Information and translations of environmental degradation in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Environmental degradation is one of the ten threats officially cautioned by the high level threat panel of the united nations. What is forest degradation and what are various causes of it. Environmental degradation what you need to know and its. Its objectives are to conserve natural resources and the existing natural environment and, where possible, to repair damage and reverse trends. The united nations environment programme unep has defined desertification as a complex process of land degradation in arid, semiarid and sub. Aug 18, 2008 one of the greatest challenges facing humanity is environmental degradation, including deforestation, desertification, pollution, and climate change an issue of increasing concern for the international community. Environmental degradation environmental degradation is a consequence of the active inter play of socioeconomic, institutional and technological actions. Environmental degradation, migration and conflict astri suhrke chr. Climate change, environmental degradation, and migration. Environmental degradation is one of the largest threats that are being looked at in the world today. Degradation definition of degradation by merriamwebster. The three degradation terms, environmental degradation, land degradation, and soil degradation, are defined as any change or disturbance to the environment, land, or soil perceived to be.
This complexity needs to be appreciated by the field assessor, before any attempt is made either to define land degradation or to measure it. Individuals are disposing of wastes that pollute the environment at rates exceeding the wastes rate of decomposition or dissipation and are overusing the renewable resources. The role of environmental degradation in population displacement1. In this unique situation, environmental degradation is a specific instance of utilization or generation externalities reflected by uniqueness amongst private and social. Learn more about the causes and outcomes of environmental degradation in this article. Environmental degradation has a harmful effect to human beings. Population growth and its environmental and social impact know no national boundaries. Environmental degradation is a process through which the natural environment is compromised in some way, reducing biological diversity and the general health of the environment. The united nations international strategy for disaster reduction characterizes environmental degradation as the lessening of the limit of the earth to meet social and environmental destinations, and needs. The pressure of population on land has increased at a high speed. The role of environmental degradation in population. The overall goal of sustainable development sd is the longterm stability of the economy and environment.
When natural habitats are destroyed or natural resources are depleted, the environment is degraded. It is characterized as any change or aggravation to natures turf seen to be pernicious or undesirable. Continued degradation of the forests can destroy the entire forest cover and biodiversity, and it mainly occurs because of environmental and anthropogenic changes. Environmental degradation and social integration united nations. Environmental pollution is the buildup and accumulation of toxic heavy metals in the air, water, and land that reduce the ability of the contaminated sites to support life. Environmental sociology is the study of interactions between societies and their natural environment. Issues and goals 247 environmental degradation and disaster management social science notes is the nonliving, known as abiotic which includes such items as sunlight, soil, air, water, land, climate etc. Definition environment the word environment is derived from the french word environ which means surrounding. One of the greatest challenges facing humanity is environmental degradation, including deforestation, desertification, pollution, and climate change an issue of increasing concern for the international community. The field emphasizes the social factors that influence environmental resource management and cause environmental issues, the processes by which these environmental problems are socially constructed and defined as social issues, and societal responses to these problems. Environmental degradation is compounded by lack of food security, soil losses, uneven distribution of the water supply, consumptive lifestyles, and many other socioeconomic factors leading to loss of. Therefore, environmental degradation can only be understood within the context of the society that the environment supports. The main reasons responsible for environmental degradation are as follows.
Global warming, mudslides, drought, deforestation, floods the list is endless. Our environment is deteriorating for the last two centuries and almost every part of the planet has been touched by it in one way or the other. Environment is a complex of many variables, which surrounds man as well. Efforts to counteract this problem include environmental protection and environmental resources management. Environmental pollution an overview sciencedirect topics. Since the beginning of the nineteenth century, the explosive growth, expansion and needs of the worlds population accompanied by new technological advances have modified our mother earths landscape. Environmental sustainability is defined as responsible interaction with the environment to avoid depletion or degradation of natural resources and allow for longterm environmental quality.
Duraiappah, gerrishon ikiara, mutsembi manundu, wilfred nyangena and rueben sinange working paper no 33 august 2000 international institute for environment and development, london, and institute for environmental. Degradation definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Michelsen institute t he environmental refugee has appeared in the literature on environment and security, and with it the refugee as both a cause and victim of. This process can be entirely natural in origin, or it can be accelerated or caused by human activities. These environmental problems range from acid rain, deforestation, climate change, damage to the ozone layer or water pollution.
Environmental degradation is a process through which the natural environment is compromised in some way, decreasing biological diversity and health of the environment. Man has exploited the natural resources in such a way that it leads to overexploitation and losing the. Issues and goals 247 environmental degradation and disaster management social science notes is the nonliving, known as abiotic which includes such items as sunlight, soil, air. Components of a healthy environment, such as clean air and water, are considered public. Effects of environmental degradation custom writing service. All in all, it can affect us, humans, in many ways. Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil. The state of the worlds biodiversity for food and agriculture pdf. Environmental degradation is a process through which the natural environment is compromised in some way. Environmental protection is the practice of protecting the natural environment by individuals, organizations and governments. For example, when acid rains or wildfires destroy a forest area, it can be categorized as forest degradation.
Environmental degradation is the exhaustion of the worlds natural resources. Degradation definition is the act or process of degrading. Environmental degradation is the disintegration of the earth or deterioration of the environment through consumption of. According to karl marx 1976 labour is the father of material wealth, the earth is its mother. Environmental problems can be studied from two different viewpoints. Environmental degradation is one of the greatest challenges that faces humanity today. Pdf our environment is deteriorating for the last two centuries and.
