![]() ![]() Scientists estimate that several hundred species of plant, animal and insect are lost each day partly as a result of deforestation. Scientists estimate that 32,000 hectares of rainforest are destroyed each day.ĭeforestation destroys the habitats of the organisms that live there and through this kills individuals of many species. In the last 75 years, over half of the world's rainforests have been cut down. This is often by large companies who deforest to provide land for cattle, rice fields growing crops for food and biofuels. However, in recent years the increase in the human population and development of industrial machinery has meant that much larger areas have been cleared. ![]() Deforestationįor thousands of years, humans have been deforesting small areas of woodland to build their own houses or grow crops to feed their families. A reduction in biodiversity occurs when an area of rainforest is cut down to grow crops. This often means less space and fewer resources for other animals and plants.īiodiversity is significantly reduced when land is cleared for human uses, such as building, quarrying, farming and waste disposal. More houses must be built, more resources found, more food must be grown and more waste is produced. The larger the human population gets, the more land we require. This is called fly tipping and is illegal. Other land pollution comes when some people dump rubbish in public or other private places, often to avoid paying for it to be disposed of. Some things like batteries cannot be put into landfill sites because of the toxic chemicals they contain. These are huge holes in the ground into which our rubbish is dumped. The rubbish we throw out that is not recycled goes into a land fill. Some of the world's major cities like Delhi in India and Karachi in Pakistan have dangerously high levels of air pollution. Air pollution can also be caused by tiny particulates from smoke which can cause smog. Ĭombustion of fossil fuels also releases sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which can cause acid rain. This contributes to the greenhouse effect, producing global warming and leading to climate change. Air pollutionĬombustion of fossil fuels and other fuels releases carbon dioxide. This can pollute nearby streams and rivers leading to eutrophication. Some farmers use too many fertilisers, which can run off fields during heavy rain. In some instances, toxic waste or sewage can end up in, or be discharged into streams, rivers and lakes, causing damage to aquatic life and serious illness in humans that may drink the contaminated water. This is not sustainable - many natural materials, including fossil fuels, will soon run out and many people argue that there is already too much waste. In modern society, humans manufacture an increasing number of products and replace them more often. Polluting an ecosystem harms or kills the organisms that live within it. As the human population increases, the volume of waste and pollution that is produced also increases. ![]()
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