COURSE NAME: DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

COURSE CODE: GST 06101L

DPLM, & DBA
INSTRUCTOR:Ms. AIKA PHILEMON

MODULE 4: ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION

Hazards faces
What is environmental degradation?

 This is a term used to describe a situation in which apart of the

natural environment is damaged. It can be used to refer to
damage to the land, to water or the air. Environmental
degradation can also mean a loss of biodiversity and a loss of
natural resources in an area.

 The problem is that it is now occurring at a much faster rate,

therefore not leaving enough time for the environment to recover
 Environment: the total of our
surroundings
• All the things around us with which
we interact:
• Living things
• Animals, plants, forests, fungi, etc.
• Non-living things
• Continents, oceans, clouds, soil, rocks
• Our built environment
• Buildings, human-created living centers
• Social relationships and institutions
 Humans exist within the environment
• Humans exist within the environment
and are part of nature.
– Our survival depends on a healthy, functioning
planet.
• We are part of the natural world.
– Our interactions with its other parts matter a
great deal.
• This idea is fundamental to
environmental conservation and human
survival
 Humans and the world around us
• Humans depend completely on the environment for
survival.
– Enriched and longer lives, increased wealth, health,
mobility, leisure time
• But natural systems have been degraded
– Pollution, erosion, and species extinction
– Environmental changes threaten long-term health
and survival.
• With environmental problems come opportunities for
solutions.
 Types of environmental
degradation in Tanzania

• Deforestation: Cutting down of trees for

charcoal, fire wood and timber logging

• Desertification: Increase of desert like

conditions caused by deforestation

• Air pollution: Emission of harmful gases to

atmosphere cause by industrial activities
 Types……
• Extinction of species: Due to illegal hunting
there is disappearance of some important
animal and plant species
• Soil erosion: Weathering away soil surface by
running water or strong wind,overgazing,poor
farming methods
 Global environmental problems
 Forests are shrinking
 Deserts are expanding
 Soil erosion
 Range lands are deteriorating
 Rise of sea level
 Increase of global temperatures
 Tropical diseases are emerging
 Coral reefs are disappearing
 Fisheries are collapsing
 Storms are destructive
 Increase of pollutants &wastes
 Factors for environmental
degradation
• Natural factors
 Drought, storms on sea such as hurricanes,
tornadoes and carinas and Volcanic eruptions
causes soil erosion and air pollution
• Human factors
 Deforestation, overgrazing, industrialization,
urbanization,
 The link

Social Factor
Population, Poverty, Urbanization

DEGRADATION
 Environmental degradation VS
Poverty
• Relationship between poverty and
environmental degradation is that
environmental problems leads to poverty
• It is viewed in the vicious cycle of land
degradation
 Reading assignment
• Identify different methods that can be used to
solve environmental degradation problem