7.

ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
Environment and utilization in
South Africa
Figure 1.A Erosion rates
Deforestation for urbanizing (Before and After)
More economically productive species
substituted large of earth’s natural plant and
animals, this is due to an increase in human
population and demand for better life. Urban
development, mining and poor
farming(monoculture) practices had result in a
quarter of the land been lost because of rapid
increase in soil erosion, lack of soil fertile soil, as
result biodiversity is lost as well. An increase in
population and land degradation put county’s
food security at vulnerable state. It is made
difficult to put such environmental issues at first
hand because of lack of land use policies and lack
of conservative ethics. The picture below shows
soil erosion rates for magisterial districts of South
Africa. As seen soil erosion is most intense in
areas of high rainfall, mining, urbanized and
heavily cultivated land (Le Roux, 2009).
Species and their habitats under
pressure.
When wild dogs (jackals) hunt livestock or unwanted
plants grow on their crops, farmers tend to eliminate
and wipe the whole unwanted species. Data collected
of eradication of species varies with sources. According
to very conservative estimates more than 2000 animals
were killed over 2000 years while 1000 are regarded as
endangered. The IUCN Red List system categorizes
species according to their risk of extinction and the
picture Figure 2 below shows:
that the number of species drop below specific level,
which species will under natural conditions, become
extinct.
Reasons may be a decline in diversity (genetic pool)
within the community of the animal which makes it at
risk with changes to the environment or endangered.
It is also know that extinction may the result of
preliminary disturbed habitat and so inhabitant are Figure 2. The Red List criteria as biological indicators of
forced to relocate or naturally they become extinct. extinction risk
This astonishing number of species is due to the weather
condition of temperate climate and of mix of tropical
Mediterranean occurring in the country. The red list has
named at least 35000 country’s plant species as become
extinct or threatened to become extinct in one way or
the other. According to the book species are regarded as
being under threat under following categories:
Endangered- unlikely to survive unless special measures
are put in action to protect animals.
Rare- species occur in specific location that there are at
risk to disappear.
Vulnerable- low population compared to the rate of Illegal trade and specie harvest
their extermination. Illegal wildlife trade are well known, such as poaching of elephants for
Doubtful- not enough evidence to classify them as ivory and tigers for their skins and bones. However, countless other
endangered but there is speculations. species are similarly overexploited, from marine turtles to timber trees.
Recovered- previously endangered. Not all wildlife trade is illegal.
Species that have not yet been assessed against the Red
List criteria are classified as Not Evaluated. These One of the Africa’s concern is poaching of elephant, meanwhile, 31
species includes a large population species of spiders elephants were killed in South Africa in 2019, according to the
and butterflies. environment ministry. From January to December 2019, 178 alleged
poachers were arrested in Kruger National Park.
Habitat destruction
Habitat destruction is defined as the process
by which a natural habitat becomes
incapable of supporting its native species.
The organisms that previously inhabited the
site are displaced or die, thereby reducing
biodiversity and species abundance. The
main cause of animal extinction is
destruction of environments in which the
animals live. Human activities is the main
reason for habitat destruction mainly for the
purpose of harvesting natural resources for
industrial production Clearing habitats for
agriculture . mining, logging, trawling, and
urban sprawl are also the causes of habitat
destruction.
Deforestation is the removal of trees for
agriculture or economic activities. The
increase of a population also cause
deforestation because ppl will be looking for
a land to occupy. the negative effect about
deforestation is the disturbance of gas
balance of the atmosphere, increase in
global warming, soil erosion and floods.
Solution to deforestation is setting
government regulations, reforestation, and
most important self-education
 Habitat destruction Pollution
Desertification is the process by which
fertile land becomes desert, because of
drought, deforestation, or inappropriate
agriculture.
The following figure shows the causes of
desertification
destruction.

Recommendations to avoid desertification

• Improving the quality of the soil -
• Water management . In nature we have biogeochemical cycles. These cycles can
• Drip irrigation break down natural waste for reuse and no waste accumulates
in the environment
Pollution (cont.)

