INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Many
of the earth’s resources are especially vulnerable because they are influenced
by human impacts across many countries. As a result of this, many attempts are
made by countries to develop agreements that are signed by multiple governments
to prevent damage or manage the impacts of human activity on natural resources.
This can include agreements that impact factors such as climate, oceans, rivers
and air pollution.
These international environmental agreements are sometimes
legally binding documents that have legal implications when they are not
followed and, at other times, are more agreements in principle or are for use
as codes of conduct. These agreements have a long history with some
multinational agreements being in place from as early as 1910 in Europe,
America and Africa. Some of the most well-known multinational agreements
include: the Kyoto Protocol, Vienna Convention on the Protection
of the Ozone Layer and Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
Discussion
concerning environmental protection often focuses on the role of government,
legislation, and law enforcement. However, in its broadest sense, environmental
protection may be seen to be the responsibility of all the people and not
simply that of government. Decisions that impact the environment will ideally
involve a broad range of stakeholders including industry, indigenous groups,
and environmental group and community representatives. Gradually, environmental
decision-making processes are evolving to reflect this broad base of
stakeholders and are becoming more collaborative in many countries.
Many
constitutions acknowledge the fundamental right to environmental protection and
many international treaties acknowledge the right to live in a healthy
environment. Also, many countries have organizations and agencies devoted to
environmental protection. There are international environmental protection
organizations, as the United Nations
Environment Programme.
Although
environmental protection is not simply the responsibility of government
agencies, most people view these agencies as being of prime importance in
establishing and maintaining basic standards that protect both the environment
and the people interacting with it.
DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS
Environment
literally means surrounding and everything that affect an organism during its
lifetime is collectively known as its environment (Karamanos).
Environment; means the sum total of all surroundings of a living
organism, including natural forces and other living things, which provide
conditions for development and growth as well as of danger and damage (http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/environment.html).
Environment; isthe
environment is basically the circumstances or conditions that surround us. The
environment can either be internal or external. For the survival of any
species, be it flora of fauna, the maintenance of the environment is
essential
Environmental protection;
Policies and procedures aimed at conserving the natural resources, preserving
the current state of natural environment and, where possible, reversing its
degradation (http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/environmental protection.
html#ixzz2yQ2vRFkY)
Environmental
protection is a practice of protecting the natural
environment on individual, organizational or
governmental levels, for the benefit of both the natural environment and
humans.
Environmental protection;
Environmental guardianship based on policies and procedures. Objectives are the
conserving of natural resources, the preserving of the existing natural
environment and, where possible, repairing damage and reversing
trends
Climate Change; Humans
contribute to a warming Earth through the release of greenhouses gases such as
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through deforestation, agriculture,
industrial pollution and the use of the automobile. The use of domesticated
animals also has an effect on the environment; cows, goats and pigs all release
methane gas, a greenhouse gas, accounting for about a quarter of all methane
emissions.
There are various factors which
make environmental protection remain difficult as follows;
Land Degradation; Land
degradation is a serious and growing problem in developing countries, which
makes it difficult to grow crops and forests due to depleted soil. Land
clearance, agricultural depletion of soil through poor land management,
livestock overgrazing and urban sprawl are some common causes of land
degradation (http://www.ehow.com/list_7526440_main-causes-environmental-problems.html#ixzz2yQPMavbf).
Pollution;
Fuel combustion is a primary cause of air pollution, mainly due to either
automobiles or coal-burning power plants, which produce high levels of carbon
monoxide. Domestic, commercial and industrial solid waste contribute to land
pollution, requiring landfills for storage or burning, which turns it into air
pollution (http://www.ehow.com/list_7526440_main-causes-environmental-problems.html#ixzz2yQPMavbf).
Habitat Destruction; Logging,
mining, oil drilling and other methods of harvesting natural resources often
lead to the destruction of habitats for many species. Wetlands are also at risk
due to developers who fill in small ponds or parts of swamps. The loss of
habitat means many animal species will find it hard to survive and adapt,
sometimes leading to extinction(http://www.ehow.com/list_7526440_main-causes-environmental-problems.html#ixzz2yQPUzUQ2).
Technology;
the application of technology in general often results in unavoidable
environmental impacts, Environmental impacts caused by the application of
technology are often perceived as unavoidable for several reasons. First, given
that the purpose of many technologies is to exploit, control, or otherwise improve
upon nature for the perceived benefit of humanity while at the same time the
limitless of processes in nature have been optimized and are continually
adjusted by evolution, any disturbance of these natural processes by technology
is likely to result in negative environmental consequences.
Second, the conservation of mass principle
and the first law of thermodynamics for example conservation of energy dictate
that whenever material resources or energy are moved around or manipulated by
technology, environmental consequences are inescapable.
Thus, technologies can
create instruction in the human economy for example of instruction as
manifested in buildings, factories, transportation networks, communication
systems, only at the expense of increasing “disorder”
in the environment. According to a number of studies, increased entropy is
likely to be correlated to negative environmental impacts.
