Importance of Environment

Every day we get to hear about threats to the environment. Our environment includes everything
from the forests to the oceans, which impacts our everyday life. It can be deforestation, pollution, soil
erosion, etc., which needs to be addressed seriously.
1. Livelihoods of People depends on the Environment
Billions of people depend on the environment for their livelihood. For example, over 1.5 billion people
depend on forests for food, medicine, shelter and more. Farmers turn to the woods when their crops
fail. Almost two billion people earn a living from agriculture, and the other three billion people are on
the ocean.
2. Environment Strength Food Security
Many negative consequences are encountered due to biodiversity loss, but weakened food security
is extensive. If we lose our precious animals and plant species, we become more vulnerable to pests
and diseases. Due to this, our health is at a greater risk of related illnesses like diabetes and heart
disease. So, we should protect our oceans and forests to ensure food for every human being.
3. Environment Brings Many Diseases
We also learned that the Covid-19 is most likely a zoonotic disease. Diseases spread when humans
disturb the territory of other animal species. As per research, around 60% of human infections
originate from animals. Bird flu and swine flu are also diseases related to animals.
4. Trees Clean the Air
Pollution is a crucial issue, and every year, 7 million people die due to pollution. Polluted air impacts
our health and lifespans, including behavioural problems, developmental delays, and diseases like
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The trees work as a filter to remove air pollutants like carbon
monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide while releasing oxygen.

Benefits of the Environment

Our environment provides us with enormous benefits which we can’t repay in our entire life span.
The environment includes animals, water, trees, forest and air. Trees and forests filter the air and
take in harmful gases, and plants purify the water, maintain natural balance and many others.
The environment keeps a regular check on its functioning as it helps regulate the vital systems
essential for the ecosystem. It also helps in maintaining culture and quality of life on Earth. The
environment regulates natural cycles that occur daily. These natural cycles balance between the
living things and the environment. If we disturb these natural cycles, it will ultimately affect humans
and other living beings.
For thousands of years, the environment helped humans, animals, and plants flourish and grow. It
also provides us with fertile land, air, livestock, water and essential things for survival.

Cause of Environmental Degradation

Human activities are the primary cause of environmental degradation because most humans
somehow harm the environment. The activities of humans that cause ecological degradation are
pollution, defective environmental policies, chemicals, greenhouse gases, global warming, ozone
depletion, etc.
Due to the industrial revolution and population explosion, the demand for environmental resources
has increased, but their supply has become limited due to overuse and misuse. Some vital
resources have been exhausted due to extensive and intensive use of renewable and non-
renewable resources. Our environment is also disturbed by the extinction of resources and the
rapidly rising population.
The waste generated by the developed world is beyond the absorptive capacity of the environment.
So, the development process resulted in environmental pollution, water, and the atmosphere,
ultimately harming the water and air quality. It has also resulted in an increased incidence of
respiratory and water-borne diseases.
To conclude, we can say that it is the environment that is keeping us alive. Without the blanket of the
environment, we won’t survive.
Moreover, the environment’s contribution to life cannot be repaid. Besides, what the environment
has done for us, we only have damaged and degraded it.