Found 15 Articles for Environmental Issues

Introduction Loss of species diversity is also known as loss of biodiversity. Biodiversity is the total number of genes, species, or organisms of a given species within a given geographic area. Loss of biodiversity is a concern because the loss leads to the extinction of many species. This, in turn, leads to an imbalance in the ecosystem where the loss of biodiversity occurs. Biodiversity loss is often considered as a loss of species richness in a given geographic area. However, the term species richness associated with biodiversity loss does not consider the long−term effects of the loss of ... Read More

Introduction What are Invasive Species? Invasive species are species that are not native or indigenous to an ecosystem. They harm the ecosystem economically and environmentally. Many invasive species are introduced to an ecosystem while many others find their way to a new location accidentally. The invasive species often do not have predators that would kill them in the non−native area and they grow to so large in numbers that they threaten other species in the region. All non−native species of living beings are not invasive though. There are many plants and crops in the world that are cultivated ... Read More

Introduction India is a rich nation in terms of animal and plant species. The country is also one of the most diverse in the world which has biodiversity intricately linked to its sociocultural practices. Many animals and plant species are considered holy and worshipped in India. As a result, there are many practices in Indian societies that make India a wealthy nation in terms of biodiversity. India has about 10% of the world’s species whereas the land area of the country is only 2.4%. Therefore, the country is considered a megadiverse nation in terms of biodiversity in form. India ... Read More

Introduction Eutrophication refers to the process of mixing excess nutrients with a water body resulting in the overgrowth of plant life. The plants that are considered here are algae and plankton. In the process of natural eutrophication, soil rich in nutrients gets mixed with water bodies via sewers or due to flooding and this presents the plants that depend on the available nutrients an opportunity to grow heavily. This is a problematic situation because the growth of algae and plankton occurs so heavily that sunlight cannot reach the bed of the water bodies and as oxygen is absorbed by dead ... Read More

Introduction Chemicals are necessary for living beings to live a disease-free and healthy life. But, when non-essential chemicals enter and accumulate in the body of living organisms, it can be harmful to them. Biomagnification refers to a condition where the chemical concentration in the body of a living being extends too much. The path of chemicals entering the body of living beings is often via the food web and the level of concentration increases with the increase of successive trophic levels. Biomagnification refers to this increase of chemical concentration in the body of living organisms via the food web. ... Read More

Introduction- What is Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)? Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) or biological oxygen demand is the amount of oxygen demanded by the bacteria present in a water body to decompose the organic material present in the body at a given temperature over a specific period of time. The decomposition or breaking down of the organic master often takes place by aerobic methods in water bodies. So BOD leads to a shortage of oxygen in the water body. Water bodies usually have a definite amount of oxygen dissolved in them. The amount of dissolved oxygen (DO) indicates the liveability ... Read More

Introduction The primary objective of National Forest Policy 1988 is to preserve, conserve and protect forests in order to preserve ecological balance. The policy also aims to save various kinds of flora and fauna that have been threatened due to deforestation to a large extent. What is National Forest Policy 1988? The main objective of the National forest policy is to preserve the environment and conserve ecological balance. The policy is aimed at atmospheric equilibrium which is necessary for the survival of all forms of life, including animals, plants, and humans. The National Forest Policy comprises a ... Read More

What is Solid Waste? Solid waste refers to unwanted or useless solid objects generated due to human activities. These solid objects may be found in residential, commercial, and industrial areas. Solid waste is usually thrown away in landfills as garbage but there are ways to manage these waste products so that they do not impact the health and well-being of humans. Solid waste can be categorized into three main types depending on its origin, contents, and hazard potential. For example In terms of origin, waste can be divided into domestic, industrial, commercial, construction, or institutional. Similarly, depending on ... Read More

What is Jhum Cultivation? Jhum cultivation, popularly known as slash-and-burn agriculture relies on burning and clearing the forests after cultivation. It is a practice followed often by tropical-forest root-crop farmers in various parts of the world. It is used for animal grazing by farmers in South and Central America. The dry rice cultivators of southeast Asia also follow the system. In the beginning period, the ash generated due to burning provides some fertilization and the land becomes weed free, but after a few times of use, the land becomes unfertile and weeds increase heavily making the land deforested and unusable ... Read More

Introduction Every living being is at threat of extinction if deforestation continues at its current pace. This also includes human beings. We must preserve forests if we want to sustain ourselves in this world. However, till now, no palpable initiative has been taken by us to stop deforestation that is going at a rapid rate on Earth for various human-related causes. In this tutorial, we will discuss what deforestation is, what causes it, and what are some major effects of it. What is Deforestation? Deforestation refers to the removal of trees from a forest. It is also known as clearcutting, ... Read More