The world natural environment has been deteriorating at an alarming rate in the recent past. It is evident that there is uncontrolled exploitation of
nature has reached alarming levels thereby causing untold danger to the resulting complicated life supporting networks that are essential for survival
of human life. This trend is in fact the result of multiple interacting causes such as climatic shift, ecological change, and chemical pollution and
over utilisation of species. Appreciating the scale of this challenge and the severity of the consequences of not taking the necessary actions to
start reversing the negative changes is needed to engage more people to come together and start working to preserve the Earth for future generations.
The Extent of Nature’s Decline
There are many scientific research papers and reports which assert on reduced biodiversity and species deterioration all over the world. According to
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Global Assessment Report of 2019 the outlook is bleak. The
report reveals that perhaps a million of plant and animal species and are under threat of extinction in the near future, possibly in the next few
decades. This approach indicates a loss rate of biological diversity that is tens to hundreds of times greater than has been recorded over the last
ten million years.
Factors causing nature’s decline
Climate Change
Climate change is recognized as one of the main threats to the natural world. Climate change refers to the gradual rise in global temperatures due to
the trapping of gases such as carbon - dioxide in the atmosphere affects ecosystems and species. Global warming manifests itself in increased
temperatures, changes in weather patterns, melting of the polar ice caps, and the resulting increase in sea level all of which alter species habitats,
compel them to relocate, or otherwise, they die out.
Another example of how climate change threatens some stocks is that coral reefs that are known as the sea’s tropical rainforests are at risk. Global sea
temperatures have risen, the ocean became more acidic because of rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere resulting to coral bleaching and death.
A notable example is the Great Barrier Reef which has been through two successive bleaching events within the recent past and, whose esteeming marine
species are in great danger.
Habitat Destruction
The second primary cause is habitat degradation where the natural environment is cleared by people through factors like in logging, building
constructions, and carrying out activities in large spaces. Agricultural land, infrastructure and settlements are being developed at the cost of
forests, Wetlands, grasslands and other natural ecosystems as have never been witnessed before. This not only reduces the pal support to any given
species but also breaks up the pal into small isolated islands, which put the existence and survival of many struggling species at a near impossible
chance.
Habitat destruction can be illustrated with the help of such example as the Amazon rainforest, which people sometimes refer to as the “lungs of the
Earth.” This important biome has been largely affected by deforestation in favour of agriculture, logging, and mining. The habitat fragmentation
that occurs as a result puts the existence and well-being of myriad species including jaguars and various native plant species directly at risk
now, and the rainforest’s capacity to maintain the world’s climate equilibrium in the future.
Pollution
Air, water, soil pollutions, and noise pollution are one of the major factors that are very dangerous to the life of living organisms. Various chemical
products like pesticides, industrial pollutants put harms in soil, water and air that puts pressure on plant and animal lives. Marine pollution is a
serious and ever-growing problem – plastic waste is estimated to be entering the oceans at rates of millions of tons a year. Seabirds, turtles and
whales have been known to either eat plastics or get trapped in it which results to sickness, hunger and death.
Overexploitation
Unsustainable harvesting of the world’s resources such as fish, animals and trees, have an adverse impact on the animals and destruction of habitats.
Overexploitation of fish resource has led to scarce of fish all over the world affecting the fish coastal area dwellers and millions of people
throughout the world. People continue to buy and sell protected animals for pets, medicines as well as for other products like shield, rhinos,
pangolins among other species are facing the threat of extinction.
The Harms and Effects on Nature
The loss of nature often has direct impacts on the world and all the creatures living in it. Habitat destruction weakens the stock of the world’s natural
resources and makes the remaining ecosystems less able to cope with other changes that humans impose on them and failing to deliver vital ecosystem
services such as clean water, air, and food. Erosion of simple services, for instance, impacts global food production, where majority depends on bees,
butterflies, or any pollinator for plant fertilization.
Another aspect of our wellbeing that is affected is human health. Human encroachment on wildlife habitats raises the likelihood of zoonotic illnesses
because people are exposed to animals. COVID-19 has brought back the reality of the consequences that may occur once these balance relationships
with nature and wildlife are interfering.
The Path to Recovery
Conservation of nature is a topic that needs immediate and intensive work at all levels, from ordinary people to global organisations. There are some
measures possible to restore the ecosystem and endangered species further:
Conservation and Restoration
The protection of species and sustainable use of the natural resources involve the assignment of conservancies and other wildlife management and
protection corridors. Replanting denuded areas including afforestation of previously cleared pieces of land, and wetland restoration is also beneficial
in the potential recovery of lost biodiversity.
Sustainable Resource Management
The sustainable utilisation of resources requires that the level of utilisation of any natural resource shall not exceed the level of replenishment.
This includes developing sustainable soil practices for agriculture, fishing and timber that ensure minimal impacts to our environment but rather
support the environment in the long run.
