Professional Documents
Culture Documents
BSENTrep 1-2
Overfishing
Overfishing is a serious environmental issue and is essentially catching too many
fish. This depletes the adult fish population and does not leave enough fish to
breed and restock their numbers so that they can be sustainable. Overfishing can
also be defined as fishing aggressively to decrease the stock levels to such an
extent that they can no longer support the necessary amount of fish needed for
'harvest'.
Cause
The reasons that cause overfishing are in a large part due to the worldwide fishing
fleets that are five times as large as then what is actually necessary to catch fish
that our oceans can realistically support. Globally our active fishing fleets have the
capacity to cover at least 4 planets that are the size of earth.
Effect
As mentioned earlier, millions of people rely on fishing for their livelihood and
nutritional needs. For decades, oceans have provided us with a bounty of seafood
for these needs, but there is a limit to everything. Unsustainable fishing practices
and overfishing over the last few decades have pushed our oceans to the limit
and they may now be on the verge of a collapse, thereby affecting the everyday
way of life and source of income of those who depend on them. With no
productive fish left in the sea to fish, fishermen and fisheries are bound to go out
of business in no time.
Program
Acid rain
Acid rain, or acid deposition, is a broad term that includes any form of
precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that fall to the
ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms. This can include rain, snow, fog,
hail or even dust that is acidic.
Cause
Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur
dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air. These substances can rise
very high into the atmosphere, where they mix and react with water, oxygen, and
other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants, known as acid rain.
Effect
The ecological effects of acid rain are most clearly seen in aquatic environments,
such as streams, lakes, and marshes where it can be harmful to fish and other
wildlife. As it flows through the soil, acidic rain water can leach aluminum from
soil clay particles and then flow into streams and lakes.
Program
Deforestation
Cause
Mining. The increase of mining on tropical forests is furthering damage due to the
rising demand and high mineral prices. Paper. America, China, Japan, and Canada
make up more than of the world’s paper production—400 million tons a year.
Overpopulation Due to overpopulation, more land is needed to establish housing
and settlements. Logging. Wood-based industries such as paper, matchsticks, and
furniture need a substantial quantity of wood. Agriculture Expansion & Livestock
Ranching. A major cause of deforestation is agriculture plantations. Climate
Change. Forests are essentially the lungs of our planet. All plants take in carbon
dioxide and release oxygen.
Effect
When they are degraded, it can set off a devastating chain of events both locally
and around the world. Loss of species: Seventy percent of the world's plants and
animals live in forests and are losing their habitats to deforestation, according to
National Geographic. Loss of habitat can lead to species extinction.
Program
Ending deforestation is our best chance to conserve wildlife and defend the rights
of forest communities. On top of that, it’s one of the quickest and most cost
effective ways to curb global warming. That’s why we’re campaigning for a
deforestation-free future.