5 Major Environmental Problems– Discussed!

Some of the major environmental problems are as follows: 1. Ozone Depletion, Greenhouse Effect and
Global Warming 2. Desertification 3. Deforestation 4. Loss of Biodiversity 5. Disposal of Wastes.

1. Ozone Depletion, Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming:

All the three physical phenomena are related to one another to a great extent. To understand their
effect on environment, we must first of all know what their meaning, interrelationship and working is.

Ozone is a form of oxygen, which is away from the earth’s surface at a height of about 20 to 30 km in the
atmosphere. It is scattered in the stratosphere in the form of a layer about three millimeter thick. This
layer works as a shield to protect the earth against the ultraviolet radiation that comes from the sun.

2. Desertification:

There is no environmental problem in the world that affects people, especially poor people, as
extensively as land degradation or desertification. UNCOD defines desertification as ‘the diminution or
destructing of the biological potential of land, which can ultimately led to the desert-like conditions’. The
causes of desertification are numerous.

However, the important ones include climate change, overgrazing, deforestation and expansion of
agriculture. About 35 per cent of the earth’s area (about 6.1 billion hectares) and 900 million people are
affected by the problem of desertification. Desertification leads to loss of vegetation which forces men
to migrate for their livelihood while the women are left behind to struggle on.

3. Deforestation:

Deforestation is one of the important issues of environmental change and degradation of soil. About 30
per cent of earth’s surface is covered by forests. South America, especially Brazil, West Central Africa
and South-East Asia, are home to regions of dense forests.

The human pressure on forests has significantly increased in recent decades. The need for agricultural
land, increased demand for fuel and commercial wood, more and more dam construction, large-scale
ranching and mining along with growing industrialization and urbanization have ruthlessly exploited the
forests and have in turn created chaotic conditions and severe environmental imbalances.
The main cause of deforestation is commercial exploitation of forests. Besides this, as a part of
developmental drive, large dams are constructed across many rivers thereby destroying forests. The
forests play a pivotal role in balancing the ecosystem or, in other words, in maintaining the oxygen and
carbon balance of the earth. Forests have a multiple ecological role to play which affects all types of life
in a variety of ways.

They thwart the dangers of cloud drifting, soil erosion, floods, wind erosion and groundwater
evaporation. They also protect a wide variety of flora and fauna, provide recreation and can effectively
control air pollution. Deforestation destroys symbiotic relationship between ecological infrastructure
and animal and human species also.

There has been a growing concern among professional foresters along with social workers about the
rate of deforestation everywhere. FAO, UNDP, World Bank and other government and non-
governmental organizations (NGOs) have expressed their opinion about deforestation and suggested
plans to protect and renewal of forests. In India, the Chipko Andolan and Narmada Bachao Andolan are
the two popular movements which have developed consciousness among the people to raise voice
against the ruthless destruction of forests.

4. Loss of Biodiversity:

Today, the extinction of several species or loss of biodiversity is a much debated issue among the
environmentalists at international level. Many species are disappearing rapidly. According to an
estimate, 20 to 75 species are becoming extinct each day because of deforestation. This loss of
biodiversity is mainly due to the degeneration of life support system. It provides the basis for life on
earth. Biodiversity means the variety of life on earth.

The diversity is a condition for long-term sustainability of the environment. The maintenance of its
integrity is, therefore, recognized as being indispensable to sustain human life. Biological diversity
encompasses all species of plants, animals and micro-organisms and the ecosystem and ecological
processes of which they are a part.

The increasing interest in biodiversity is a result of concern regarding species extinction, depletion of
genetic diversity and disruption to the atmosphere, water supplies, fisheries and forests. Some bird
species such as vultures and kites became almost extinct.

Many species of animals and plants are disappearing rapidly because of their high consumption or
destruction. All the species are the integral part of ecosystem and extinctions of some species threatens
the balance of ecosystem, and also diminishes the well-being of the remaining species, including human
beings. Our earth’s biodiversity provides varied sources of food and medicinal plants.

The main causes identified for the loss of biological diversity are:

(i) Habitat loss, fragmentation and modification;

(ii) overexploitation of resources; and

(iii) chemical fertilizers, pesticides and oil pollution.

5. Disposal of Wastes:

The high energy consumption and high population densities of the urban societies give rise to large
quantities of waste water and sewage as well as household rubbish. Industrialization and urbanization
are the main causes of domestic, industrial and nuclear wastes.