Pollution is introduction of excessive and harmful material into

the environment. This can occur by adding more material than
natural cycles can handle at a time and introducing synthetics
which the natural cycle cannot break down for reuse. These are
called pollutants.
Accumulation of pollutants in the air, water or soil have a direct
or indirect negative effect on people and their environment. It
threatens the quality of resources for mankind
Pollutants can enter the natural cycles and circulate through
the air, water and sediments. Pollutants like lead, mercury and
chlorinated hydrocarbons move through the food chain after
moving through the biogeochemical cycles, the cycles go
through many national boundaries, making it an international
problem.
 AIR POLLUTION
During 2002 25 babies died due to air pollution in the Vaal
triangle according to a report by an air pollution specialist,
Yvone Scorgie. People are also spending around R290 million
for medicine as an indirect result of air pollution, industry loses
78 750 hours annually and more than 24000 suffer from
chronic bronchitis.
Air pollution is the introduction of air pollutants
into the atmosphere, air pollution was increased
when coal was widely used in large production
facilities, the pollutants directly affect humans
with respiratory ailments.
SUBSTANCES CAUSING AIR POLLUTION.
• Air pollution is caused by gases and solid particles, these
include gases like Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon
monoxide, ozone and hydrogen sulphide. Solid particles
include dust from soil, smoke from combustion of coal,
inorganic compounds such as sulphates, carbonates, metallic
salts and synthetic compounds.
• Sulphur dioxide combines with water vapor and form
sulphurous acid and results in acid rain. Acid rain damages
plant life, it increases corrosion of infrastructure and
geological formations.
• Smog is one of the visible air pollution, it is a reaction
between water vapour in the and oxides of nitrogen and
hydrocarbons emitted by automotive vehicles. This increased
ozone from the normal 0.02 parts per million (ppm) to
0.5ppm. smog is harmful to plants and animals and degrades
many materials.
SUBSTANCES CAUSING AIR POLLUTION( Cont.)
• Lead occur naturally in the ecosystem but rivers in cities
contain up to 100 times and atmosphere 1000 times
more than normal. This causes lead poisoning
transmitted through the food chain and affecting the
nervous system in humans and animals
• Natural causes of air pollution include forest, bush and
veld fires, dust storms and volcanic eruptions. These
have a low impact since they are not continuously
occurring phenomenon and are localized. Their impact
is small compared to human induced pollution, these
include exhaust gases from cars being the largest
contributor of carbon monoxide and lead compounds
(hence the introduction of unleaded petrol). Other air
pollutants include exhaust gases from industrial activity
and aerosols
CAUSES OF AIR POLLUTION.

• Power plants also play in role in air pollution. These power plants
release compounds such as Sulphur dioxide from low grade coal and
nitrogen compounds which can be harmful for all living creatures.
• Household activities such as open fires used for heating purposes,
burning of household refuse and cooking food also has a helping hand
in polluting the air. Every time we use aerosols, we release gases
which are called Chloro-fluoro-carbon compounds (CFC’s) which
accumulate in the stratosphere and deplete the ozone layer which is
protecting us against harmful sun rays.
• Air pollution can also be caused by what we call indoor pollution. This
indoor pollution has a minimal contribution in air pollution. Indoor
pollution includes the following:
• Cigarette smoking
• Radon (a rare, highly radio-active gas)
• Asbestos (A group of minerals consisting of small fibres that can be
inhaled)
• Lead
• Formaldehyde
CONSEQUENCES OF AIR POLLUTION.
• Air pollution enhances the depletion of the ozone layer
which protects us against Ultra-Violet (UV) rays from the
sun which can lead to severe skin cancer.
• Combustion of fossil fuels from power plant, industries and
motor vehicles can cause acid rain. The pH of this acid rain
can reach a low level of 2,1 which is more acidic that
vinegar. This can affect the eggs of most aquatic animals.
• Air pollution can affect the climate change of the earth.
Many studies show that increased levels of air pollution can
cause a decrease in temperature of the earth which might
results in oceans freezing and ice caps increasing in
volume. Other studies show that these levels could cause
an increase in temperature of the earth of up to 2.5℃ as a
result of the greenhouse effect. It can not be predicted
which of these conditions would prevail, but the last theory
of an increase in temperature is more acceptable.
WATER POLLUTION.
• Water pollution is cause by disposing
materials such as oil or grease, organic
wastes, chemical residues, salts and
detergents in water bodies.
• Sewage is one the most popular water
pollutants

