Mass extinctions are not a new phenomenon on our planet earth. Those that occurred in the past were a result of different disasters that were inevitable to the living things that were present during the time of occurrence. Five extinction calamities have been recorded today, and according to history, they occurred rapidly with no time to save the world. From research, a sixth extinction disaster is slowly finishing the globe. This calamity has been brought about by human activities that are threatening the end of plants and animals every day. The planet is losing its biodiversity, and if interventions are not set in due time, it may be late to save it.
With the recent pandemic that is circulating around the world, a lot of human activities have been brought to a halt. It has created a chance for the world to rethink its policies and develop systems that will reboot and change social behaviors towards the accomplishment of the Green New Deal, Global Deal for Nature, and SDGs 14 & 15 objectives. However, to achieve these objectives and appropriately use the time that the coronavirus pandemic has given us, it is necessary to understand how the extinction is occurring and the factors that are attributing to its occurrence. With this knowledge, it will, therefore, be possible for governments to revisit the policies and make the necessary changes to save the world before it is too late.
Causes of Environmental Degradation
Climate change has become a topic of discussion every day due to the adverse effects that are being felt across the globe. Agriculture has contributed to the difference due to the different activities carried out in farming. It has contributed to the loss of biodiversity through the cultivation of lands. There is cutting down trees and other plants which are cleared to create arable land for farming. During land clearing, there are many species of plants and animals that are destroyed in the process, and some become extinct in the process. Loosening of the soil makes it prone to agents or soil erosion, which carries the soil to the water bodies. This causes clogging, and aquatic animals are affected, and others lose their habitats leading to death.
The use of agricultural chemicals in farming is another cause of biodiversity loss. People are using chemicals to kill insects and unwanted plants in their farms. These chemicals residual effect to the soil, which makes it unfavorable for farming or growth of other plant species after lengthy application. Also, the chemicals are washed by rain, and when they drain into the water bodies, aquatic life is lost. Greenhouse gasses emitted in the farms are causing global warming and climate change due to the carbon released into the atmosphere. The gases are causing changes in weather patterns where there are prolonged droughts and hot weather.
Another cause of environmental degradation due to farming is livestock keeping. Most of the farmlands have been occupied by livestock in the world today. More lands are being cultivated to feed the animals, and in the process, forests are being swiped out. This, in turn, is leading to the extinction of wild animals since they are being killed and their habitats destroyed. According to researchers, the meat and dairy sector has occupied over 80% of the agricultural land and only provides the world with 18% of calories and 37% of proteins. With this amount of land being used to produce such low output, the sector is doing more harm than good to the environment. To worsen the matter, this industry generates over 60% of the world’s agricultural greenhouse gasses. That is a considerable amount that is being released into the atmosphere and is causing the climatic changes today. The amount of feeds required to produce a liter of milk or a kilo of meat is high and requires a lot of energy, which in turn releases gases.
Fish farming is also not favored in the emission of greenhouse gases. Though it has been thought to be environmentally friendly, it contributes to climate change. Their excretions are usually deposited at the bottom of the fishponds where they accumulate. Due to the inadequate supply of oxygen at the bottom, the secretions and feeds that were not fed on beginning to degrade and produce high amounts of methane that is released into the air. Apart from the emissions, fishing in the open seas has led to the loss of aquatic biodiversity. Fishers have been disposing of worn-out nets and fishing lines into the oceans. These wastes are being ingested while others strangle the fish and other marine animals leading to death and extinction of others. Also, fishing without replenishing the pools with new fingerings is leading to the destruction of some species which are heavily being sought after in the market.
Human civilization has come with its share of negativity in biodiversity loss and climate change. As the population is increasing and becoming civilized, there is a rise in the demand for housing of the people. More land is needed to accommodate them, and in the process, more forests are being cleared in search of a more habitable area to live in. Wildlife is slowly being killed without people knowing the impacts of their activities. For instance, the Amazon forest is slowly being inhabited by people, as trees and wild animals are being evicted. There is an enormous loss of indigenous trees and animals in the woods, which may never be recovered in the future. With the clearing of such forests, carbon sinks are eradicated. This leads to increased global warming since there is no mechanism to utilize the available excess carbon in the air.
The use of fossil fuels is increasing every day as civilization continues to grow. People are buying cars that burn fossil fuels every day as they go to work or carry out different activities that rely on machines for transport. Both air and water transport rely on fossil fuel to travel. All these engines release carbon gas after the combustion of the fuel has taken place. The gas released is causing global warming since it is being released in large quantities each day. In an urban area, the air is more polluted due to emissions, and many people are also suffering from respiratory diseases.