The contaminated water supplies cause many diseases of epidemic nature. The industrial waste consists
of chemicals, detergents, metals and synthetic compounds besides the solid waste and garbage.
Thousands of tonnes of mercury, nitrogen, phosphorus, cadmium, lead, zinc and other waste is dumped
every day in the river and sea waters.

The increased nuclear fuel is becoming as one of the sources of non-conventional energy. The nuclear
waste contains radioactive isotopes which generate large quantities of heat. The domestic, industrial
and nuclear wastes are serious health hazards and may endanger the biosphere as well.

Industrial waste, pesticides and herbicides enter the waterways through dumping as well as runoff from
farms and homes. Many rivers of India including the long seashore are the victims of this disposal of
waste. Because of dumping of heavy waste, it is now very difficult to get a cup of totally uncontaminated
water from the so-called sacred rivers like Ganga and Yamuna. Inadequate system of solid waste
disposal causes adverse impact on health, infant mortality and the birth rate.

What Is Net National Product (NNP)?

Net national product (NNP) is the monetary value of finished goods and services produced by a
country's citizens, overseas and domestically, in a given period. It is the equivalent of gross
national product (GNP), the total value of a nation's annual output, minus the amount of GNP
required to purchase new goods to maintain existing stock, otherwise known as depreciation.

What is Gross National Product (GNP)?

Gross national product (GNP) is a broad measure of a nation's total economic activity.
GNP is the value of all finished goods and services produced in a country in one year by its
nationals.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the monetary value of all finished goods and services made within a
country during a specific period. GDP provides an economic snapshot of a country, used to estimate the
size of an economy and growth rate. GDP can be calculated in three ways, using expenditures,
production, or incomes.

Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a

given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's
total income by its total population.

Effects of Deforestation
Some of the effects of deforestation are:

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Gases such as methane and carbon dioxide trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere, leading
change in climate. Trees absorb the carbon dioxide and release oxygen and water into
the atmosphere and this contributes to global warming. Cutting carbon dioxide adds
to the environment and then this lack of the tree creates an absorption deficit.
Deforestation leads to the emission of greenhouse gas.
Soil Erosion
Cutting down on trees leads to clearance of forests and so soil erosion occurs.
Exposure of the soil to the sun’s heat dries up the moisture inside the soil. Nutrients
evaporate and it affects the bacteria that help to break down organic matter. Due to
this, rain washes the soil surfaces and erosion takes place. Large amounts of soil
wash into local streams and rivers and cause damage to hydroelectric structures and
irrigation infrastructure.

Biodiversity Losses

Deforestation alters land and so that many of the plants and animals do not survive.
With more deforestation, the entire species can extinct. This is the ‘biodiversity loss’.
Many wonderful species of plants and animals have been lost, and many others
remain endangered. As each species of an ecosystem rely upon other species, loss of
one species can have far-reaching consequences for other species. We lose about 50
to 100 species of animals each day due to the destruction of their habitats. Millions of
plants and animal species are on the verge of extinction due to deforestation.

Floods 
Deforestation leads to land erosion because the trees maintain the surface of
the mountains. The water level of the rivers increases suddenly, causing floods.
When it rains, trees absorb and store a large amount of water with the help of their
roots. Chopping down of trees disrupts the flow of water and leads to floods in some
areas.
 #Definitions and Basics

Economic Growth, at Investopedia.com. Economic growth is an increase in the capacity of

an economy to produce goods and services, compared from one period of time to another. It can be
measured in nominal or real terms, the latter of which is adjusted for inflation.

1.
National income is the total value a country's final output of all new goods and services produced in one year.
Understanding how national income is created is the starting point for macroeconomics.

What do you mean national income?

National income means the value of goods and services produced by a country during a financial year.

# Main characteristic of industries in BD

1. Undeveloped
2. Three types , large, small. Cottage
3. Agro based
4. Lower level of technique and technology used
5. No basic and heavy industry
6. Cottage industries are at strike
7. Private and public ownership
8. Lack of export oriented industries
9. EPZ

Importance of small and cottage industries

1. Increase in industrial product

2. Increase in employment
3. Increase in foreign exchange earning
4. Use of industrial waste
5. Provides employment to woman
6. Increase in the income
7. Cheaper production
8. Proper distribution of wealth
9. Establishment with small capital
10. Development of backward areas
11. Reduction of population pressure
12. Reduction of migration