Human Interaction
Natural Disasters are not the only culprits responsible for extreme environmental changes. Human impact on ecosystems and other organisms plays a large role in the changes we see all around us. In this section we will examine human interaction with the environment and the effects it has on sustainability and ecological balance.
Humans have advanced so quickly during the past century and a half. We have gone rom riding horses, to landing a man on the moon! These innovations have not come without a price and impact to the environment and other living creatures on this planet. We will discuss how pollution, fossil fuels, deforestation, soil erosion, air & water are all impacted by people. The effects of these interactions have had catastrophic results in LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean). However, human interaction with the environment does not always end with a negative impact. In the latter half of this section we will focus on the positive changes people are making in environmentally sustainable projects and conservation in LAC areas.
Cause and Effect
Soil Erosion
Movement of soil components, especially topsoil, from one place to another, usually by wind, flowing water, or both. This natural process can be greatly accelerated by human activities that remove vegetation from soil.
Air Pollution
The contamination of the atmosphere by the introduction of pollutants from human and natural sources.
Water Pollution
The contamination of streams, rivers, lakes, oceans, or groundwater with substances produced through human activities.
Ozone Depletion
The gradual thinning of Earth’s ozone layer in the upper atmosphere caused by the release of chemical compounds containing gaseous chlorine or bromine from industry and other human activities.
Desertification
The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.
Sustainable Efforts