Climate Action
Combating climate change is key to arresting the degradation of nature, latest IPBES Global Assessment Report says. Transition from fossil fuel energy to
renewable energy, efficiency in energy use as well as efficient use of transport can assist in containing the emission of greenhouse gases that are
known to cause global warming with resultant damage to ecosystems. Furthermore, promotion of other climate-resilient interventions likes development
of wildlife connectivity and conservation of climate corridors to provide buffer areas for species to live and breed under changing climate.
Pollution Control
Next, we cover the damages of pollution and explore the ways to reduce or control them through adequate measures. Cutting down on the use of chemicals
that have detrimental effects, enhancing the practices of disposal, and practicing the use of biodegradable materials they decrease pollutive effects
and consequences.
Combating Wildlife Trade
Efforts to tackle the wildlife trade must therefore be accompanied by high levels of compliance with the laws and regulations within countries among
countries. Which bring awareness about the effects of wildlife trafficking and what can the public do to stop buying products that are from endangered
animals.
The Personal and Community Responsibilities
People and cultures have the responsibility of helping the nature deteriorating situation. It is possible to have small but effective actions that people
consciously use when making choices in such important spheres as waste disposal, energy saving, and the support of environmental goods and services.
Campaigns such as the tree planting exercise, local wildlife protection exercise and lobbying also goes a long way in reducing impact.
People need to be educated and informed in an effort to change the way they conduct themselves within their environment. When the need for
conservation of such components and the challenges facing them in the ecosystem are well explained, the citizens feel compelled to take some
steps in regards to the natural environment and demand policies that support such conservation.
Bees
An ecological importance of bees cannot be overemphasized and the current threats to Bee populations are a clear threat to the stability of ecosystems
and hence the wellbeing of society. Bees play a crucial role in pollinating flowering plants, this ensures that new plants are grown, improving the
foods we eat and also means that our ecosystems are healthier.
Effects of Bees on the Ecosystem
- Pollination: Pollination can be described as the exercise through which pollen from the stamen part of the flower is moved to the pistil
part where fertilization happens, thus resulting in the formation of seed and fruit. Bees are rated amongst the most efficiency pollinators
for several reasons; the first being the fact that they are hairy insects and easily gather pollen as they feed on nectar from the flowers.
- Biodiversity: The role that bees provide the plant community in this respect of pollinating flowering plants are critical in the production
of new plant stock and thereby also maintaining plant variety. It implies that a wide variety of plant species is available for a large number
and varied animal species, which is very healthy for the system. The importance of bees to the ecology of the world cannot be overstated as so
many plants rely on them for the pollination that allows creation of seeds that grow into new plants and, therefore, the animals that depend on
them for food and homes will also be affected.
- Food Production: Among all the pollinating organisms bees aid in the productivity of agriculture. It is a fact that 75% of food crops need
animal pollination and among the same bees are the most significant pollinators. Some fruits and vegetables require the pollination by bees and
these include apples, almonds, berries, cucumber and melons. They are able to produce more and quality produce on their farms because of their
efforts. It goes without saying that pollination’s economic importance is in the billions of dollars internationally.
The decline of bee populations
Actually, in the last few years there has been an observed decline in bee populations. There are many causal factors for this decline;
these are habitat destruction, chemical use in agriculture, several climatic changes, illness, and parasites.
- Habitat Loss: Housing development, forest reduction, farming, and even research have all resulted in the elimination of places that bees
prefer. A decrease of areas of wildflower meadows, forests and grasslands leads to restricted formation of forage and nesting places for bees,
which will not be favourable to their survival.
- Pesticides: Royal pesticides, especially the neonictinoids have been identified to cause mortality among bees due to their wide use. These
chemical can have an adverse effect on bees’ ability to navigate, find food and even mature.
- Climate Change: Flowers are less available forcing bees and the rest of the fauna to strain harder in looking for this floral food supply
because climate change has impacted flower production and distribution. Global change factors such as temperature fluctuations, rainfall and
drought affect foraging and nesting of bees.
- Diseases and Parasites: The variety of diseases and parasites that affect bees include the Varroa destructor mite that damages the bees
and affects viruses that are fatal to bees. Another event is the colony collapse disorder (CCD) is whereby the worker bees desert the colony
and thus causing its destruction. The direct cause(s) of CCD have not yet been identified conclusively, but its likely causes include pathogens,
pesticide exposure, and environmental factors.
Why the declining of bees is a concern
- Food Security: The loss of bee population has been deemed a direct threat to crop production and therefore food security all over the world.
Common causes of decreased pollination include environmental changes and pests that act as threats to crop productivity and subsequently raise
food costs and limit access to healthy food. This is especially so at a time when many developing nations still rely on agriculture as the major
provider of food and employment.
- Ecosystem Health: They points out the benefits that bees bring to the health of terrestrial ecosystems. Their loss can thus result in
multiplication of the following undesirable consequences, absence of plant species, restricted space for animal life, and decline in usefulness
of ecosystem services such as water purification and soil conservation.
- Economic Impact: Obviously the bee pollination services have significant economic importance. Bees perform valuable pollination services to
many farming operations causing much loss when their numbers declines. Cost of pollination is too high if one has to done on its own so if bee
goes this will definitely harm the pollination process so badly.