Q-11 Define Environmental Degradation Explain with example how rapid population

growth leads to environmental degradation.

Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of

resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction
of wildlife. It is defined as any change or disturbance to the environment perceived to be
deleterious or undesirable.[1] As indicated by the I=PAT equation, environmental impact (I)
or degradation is caused by the combination of an already very large and increasing
human population (P), continually increasing economic growth or per capita affluence (A),
and the application of resource depleting and polluting technology (T).[2][3]

Environmental degradation is one of the ten threats officially cautioned by the High-level
Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change of the United Nations. The United Nations
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction defines environmental degradation as "The
reduction of the capacity of the environment to meet social and ecological objectives, and
needs".[4] Environmental degradation is of many types. When natural habitats are
destroyed or natural resources are depleted, the environment is degraded. Efforts to
counteract this problem include environmental protection and environmental resources
management.

Population growth[edit]

World population growth in a lin-log scale.

The human population on Earth is expanding rapidly which goes hand in hand with the
degradation of the environment at large measures. Humanity's appetite for needs is
disarranging the environment's natural equilibrium. Production industries are venting
smoke and discharging chemicals that are polluting water resources. The smoke that is
emitted into the atmosphere holds detrimental gases such as carbon monoxide and sulfur
dioxide. The high levels of pollution in the atmosphere form layers that are eventually
absorbed into the atmosphere. Organic compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s)
have generated an unwanted opening in the ozone layer, which emits higher levels of
ultraviolet radiation putting the globe at large threat.
The available fresh water being affected by the climate is also being stretched across an
ever-increasing global population. It is estimated that almost a quarter of the global
population is living in an area that is using more than 20% of their renewable water supply;
water use will rise with population while the water supply is also being aggravated by
decreases in streamflow and groundwater caused by climate change. Even though some
areas may see an increase in freshwater supply from an uneven distribution of precipitation
increase, an increased use of water supply is expected.[10]

An increased population means increased withdrawals from the water supply for domestic,
agricultural, and industrial uses, the largest of these being agriculture,[11] believed to be the
major non-climate driver of environmental change and water deterioration. The next 50
years will likely be the last period of rapid agricultural expansion, but the larger and
wealthier population over this time will demand more agriculture.[12]

Population increase over the last two decades, at least in the United States, has also been
accompanied by a shift to an increase in urban areas from rural areas,[13] which
concentrates the demand for water into certain areas, and puts stress on the fresh water
supply from industrial and human contaminants.[5] Urbanization causes overcrowding and
increasingly unsanitary living conditions, especially in developing countries, which in turn
exposes an increasingly number of people to disease. About 79% of the world's population
is in developing countries, which lack access to sanitary water and sewer systems, giving
rises to disease and deaths from contaminated water and increased numbers of disease-
carrying insects.[14]

Uncontrolled population growth leads to environmental degradation in the St.

Martins Island

Human settlement has started on the island around 150 years ago when only six families
migrated from Myanmar to live on the island permanently. At present, however, this island
abodes more than six thousands of people within its 590 ha of areas. During the last two
decades, the population the island has increased very rapidly which appears to be gone
beyond the carrying capacity of the island in immediate future. In view of food security
perspective, the rapid population growth rate among the islanders is another major and
forcing factor which impacted all other food security issues leading to environmental
degradation and food insecurity. For example, population growth is only one factor which
can be regarded as both the cause and the result of the problem. The St. Martins Island is
facing this paradoxical phenomenon. Ironically, over the last decade (1996-2008), the
population of the island has become almost doubled (Fig. 8).
 Fig. 8. Growth trends of population and households in the St. Martins Island

Islam (2001) reported that the population has been growing at an average of 10.5% per annum since
1974. High rate of illiteracy (63%) compare to the national average, lack of awareness and religious
dogmatism are the principal forcing factors, among the others, leading to this high rate of population
growth. The present study has found out an average household size in the island community is about
seven members per household. High population is exerting pressure on local food production,
increasing use of more agricultural land for housing and forcing people to overexploit natural
resources making the existing gap between demand and supply larger. At the same time, an influx
of local people from the mainland mainly from Teknaf used to come to the island for selling
their labour during tourist season.