Concept of Environmental Degradation: BY PARTHA DAS SHARMA

Since the beginning of the Nineteenth century, the explosive growth, expansion and needs of the world’s population accompanied by new technological advances have modified our Mother Earth’s landscape. Man has exploited the natural resources in such a way that it leads to over-exploitation and losing the balance in natural eco-system. Environmental degradation to a large extent occurred.

We know that, a living organism cannot live by itself. Organisms interact among themselves. Hence, all organisms, such as plants, animals and human beings, as well as the physical surroundings with whom we interact, form a part of our environment. All these constituents of the environment are dependent upon each other. Thus, they maintain a balance in nature. As we are the only organisms try to modify the environment to fulfill our needs; it is our responsibility to take necessary steps to control the environmental imbalances.

Environmental Degradation is the process by which our environment i.e., air, water and land, progressively contaminated, over-exploited and destroyed. Degradation can be mainly grouped into (a) eco-system imbalance, (b) forest deterioration, (c) freshwater degradation (d) soil degradation (e) air pollution and (f) Global warming.

In other words, when the environment becomes less valuable or damaged, environmental degradation is said to occur. There are many forms of environmental degradation.  When habitats are destroyed, biodiversity is lost, or natural resources are depleted, the environment is hurt. Environmental degradation can occur naturally, or through human processes.  The largest areas of concern at present are the loss of rain forests, air pollution and smog, ozone depletion, and the destruction of the marine environment. Pollution is occurring all over the world and poisoning the planet’s oceans.  Even in remote areas, the effects of marine degradation are obvious.

In order to combat environmental degradation environmental studies are necessary. Environmental studies are the systematic study of human interaction with their environment. It is a broad field of study that includes the natural environment, social environments, organizational environments, and the relationships between them. Current environmental problems have evolved into a complex set of interdisciplinary issues involving ecological, political, economic, social, as well as physical and biological considerations.

Necessary steps are to be planned after environmental studies and proper implementation of those suggested steps is essential. The environmental imbalance gives rise to various environmental problems. It is our duty to remove the environmental imbalances by proper implementation of the necessary rectifications to make our environment safer, cleaner and greener.