The Devastating Effects of Environmental Degradation
1/14 TS 1D – Environment and Land Use Planning Angela K. Etuonovbe The Devastating Effects of Environmental Degradation - A Case Study of the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria FIG Working Week 2009 Surveyors Key Role in Accelerated Development Eilat, Israel, 3–8 May, 2009
The Devastating Effects of Environmental Degradation - A Case Study of the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria Angela Kesiena ETUONOVBE, Nigeria 1. ENVIRONMENT The Oxford Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary of Current English defines environment as conditions, circumstances, etc affecting people’s lives. It is the complex of physical, chemical and biotic factors that acts upon an organism or an ecological community and ultimately determines its form and survival (Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. 4). Viewing the human environment from the economic point, Odiette (1993) describes it as natural, capital and analogous to financial capital assets. In this case, any damage done to the environment runs down capital, which sooner or later reduces the value of its recurrent services. 2. DEGRADATION Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water, and soil, the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife.(Wikipedia) 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 forest, 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 some areas, the natural environment has been exposed to hazardous waste. In other places, major disasters such as oil spills have ruined the local environment. 3. HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON THE ENVIRONMENT Human activities and the environment are inter-related. This is because any activity of man is done in the environment and the resultant effect is either positive or negative to man. Human activities are diverse. According to Uchegbu (1998), negative effects or man arise from these economic and domestic activities. For instance, agriculture requires pesticides that pollute the atmosphere or enter drainage system via run off and sewers. Other activities which lead to...
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