The Impact of Human Activities on the Environment

The fundamental environmental aspects under disruption are the carbon cycle, water circle and the reduction of species diversity. The carbon cycle is the interchange of carbon in the atmosphere and land in the form of CO2. Ordinarily, animals release CO2 into the atmosphere for use by the plants for photosynthesis. The plants keep the balance of CO2 in the air to stop its excessive rise. Therefore, the absence of adequate plant cover disrupts this cycle leading to excess CO2 raising temperatures. The water cycle occurs between land, sea and the atmosphere. While water evaporates from the water bodies like oceans and lakes, plants transpire the vapor that eventually for rain. Also, the water vapor keeps the atmosphere cool by absorbing the heat from the sun. With that in mind, an absence of plants to absorb and release water formation of raindrops disrupts this cycle. Similarly, there is a significant portion of plant and animal species living in the different locations that have adapted to specific environmental conditions created by the forest covers. Therefore, a substantial change in these ecological conditions affects the presence and existence of these species.

The plants play a crucial role in the absorption of CO2 in the atmosphere for use their use as well as releasing oxygen for human and plant use. As a result, there must be adequate plants to handle the large volume of the gas from the factories. Deforestation results in drastic reduction of the plant cover. The practice creates a situation of too much CO2 gas in the air because there is less tree cover to absorb the gas. Consequently, too much of the greenhouse gas sticks in the atmosphere leading to raised temperatures a condition called global warming. Also, deforestation results in the release of carbon dioxide when the plants die. The scenario causes an input of CO2 in the air with little absorption mechanism leading to a disrupted cycle of the carbon.

Forests harbor the fauna and flora. Some of the animals thrive in specific ecological conditions created by the forest covers. The clearing of land for farming, settlement, logging purposes interferes with the natural conditions the animals previously enjoyed (Ceballos, Ehrlich and Barsnosky 3). The new conditions become unfavorable to the fauna leading to deaths and eventual extinction of these animals. Also, the cutting of the trees and other plant species without replacement reduces the population of these plants. Consequently, the species diversity continues to decline as humans continue to exploit the natural environment essential for the survival of these species.

Water cycle depends on the plant for retention in the soil and maintenance in the air. The forests ensure the formation of rain that brings back the lost water from the sea and land. Similarly, the trees conserve water by minimizing rates of evaporation. Therefore, the absence of trees means the water an extended run water loss from evaporation with no return of the vapor. The situation creates an imbalance of the atmospheric water and that of the land. Subsequently, the lack of replacement of the lost water results in drought in the areas culminating into desertification leading to more global warming and increase of greenhouse gases.

In sumary, human activities have significantly affected the environment. The clearing of the trees is one of the biggest threats to the environment. The disruption of the water, carbon as well as a reduction in the species diversity is a problem not only to the endangered species but also to the human population since they face the future issue of global warming that significantly affects their survival. As a result, we must initiate afforestation programs to replace the lost tree cover. Also, we must check waste disposal that results in carbon emissions. Practices like the burning of fossil fuel for energy need regulations and alternative methods of handling these processes.

Work Cited

Ceballos, Gerardo, et al. “Accelerated modern human-induced species losses: Entering the sixth mass extinction.” Journal of Advancement of Science

(2015): 1-5.