1. Human Impact on the Environment

2. Ways humans help…or try to
Build nesting boxes for birds.
This gives them an easy home that’s strong and protected so the predators can’t get them.

3. Ways humans help…or try to
Reserves for animals
By fencing off an area, we can keep predators out so a species can reproduce

4. Ways humans help…or try to
Make laws to protect animals
Laws against the hunting of endangered species as well as needing hunting licenses for other species

5. Ways humans don’t help

6. Population growth leads to
Industrialization
Burning fossil fuels
Non-renewable resources
Pollution
Increased CO2 levels

7. Acid Rain
Burning of fossil fuels releases sulphates and nitrates into air
Sulphates and nitrates mix with water vapor in air and form sulphuric acid and nitric acid

8. Acidification of lakes
Lakes and ponds can become so acidified that no life can live in them!

9. Deforestation Population growth leads to the loss of natural habitats
Cut down trees to build new homes
Loss of biodiversity
Loss of oxygen producers and CO2 eliminators

10. Over-grazing
Farmington, UT 1900’s. Overgrazing of the mountains above Farmington resulted in flash floods in the 1920’s.

11. Moving into the mountains
Elk, deer and moose often suffer loss of habit due to humans building houses further up the mountains. These animals are forced to come down the mountain for food during the winter. Often that means that they’ll eat the farmers’ haystacks or flower beds.

12. Ozone depletion
In the 1980’s it became apparent that the ozone layer was disappearing
It was confirmed that is was directly caused by human activity

13. CFC’s
Carbon-Flouro-Carbons in aerosols were leaking into the atmosphere and eating away the ozone

14. Pollution Water Pollution Oil Spills Gasoline spills
Gets into drinking water

15. BP oil spill, 2010

16. Global Warming Increase in CO2 Increase in greenhouse effect
Increase in global temperatures

17. Should we worry?

19. Herbicides and Pesticides
DDT
Made in 1874 and used for insecticide in Controlled malaria and typhus during WWII

20. DDT Claimed to be a miracle No effect on humans
Can build up in the environment
Biological magnification

21. Bioaccumulation
Accumulated to such levels in top predators that it started having lethal effects.
Endangered many species of birds, Including our Bald Eagles.