Overgrazing and unsustainable range
management; large cattle size and many goats mat be
a blessing for farmer, but when their numbers exceed the areas natural carrying
capacity. This cause vegetation disappears, the ground becomes exposed to soil
erosion, which greatly reduces its ability to grow new plants. Eroded soil also
runs into rivers. The environmental impact of agriculture varies based on the
wide variety of agricultural practices employed around the world.
Illegal fishing; The
environmental impact of fishing can be divided into issues that involve the
availability of fish to be caught, such as overfishing most of them they tend
to use gun powders and bombs in the fishing activities which may result the
loss of marine organism,
The
journal Science published a four-year study in November 2006, which predicted
that, at prevailing trends, the world would run out of wild-caught seafood in
2048. The scientists stated that the decline was a result of overfishing,
pollution and other environmental factors that were reducing the population of
fisheries at the same time as their ecosystems were being despoiled.
Irrigation; The
environmental impact of irrigation includes the changes in quantity and quality
of soil and water as a result of irrigation and the ensuing effects on natural
and social conditions at the tail-end and downstream of the irrigation scheme.
The
impacts stem from the changed hydrological conditions owing to the installation
and operation of the scheme. Irrigation can also be done extracting groundwater
by (tube)wells. As a hydrological result it is found that the level of the
water drop away. The effects may be water mining, soil dropping, and, along the
coast, saltwater intrusion.
Agricultural
irrigation technologies such as high powered water pumps, dams, and pipelines
are responsible for the large-scale reduction of fresh water resources such as
aquifers, lakes, and rivers.
Humans
appropriate more than 50% of the planet’s fresh water, mostly for use in
irrigation. As a result of this massive diversion of freshwater, lakes, rivers,
and creeks are running dry, severely altering or stressing surrounding
ecosystems, and contributing to the extinction of many aquatic species.
Energy industry; the
environmental impact of energy harvesting and consumption is diverse. In recent
years there has been a trend towards the increased commercialization of various
renewable energy sources. In the real world of consumption of fossil fuel
resources which lead to global warming and climate change. However, little
change is being made in many parts of the world. If the peak oil theory proves
true, more explorations of viable alternative energy sources, could be more friendly
to the environment.
Transport; the
environmental impact of transport is a major user of energy, and burns most of
the world's petroleum. This creates air pollution, including nitrous oxides and
particulates, and is a significant contributor to global warming through
emission of carbon dioxide for which transport is the fastest-growing emission
sector. By subsector, road transport is the largest contributor to global
warming.
Mining; the
environmental impact of mining includes erosion, formation of sinkholes, loss
of biodiversity, and contamination of soil, groundwater and surface water by
chemicals from mining processes. In some cases, additional forest
classification is done in the area of mines to increase the available room for
the storage of the created rubbish and soil. Besides creating environmental
damage, the contamination resulting from leakage of chemicals also affect the
health of the local population. Mining companies in some countries are required
to follow environmental and rehabilitation codes, ensuring the area mined is
returned to close to its original state. But is quietly different to some area
where the mining companies they are not adhere the instruction given.
Pesticides; the
environmental impact of pesticides is often greater than what is intended by
those who use them. Over 98% of sprayed insecticides and 95% of herbicides
reach a destination other than their target species, including non-target
species, air, water, bottom sediments, and food. Pesticide contaminates land
and water when it escapes from production sites and storage tanks, when it runs
off from fields, when it is discarded, when it is sprayed aerially, and when it
is sprayed into water to kill algae. The amount of pesticide that migrates from
the intended application area is influenced by the particular chemical's
properties: its propensity for binding to soil, its vapor pressure, its water
solubility, and its resistance to being broken down over time. Factors in the
soil, such as its texture, its ability to retain water, and the amount of
organic matter contained in it.
Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology's
environmental impact can be split into two aspects: the potential for Nanotechnological
innovations to help improve the environment, and the possibly novel type of
pollution that Nanotechnological materials might cause if released into the
environment. As nanotechnology is an emerging field, there is great debate
regarding to what extent industrial and commercial use of nonmaterial will
affect organisms and ecosystems (Karamanos).
Conclusion; environment
is very important to any human being due to the fact that it includes all
things which are necessary to human life. So that human beings should be very
carefully on using the environment accordingly.
REFERENCES
Blackman,
(2008) Can Voluntary Environmental Regulation Work in Developing
Countries?
Lessons from Case Studies.
Policy Studies Journal
Karamanos,
(2001) Voluntary Environmental Agreements: Evolution and Definition of a
New
Environmental Policy Approach.
Journal of Environmental Planning and Management.
The
California Institute of Public Affairs (CIPA) (August 2001). "An ecosystem
approach to
natural resource conservation in
California". CIPA Publication
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on 08/04/2014, 10.00am,
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on 07/04/2014, 12.00pm, http://www.ehow.com/list_7526440_main-causes-
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Written By AUSI CHIWAMBO (2014)-Teofilo Kisanji University
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