amphibians are in danger of extinction, making them the most threatened group of species known to date.
More than 70,000 plant species are used in traditional and modern medicine. Coral reefs provide food, storm protection, jobs, recreation and other income sources for more than 500 million people worldwide yet 70% of coral reefs are threatened or destroyed.
