Environmental awareness is very important in current days.  It is important to understand the fragility of our environment and the importance of its protection.  Humans should respect, protect, and preserve the natural world from its anthropogenic (caused by humans) afflictions. Many times people do not realize what type of effect they have on the environment in their everyday life. However, even the smallest changes a person makes in their daily routine can make a big impact on the way the environment is going to be.

 

Here are some of the main problems that harm our environment and we can rectify them through awareness:

 

1. Deforestation: This is a serious problem nowadays throughout the world. Trees are being mercilessly cut to promote agricultural development, logging, urbanization, for industrial development, etc. Effects are really dangerous like forest fires, droughts, an increase in air and water pollution, soil erosion and floods, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, wildlife extinction, fewer crops, water cycle disruption, loss of biodiversity, etc.

We can solve these problems by planting more trees, stopping deforestation and preserving the natural vegetation by applying certain rules and regulations, restoring or replanting of forests that have been reduced by fire or felling, etc.

 

2. Increased use of plastics: Unsustainable and over the use of plastics and polythenes are causing enormous negative impacts on the environment, including pollution in waste disposal and manufacturing. Plastic is a non-biodegradable product, with the potential to cause great harm to the environment.

We can take some preventive measures by reducing the usage of plastics and using paper or cloth bags for shopping and other purposes as much as possible. We can avoid bringing plastic bags at home and ensure their proper disposal and recycling.

 

3. Wastage of water: The term “Save Water” urges us to save one of mother earth’s most significant natural resources – water. The easy availability of water has made us careless, undermining its significance and resulting in its wastage. A normal household wastes thousands of liters of water annually, without realizing that it would need years to reproduce the same quantity through natural processes. Water usage must be optimized to ensure its availability for future generations.

We should encourage rainwater saving, and avoid unwanted usage and contamination of water. A proper waste management system must be followed by everyone.

 

4. Air pollution: Air pollution is the most serious problem of the current time all over the world especially in large cities because of the huge level of industrialization.  Man-made sources of air pollution are industries, agriculture, power plants, automobiles, domestic sources, etc. We can control air pollution by establishing industrial estates away from residential areas, use of non-combustive sources of energy, promoting re-plantation and so many positive efforts.

 

Just mentioned a few main problems but there are many issues to be considered to save our environment and most importantly our mother Earth.

 

 

By Dr. Bidisa Barik
03/05/2019