Destruction of Ecosystem

Destruction of Ecosystem refers to the degeneration of the ecosystem through the depletion of natural resources such as water, air, and soil. Any disturbance or change to the environment perceived to be harmful or undesirable is also considered to be the destruction of the ecosystem. This unfortunate happening is one out of the ten hazards marked out officially by the High-level Panel on Threats, Change, and Challenges of the United Nations.

Furthermore, the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction defines the destruction of the ecosystem as the decline in the ability of the environment to fulfil ecological and social objectives and requirements.

Causes for Destruction of Ecosystem

Some prominent causes of the destruction of the ecosystem are as follows:

• Pollution

Pollution, be it water, air, land, or noise, is detrimental to the ecosystem. Air pollution contaminates the air that people breathe, causing different health problems, water pollution impairs the quality of water that people use for bathing or drinking purposes, and land pollution ends in the degradation of the ecosystem due to different human activities.

• Overpopulation

A rapid increase in population puts undue stress on natural resources, which destroys the ecosystem. In addition, the mortality rate across the globe has declined. More population implies more requirements for clothes, food, and shelter, leading to excessive use of natural resources and destruction of the ecosystem.

• Natural Causes

Natural calamities such as avalanches, tidal waves, earthquakes, storms, and wildfires can destroy nearby plant and animal groups to an extent where they can no longer thrive in those places. It can either come to fruition through biological destruction as the consequence of a particular disaster or by the long-term destruction of ecosystem.

Destruction of Ecosystem Impacts

Some of the harmful impacts of the destruction of ecosystem are as follows:

• Impact on Human well-being: Human well-being might be affected negatively due to the destruction of the ecosystem. Places susceptible to harmful air contaminants can cause respiratory issues like asthma and pneumonia. In addition, hundreds and thousands of individuals have died or have had their health decline due to the indirect impact of air pollution.
• Loss of Biodiversity: Biodiversity is essential for maintaining harmony in the ecosystem since it helps with fighting pollution, revitalizing nutrients, saving water bodies, and stabilizing the environment. Global warming, deforestation, overpopulation, and ecosystem pollution lead to a loss of biodiversity, thus causing the destruction of the ecosystem.
• Ozone Layer Depletion: The ozone layer in the stratosphere is accountable for saving our planet from damaging ultraviolet rays. In addition, the existence of hydrochlorofluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons usually causes ozone layer depletion.

In a nutshell, there are many factors that lead to the destruction of ecosystem. Therefore, it is high time that people realize the significance of these natural resources.

FAQs on Destruction of Ecosystem

Q.1. What do we mean by the destruction of ecosystem?

Destruction of Ecosystem refers to the degeneration of the ecosystem through the depletion of natural resources.

Q.2. How can population growth lead to the destruction of ecosystem?

A rapid increase in population puts undue stress on natural resources, which destroys the ecosystem. More population implies more requirements for clothes, food, and shelter, leading to excessive use of natural resources.

Q.3. What are the impacts of the destruction of ecosystem?

Some harmful impacts of the destruction of ecosystem are as follows:

• Increased flooding due to soil erosion and deforestation
• Loss of biodiversity and increased pollution
• Disruption of the food chain

Q.4. How can pollution cause the destruction of ecosystem?

Pollution is detrimental to the ecosystem. Air pollution contaminates the air that people breathe, causing different health problems. On the other hand, water pollution impairs the water quality that people use for bathing or drinking purposes.