HUMAN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT Be nice to other people. They outnumber you 7 billion to one. - Unknown - Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. --Will Rogers

WHAT IS THE MAIN REASON HUMANS HAVE SUCH A STRONG IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT?

Population growth * 10,000 years ago, 10 million people * by 1850, population was 1 billion * 80 more years to reach 2 billion (1930) * 45 years, it doubled again (4 billion in 1975) * 12 years to reach to reach 5 billion (1987) * 7 billion in 2010 * by the year 2025, there will be 8 billion

Carrying capacity refers to the number of individuals who can be supported in a given area within natural resource limits. The carrying capacity for any given area is not fixed. As the environment is degraded, carrying capacity actually shrinks, leaving the environment no longer able to support even the number of animals who could formerly have lived in the area. No population can live beyond the environment's carrying capacity for very long.

HUMANS CAN ACTUALLY CHANGE THE CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE HUMAN RACE THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO CHANGE THE ENVIRONMENT. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS HUMANS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS?

HUMANS CAN ACTUALLY CHANGE THE CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE HUMAN RACE THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO CHANGE THE ENVIRONMENT. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS HUMANS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS? INCREASED FOOD PRODUCTION CHEAP ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALTH CARE IMPROVED SANITATION

WHEN HUMANS INCREASE THEIR CARRYING CAPACITY, THEY OFTEN DO SO AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHER SPECIES. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS HUMANS ARE IMPACTING THE ENVIRONMENT IN A NEGATIVE WAY?

WAYS HUMANS DAMAGE THE ENVIRONMENT: MINING AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT POLLUTION – AIR AND WATER TIMBER INDUSTRY SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL RECREATION

IN MINING TO EXTRACT MINERALS, SOMETIMES THE MINES ARE NOT RECLAIMED AFTER MINING IS FINISHED.

OFTEN, THE LAND IS NOT REUSUALBE, AND WATER LEACHING THROUGH THE MINE WASTES CAN BECOME ACIDIFIED AND CAN PICK UP HEAVY METALS WHICH ARE TOXIC.

AGRICULTURE CAN ALSO DAMAGE THE ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE CAN ALSO DAMAGE THE ENVIRONMENT. SOME OF THE PROBLEMS INCLUDE: MONOCULTURE PESTICIDES POLLUTION OF STREAMS WITH FERTILIZER AND ANIMAL WASTE EROSION AND LOSS OF TOPSOIL HABITAT DESTRUCTION

THE DEMAND FOR TIMBER HAS RESULTED IN DEFORESTATION IN MANY FORESTS, INCLUDING TROPICAL RAIN FORESTS. THIS IS RESULTING IN LOSS OF SPECIES. TROPICAL RAIN FORESTS COVER ONLY 6% OF EARTH’S LAND SURFACE, BUT THEY CONTAIN ABOUT HALF OF ALL SPECIES. RAIN FORESTS ARE BEING LOST AT THE RATE OF 78 MILLION ACRES PER YEAR. IN 1950, RAIN FORESTS COVERED 15% OF THE EARTH’S LAND SURFACE.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT IS CAUSING MANY PROBLEMS. LOSS OF HABITAT HEAT ISLAND EFFECT FROM BUILDINGS AND PAVEMENT IMPERVIOUS SURFACES CAUSE MORE RUNOFF AND LESS WATER SOAKING INTO THE GROUND. STREAM POLLUTION RESULTS FROM STORMWATER RUNOFF. FLASH FLOODS RESULT FROM INCREASED RUNOFF.

ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE, STORMWATER RUNOFF RESULTS IN STREAM POLLUTION. DIRT OIL AND GREASE TRASH PET WASTE FERTILIZER FROM LAWNS

PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR: OZONE DEPLETION (IN STRATOSPHERE) OZONE AT GROUND LEVEL FROM AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC PARTICULATES FROM AUTOMOBILES AND COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS ACID RAIN FROM AUTOMOBILES AND COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS

PROBLEMS WITH WATER: DROUGHT ACID RAIN AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF STORMWATER RUNOFF INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION AQUIFER DEPLETION

SOLID WASTE AMERICANS USE MORE STUFF THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD. WE THROW AWAY 4 POUNDS OF TRASH PER PERSON PER DAY. WE’RE RUNNING OUT OF LANDFILL SPACE. SOME CITIES HAVE TO TRUCK THEIR GARGAGE OUT OF STATE.

SOLID WASTE * Reduce the amount and toxicity of trash you discard. * Reuse containers and products; repair what is broken or give it to someone who can repair it. * Recycle as much as possible, which includes buying products with recycled content.

WHAT DO THE FOLLOWING PICTURES HAVE IN COMMON?

THEY ALL SHOW LOSS OF LAND TO EROSION.

http://www.nytimes.com/video/2007/12/21/us/1194817097875/utah-s-fight-over-public-land-use.html