• This pollution occurs because

most hazardous material can easily
be disposed of in running water. This
pollution has resulted in outbreaks
of cholera and typhoid fever. Water
pollution in most South African
major cities is said to be
approaching crisis situations.
INDUSTRIAL WASTE.
Industrial waste is waste material generated by industrial processes
Most of these waste products are foreign to the natural ecosystem
and cannot be removed from the system through natural processes.
They are divided in two categories, Toxic and Non-toxic.
Toxic waste products
They include heavy metal salts such as mercury and lead compounds
which are highly used in industries.
• These heavy metals accumulate in the food chains as they are not
excreted by normal physiological processes and tend to be retained
in the body and become concentrated.
• The higher the level of the organism in the food chain the higher
the accumulation of these substances.
• Lead and mercury damage the nervous system and cause mental
aberrations in human beings
• Cyanide is another frequently used toxic substance in industries
which is more likely to be deposited to rivers.
• Fish are more sensitive to cyanide poisoning, therefore in this case
it leads affects their lives
INDUSTRIAL WASTE(Cont.)
Industrial waste is waste material generated by industrial processes
Most of these waste products are foreign to the natural ecosystem
and cannot be removed from the system through natural processes.
They are divided in two categories, Toxic andNon-toxic.

Non-toxic waste products

They include metal oxides and other colourants that colour the water,
organic wastes from paper mills, sugar mills, etc.
They compose of high organic content which pose the same problem
as sewage (check sewage )
They can break down without negative consequences unlike toxic
substances
AGRICULTURAL WASTE.
• Runoff from feedlots, intensively fertilized land and
inorganic salts results to eutrophication.
• According to Worldwatch Institute, 500 people die every
year from pesticide poisoning all over the world as a result
of agricultural waste.
• As a result of overgrazing and poor farming methods the
rate of soil erosion has increased rapidly in which large
quantities of slit are deposited to rivers and lakes.
• The slit is detrimental to fish life as it blocks its gills to such
an extent that large-scale loss occurs as a result of oxygen
deficiency.
• The murky water prevents light from penetrating and
therefore affects aquatic life.
 THERMAL POLLUTION
Thermal pollution is addition of hot water to a natural water
body.
• The hot water results mainly from cooling installations
particularly in the case of atomic power stations and
also as a result of oil deposited by industries on seas.
• This affects the aquatic life as there are other species
which have low tolerance in temperature variations.
• It also depletes the oxygen content in the water which
disturbs the aquatic life
BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION
• Contamination by pathogens or disease-causing
organism such as cholera, typhoid fever, diarrhoea etc
can be largely ascribed to the contamination of water
by human faeces.
• Water is contaminated when unprocessed sewage is
dumped directly into water sources or when the
capacity of the sewage purification works is exceeded.
POLLUTION BY SOLID WASTE.
Solid waste is harmful for the environment
whether it exist in solid, liquid or gaseous form.
• Each year as many as 5.2 million people, including 4 million
of children die worldwide from diseases caused by
improper disposal of solid waste.
• It is divided into three categories namely bio-degradable,
combustible and non-combustible waste
Bio-degradable waste : such as kitchen refuse which takes two
weeks to five months to be broken down by natural processes.
Combustible waste : such as plastic, rubber and artificial
fibres. When these materials are exposed to ultraviolet rays of
the sun, they take 10-30 years to break down.
Non-combustible waste : waste such as metal objects, building
rubble, mining wastes, normal processes of the weathering
cycle for example oxidation, mechanical weathering, etc.
Aluminium tins can take 80-100 years to break down, while
building rubble and mining wastes would take thousands of
years
 Pollution control.
Pollution control is the process of reducing or
eliminating the release of pollutants into the
environment. It is regulated by various
environmental agencies which establish
pollutant discharge limits for air, water and land.
It reduces both financial costs (waste
management and clean up) and environmental
costs (health problems and environmental
damage).
Pollution control protects the environment by conserving and
protecting natural resources while strengthening economic
growth through more efficient production in industry and less
need for households, businesses and communities to handle
waste. There natural resources that we use are not infinite
therefore we need to stop treating them as though they are
infinite, they will run out if we continue to use them the way
that we are hence we need to control the pollution.
Causes of pollution.
• Nutrient pollution is caused by wastewater, sewage, and
fertilizers. The high levels of nutrients in these sources end
up in bodies of water and promote algae and weed growth,
which can make the water undrinkable and depleted
oxygen causing aquatic organisms to die.
• Industrial waste is one of the main causes of water
pollution, by creating primary and secondary pollutants
including sulphur, lead and mercury, nitrates and
phosphates, and oil spills.

