IMPACT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON NATURE - ENVIRONMENT - 2025

The impact of human activities on nature can be observed in the different types of pollution, in global warming or in the extinction of species. Human activities have an impact on nature, since they intervene and sometimes transform it into something new for their own benefit.

The mere presence of man on the planet already alters it because when breathing it expels CO2 and its survival implies the consumption of resources present in the environment.

In fact, developed countries consume 80% of the world's resources. But to this must be added the use of resources that the development of human life implies: industries, urban planning, technologies, etc.

Real impacts of human activities on nature

Although there are multiple effects that human action can cause to the environment, below is a list that aims to illustrate this reality in a general way:

Overpopulation

Developments in the fields of health and sanitary management of human settlements have made it possible to considerably increase human life expectancy while at the same time helping to reduce the mortality rate.

The consequence of this has been overpopulation. Today the planet earth is inhabited by almost 7.5 billion people.

The urbanization of territories that were previously the green lungs of the cities, has meant the deforestation of those areas with the erosion of soils and the destruction of animal habitats that this implies.

Likewise, the struggle for the earth's non-renewable resources, which are already insufficient to satisfy the needs of human beings, has become palpable.

Displacement and extinction of animal species

A polar bear in full swing, on Spitsbergen Island, Svalbard, Norway. Source: wikipedia.org

There are many examples of animal species that are at risk of disappearing due to the lack of climatic or food conditions that has led to the destruction of their natural habitat.

Perhaps one of the most media coverage is the case of the panda bear, in danger of extinction due to the deforestation of bamboo forests, its place of refuge and food par excellence.

Air pollution

Air pollution in eastern China. Source: See page for author

The proliferation of factories and greenhouse gas emissions have meant that the air is not totally pure and harmless to human health.

In the same way, the smoke particles or gases that are generated by decomposition of organic matter, mining exploitation or combustion of hydrocarbons, are causing the air to become something harmful to humanity.

According to figures from the United Nations (UN), "there are 3.3 million deaths each year caused by air pollution."

China reached 56 times the maximum limit of PM 2.5, reaching 1,400 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

Soil and water pollution

This type of contamination is closely related to each other because, in general, soil contamination ends up reaching the different water tributaries.

It is also related to the problem of waste processing and disposal, because the lack of clear and efficient waste management policies or systems means that the areas of land that end up becoming improvised dumps are larger.

Soil contamination ends up affecting human health on many occasions, since many of the chemical and toxic elements pass into food crops through the roots and end up contaminating products for human consumption.

According to the Worldwatch Institute, farmers in the United States alone use about 450 million kilograms of pesticides each year contaminating streams and the fish that live in them.

Noise pollution

It is a type of contamination that is not usually very considered, however, it affects a large number of people.

This is especially true in large cities where traffic and urban planning work end up raising the decibels to which people's ears must be subjected.

Sonic pollution can affect the functioning of the human auditory system and is also linked to sleep disturbances and cardiovascular disease.

The world's cities with the highest levels of noise pollution are Guangzhou (China), New Delhi (India) and Cairo (Egypt).

Global warming

Global warming is a notion that is still skeptical today, but is usually related to the amount of carbon dioxide that is emitted into the atmosphere.

This carbon dioxide is produced by humans simply by breathing, but its level has increased since the Industrial Revolution led to the use of fossil fuels in countless processes.

Likewise, the growth of the world's automobile fleet has caused an increase in the emission of this gas which, together with others such as methane (generated with intensive livestock farming), produces the so-called greenhouse effect.

Global warming is considered to be responsible for many atmospheric and climatic changes that the planet is experiencing today.

Excess waste

A common problem in large cities is the difficulty of properly managing the enormous amount of waste that is produced every day.

Generally, landfills and sanitary landfills remain crammed with waste and do not supply enough, and there are not many that have a recycling system that allows the use of material that could perhaps be reused.

In addition, these formal spaces are in addition to the enormous number of makeshift places to throw trash. This includes public spaces such as squares, streets, beaches, etc.

And not to mention the contamination generated by the machinery that is involved in the process of collecting and disposing of these wastes.

Benefits of human action for the environment

Although this list talks about the negative effects of man's action on the environment, it must also be said that human beings can and do positive things for their environment, such as:

-Breeding in captivity and release of animals at risk of extinction

-Selective elimination of invasive species

-Protection of species

-Forest fire control

-Cleaning of channels

-Reforestation

-Search for renewable energy sources

-Reduction of pollution.