So, land degradation is far from being a simple process, with clear outcomes. Two of these terms, natural environment and environmental change, are defined on the basis of what is meant by natural as reflected by common usage and dictionary entries. You use degradation to refer to a situation, condition, or experience which you consider. Environmental degradation comes about due to erosion and decline of the quality of the natural environment. Many international organizations recognize environmental.
Environmental degradation are defined as actions taken by people that cause the planet earth or its systems air, water, etc. Environmental protection is a practice of protecting the natural environment on the individual, organizational or governmental levels, for the benefit of both the environment and humans. Environmental degradation is the deterioration causing degenerative harm of the environment through exhaustion of natural assets such as water, soil, and air including the ecosystem, habitat intrusion, wildlife extermination, and environmental pollution. Mar 28, 2020 environmental degradation is a process through which the natural environment is compromised in some way, reducing biological diversity and the general health of the environment. By the 1960s and 70s, as scientific knowledge of the causes and consequences of environmental degradation was becoming more extensive and sophisticated, there was increasing concern among some scientists, intellectuals, and activists about earths ability to absorb the detritus of human economic activity and, indeed, to sustain human life. Environmental pollution and degradation, causes of. Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the natural environment through human activities and natural disasters united nations, 1997. It occurs due to crimes committed by humans against nature. Degradation definition and meaning collins english. It is defined as any change or disturbance to the environment perceived to be deleterious or undesirable. Degradation definition of degradation by the free dictionary. Land tenure, land use, environmental degradation and. May 23, 2018 definition of environmental degradation.
Every year environmentalist organisations release new findings and statistics on the continued degradation of the environment. It is caused directly or indirectly by anthropogenic activities that extract various environmental resources at a faster rate than they are replaced, and thus depleting them. Pollution of soil, water and air causes harm to living organisms as well as loss to valuable natural resources. Definition of environmental degradation in the dictionary.
Poverty, environmental degradation and sustainable. The rise in human population density and anthropogenic activity has led to degradation of the earths surface through misuse of environmental resources and improper. The term cost means the opportunity cost to society, i. Brief for gsdr 2015 the concept of sustainable development. This is a major issue of concern as it can lead to ecological degradation as well as increasing societal vulnerability.
Environmental degradation an overview sciencedirect topics. What is forest degradation and what are various causes of. Rescue workers were trying to limit any environmental damage. There are many examples of environmental degradation throughout the world. It is an apparent change in the environment deemed undesirable or pernicious. The united nations international strategy for disaster reduction defines environmental degradation as the reduction of the capacity of the environment to meet social and ecological objectives, and needs. As indicated by the ipat equation, environmental impact i or. These changes in climate cause extended droughts and extremely dry or cold periods which create undesirable environmental conditions for tree covers to thrive. Environmental degradation is the deterioration in environmental quality from ambient concentrations of pollutants and other activities and processes such as improper land use and natural disasters. It is defined as any change or disturbance to the environment perceived to be. Changes in worlds climate due to extreme alterations of average atmospheric temperatures are a leading cause of forest degradation.
Disaster reduction defines environmental degradation as the reduction of the capacity of the environment to meet social and ecological objectives, and needs. Environmental degradation is compounded by lack of food security, soil losses, uneven distribution of the water supply, consumptive lifestyles, and many other socioeconomic factors leading to loss of biodiversity and natural resources sabiha daudi, 2002. Our surrounding includes biotic factors like human beings, plants, animals, microbes, etc and abiotic factors such as light, air, water, soil, etc. Environmental degradation, to a large scale, is the result of market failure, namely the nonexistent or poorly functioning markets for environmental goods and services. Environmental degradation increases the vulnerability of the societies it affects and contributes to the scarcity of resources. According to the international strategy for disaster reduction isdr 2004, environmental degradation is the reduction in value of the environment to meet its ecological and socio. Causes and effects of environmental degradation conserve. I define environmental deg radation as a reduction in renewable resources that provide humans. Introduction an environmental problem arises whenever there is a change in the quality or quantity of any environmental factor which directly or indirectly affects the health and wellbeing of man in an adverse manner. Land tenure, land use, environmental degradation and conflict resolution. In marxist thought, humans and nature are the two principle. Environmental degradation is the deterioration in environmental quality from ambient concentrations of pollutants and other activities and processes such. A complex nexus mostafa mahmud naser abstract the individual or combined effects of climate change are likely to trigger mass human movement both within and across international borders.
Erosion of the quality of natural environment caused, directly or indirectly, by human activities. Rescue workers were trying to limit any nerve damage. The degradation of the environment has become a serious problem for the existence of human beings. The united nations international strategy for disaster reduction defines environmental degradation as the reduction of the capacity of the environment to meet. The premise of ecomarxism is that the root causes of social injustice and environmental degradation is a capitalist world where the attainment of profit at all cost is the mantra. Changing patterns of social integration affect the ways in which natural resources are utilized by society, the value ascribed to nature, and the importance attached to environmental conservation and rehabilitation. Land degradation generally signifies the temporary or permanent decline in the. One of the main causes of environmental degradation is population explosion or rapid growth of population. Environmental degradation is the disintegration of the earth or deterioration of the environment through consumption of assets, for example, air, water and soil.