Why Should Human Beings Protect the Environment? - Essay Sample

Introduction

Over the recent years, there has been widespread concern about the effects of environmental destruction. There has been a struggle for obtaining the right balance between satisfying the growing human needs and protecting the environment. Many people find it hard to draw a line between environmental conservation and environmental destruction since their desire to satisfy their financial and food needs, among others, taking first priority. However, dating back to a couple of decades ago, the effects of the environmental destructive behavior have increasingly had substantial impacts on our lives as human beings. For instance, according to statistics from the Global Forest Watch, the global forest destruction rate rose by 51% in 2016 alone. Climatic change related epidemics are on the rise today as a result of lack of implementation of environmental conservation measures. This being said, this essay seeks to discuss the prevention of climatic changes, lowering of carbon gases in the atmosphere, and food security as the primary reasons why human beings should protect the environment.

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Environmental conservation helps to prevent drastic climate change that comes with adverse effects. Areas with a high forest cover, for instance, are known to receive adequate rainfall throughout the year that can support farming and other human activities. However, uncontrolled deforestation has become a common activity in such areas. Activities such as illegal logging and massive clearing of forests for farming activities, construction of human settlements and commercial buildings are rising at an alarming rate. If no crucial steps are drafted and implemented to counter this deforestation wave, then the world will cut down the last of trees within a century. The effects of environmental destruction are being witnessed globally.

Trees have for long been known as the carbon dioxide 'sinks' in that they help to reduce the atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide. However, with the high rate of destruction of forests, there has been an increase in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases levels in the atmosphere. Global warming is the increase of the average global temperatures. Global temperatures have been on a steady rise in the past century. With global warming, areas in the south and north poles that were previously ice sheets have begun melting. The effect of this has been frequent floods, hurricanes and heavy rainfall in countries globally leaving a trail of destruction. Waterborne diseases, starvation and malaria outbreaks are also some of the effects also being experienced. All these are indicators of the need for environmental protection.

Another importance of environmental conservation is the issue of food security. Countries might not depend on agriculture as the main economic activity; nevertheless, the population needs to eat. It is only through environmental conservation that food security can be guaranteed. Desertification of previously arable land is increasing because of environmental destruction. This is the cause of many hunger epidemics being experienced mainly in third world countries. Water bodies also provide a significant percentage of food globally. However, the release of industrial effluence, overfishing, and other forms of pollution are threatening this food source. To guarantee global food security, it is essential to conserve the environment.

Environmental conservation also helps in the preservation of species of flora and fauna. Degradation of natural and tropical forests coupled with illegal poaching activities has seen the mass extinction of some species. The northern white rhino is already facing near extinction status with currently zero northern male rhinos. Thousands of plants have already been declared extinct globally. This situation is worrying as it is resulting in increased human-wildlife conflict as humans move into wildlife areas and animal food and water resources become scarce. This situation calls for drastic environmental protection measures. If the environment is protected, then most pandemics occurring in the world today will be non-existent.