Causes of environmental degradation

Changes in the environment occur as a natural process as well as a result of human activities. It is today accepted every where that the major cause of environmental degradation is harmful human activities. To meet the growing demands of the ever increasing population, human beings have started interfering with the environment so much that there has been a steady decline in the quality of the environment.

Forests are being cleared to create more land for cultivation. More forest are being sacrificed to create space for setting up industries. Herds are being taken to the same grazing fields frequently. Heavy rains or floods can also cause landslide. Cultivation very close to river banks can also cause flood. Improper construction of damps/dykes on river routes also cause flood. Air, water, and land get polluted due to various human activities. Smoke from factories is also adding such gases and particles to the air. Increase use of pesticides for increased crop-production is adding dangerous chemicals to the soil. Increase use of chemical fertilizers for increased crop production is affecting the quality of soil. Mixing domestic sewage into water bodies is also harm for water. Adding industries effluents into water is another harmful activity. Throwing dead bodies of animals into water. Increased use of motor vehicles with loud sounding horns. Setting more and more factories is also adding to noise pollution.