Figure 1: Fossil fuels produce large quantities of carbon dioxide

when burned. Carbon emissions trap heat in the atmosphere and lead to
climate change. In the United States, the burning of fossil fuels,
particularly for the power and transportation sectors, accounts for about
three-quarters of our carbon emissions

The burning of fossil fuels for transportation

and electricity produces both primary and
secondary pollutants and is one of the biggest
sources of air pollution.
Questions.

5. Should we support the international ban of ivory trade when it can be a huge source of income for furthering our
attempts to conserve the elephant population?
Ans- Banning the international trade of ivory is a great idea, but it does not really help in conserving the lives of elephants because
there will be illegal organizations which would still harvest the elephant tusks. The solution is that, there should be a partial ban
where only a specific and highly regulated government body is allowed to sell or trade ivory in order to help in conserving the lives of
Elephants. The ivory that will be traded by these government bodies will be from Elephants that are dead because of natural causes
and from the stock piles of ivory that was retrieved from illegal poachers.
7. Give an explanation or definition of pollution and discuss the ecological implications there-of with reference to the
National Laws.
Ans- Pollution is the introduction of excessive and harmful materials into the environment. These materials get into the natural cycles
and cannot be broken down fast enough or cannot be broken down at all.
Air pollution accumulate the world with carbon dioxide levels, causing global warming & climate change through the greenhouse
effect. It causes flooding & desertification. This changes the ecological equilibrium of the world.
Air pollution causes acid rain when the condensation part of the water cycle dissolves air pollutants. Acid rain damages plant life
including agricultural crops, affecting food security.
Dumping and over fertilization of land causes chemicals to wash off or seep into the ground water and rivers. These chemicals are
then passed onto the drinking water and poison the fresh water life and humans when they eat the poisoned fish. Over fertilization
causes eutrophication, throwing off the ecological balance of the water.
Questions (cont.).

9. What is meant by the concept “optimal pollution?”

Ans- According to oxford (2015), optimal pollution is the level of pollution that maximizes public welfare by
equating to marginal cost or benefits from pollution reduction. When this point is reached, then the optimal
level of cleanliness with regards to the environment.
The society benefits from this decreasing in pollution when the marginal benefits of pollution reduction are
greater than the marginal cost of actually reducing pollution. In turn the benefits are equal in amount i.e. the
marginal cost of the clean-up did not overstep marginal benefits of cleaning up.
It is said by economists that as demands increases and pressure is put on industries to reduce pollutant
emissions, the marginal cost of pollution control are automatically increased. This is because as we reduce
pollution emissions the marginal cost of pollution control are automatically increased. This is because as we
reduce pollution, the marginal cost goes down and air pollution increases.