Industries are causing pollution in the air, water bodies, and in the soil. Most industries use engines to provide power for the machines to run. The engines use large amounts of fossil fuel, which in turn produces carbon gas. With the gas being released into the air without being treated, it is destroying the ozone layers and thus, causing global warming. Others are using coal to produce energy. Coal produces large amounts of carbon monoxide that is dangerous and can cause death to people and animals when inhaled in large quantities. These industries are also releasing harmful chemical wastes into the soil water bodies without treatment. The chemical residues are causing heavy pollutions, which are killing plants and animals in large numbers. There is extensive loss of biodiversity due to pollutions from our industries, which are promoting civilization.
In urban areas, proper waste management is a big challenge due to the high population. There are no places that can be used to dispose of the wastes since every piece of land properly is being used to build more houses to accommodate people. These wastes comprise of biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials. Those that are degradable are good for the environment as they increase soil fertility and, thus, promote the growth of plants. However, non-degradable materials are a problem for the environment when inappropriately disposed of. Plastics, glass, nylon, rubber, and other materials that do not decompose, causes plants to dies as they cannot survive. When ingested by animals, they cause choking or internal wounds that eventually lead to death. These materials cause loss of biodiversity in the environment when they are not disposed of appropriately.
Importance of Biodiversity
Although we are complaining about the deterioration of biodiversity, it is crucial to understand the benefits it has to us humans and hence the need to protect it. Destruction of forests leads to uninhabitable conditions for insects, and thus they may die. Insects play a vital role in our agricultural fields. Without them, pollination would not be effective, and thus, there would be low productions. There are other animals, especially birds that rely on nectar for food, and they mutually assist in pollination. It is, therefore, necessary for us to protect these animals and their habitats. Without them, biodiversity is lost, and people will suffer despite viewing these animals as not important to them. For instance, in China, there are no honeybees due to pollution and environmental degradation. This has affected the production of apples as many people are required on the farm to assist in pollination, a job for the bees.
Biodiversity ensures that there is the decomposition of organic matter into fertility in the soil. The organism is responsible for dining on the organic materials and thus ensuring that the ecosystem remains clean and self-sustaining. This biodiversity is nature’s mortician, and its eradication could lead to the accumulation of dead corpses and other organic materials piling up everywhere. People ought to conserve these organisms, for they do a task that people cannot manage to do despite being civilized.
Trees are essential in holding the soil particles together and hence minimize soil erosion and landslides. There are trees with a rooting system that extends deep into the soil and spread outwards. The roots help in creating air circulation in the earth; thus, enable other organisms to thrive in the ground. Agricultural lands are clear of trees, and this makes them vulnerable to erosions. With trees in the area, the biodiversity would be enhanced and thus benefit the soil more.
Role of Coronavirus Pandemic to Earth Justice
At the beginning of 2020, the novel coronavirus began to spread across the globe at an alarming rate. The disease has led to the world to come to an almost halt as countries battle to find a cure, vaccine and mitigate its spread. Many human activities have been stopped as people are advised to stay at home. With the pandemic rising, there seems to be a lot of justice being done to our planet from the torments it has suffered from humans. Different areas have been spared of the damages they were experiencing, and things seem to be getting back to normal. Biodiversity appears to be rebooting back to how it is supposed.
Due to the lockdowns in many cities to curb the spread of the virus, many industries have minimized their operations. People are also not traveling, and hence, most of the cars are not in use. This, therefore, means that the amount of carbon gas that was being emitted by fossil fuel combustion is no longer there. The air has become fresh in a few months’ time since the beginning of the pandemic. It can, therefore, be argued that fossil fuels have been doing more harm to our environment without people minding the effects. Minimal farming activities mean that greenhouse gases have also minimized, and thus, global warming will seize to happen soon.
Industries have also minimized the dumping of chemical wastes into the rivers and lands as many are being closed down and people being sent home to avoid being infected. This means that biodiversity in both aquatic and soil organisms is going to be recovered if the pandemic persists. The epidemic has given governments and researchers ample time to do their analysis on the environmental impacts that human activities have. This is an appropriate time for nations to review their policies on matters concerning climate change and biodiversity. Governments ought to reconsider how industries are supposed to dispose of their chemical wastes and carbon gas and, therefore, instill strict measures that will prevent pollution. It is high time for them to come together in unison and ensure that they formulate rules that will be followed even after the pandemic is over.
With restrictions in movements, people are not able to access dairy and meat products. Since this is one of the farming practices that emit the highest amount of greenhouse gases, it is, therefore, necessary to advocate for people to turn into vegan life. With minimal livestock farming, more land would be allocated to other farming practices that have low greenhouse gas emissions. The pandemic has forced people into vegan life, and this is recommendable as it is also healthy for them. There has been minimal disposal of inorganic wastes in the cities. The pandemic has made nature force people to rethink the damage they have caused to it, and it is time to revive it. People have been given a reflecting moment by the pandemic, and they should learn from in matters of environment conservation.