Protecting Earth's Resources: Water, Soil, and Biodiversity Conservation

Protecting Earth's Resources and Ecosystems

Water Pollution and Contamination Risks

Rivers and lakes have less water volume than the seas, making pollution a very serious threat. If there is a toxic spill, the concentration of hazardous substances can be high. These substances will affect the entire river or lake, leaving the water unusable.

Vulnerability of Groundwater Sources

Aquifers: These underground reservoirs take many years to recharge or refill with water. If a pollution incident occurs, it could take a hundred years or more before the contaminant is eliminated. During this time, the contaminated water will flow into the rivers, lakes, and wells that draw water from the aquifer.

Solutions to Water Pollution

Effective strategies involve a combination of legal, curative, and preventive measures:

• Punitive Measures: Laws limiting quantities of polluting substances, fines, or closure for breaking the law.
• Curative Measures: Water treatment plants, secure waste fill sites, and planting of vegetation to help reduce pollution.
• Preventive Measures: Organic farming, changes in industrial processes, and changes in consumer habits.

Deforestation and Forest Ecosystems

Causes of Deforestation

• Exploitation of woods for paper production.
• Exploitation of minerals and resources under the forest.
• Expansion of urban areas and transport infrastructures.
• Clearing land for agricultural use.

Effects of Deforestation

• Loss of biodiversity.
• Soil erosion from unprotected land.
• Less absorption of CO₂ and reduced production of O₂.
• Loss of way of life for traditional native peoples.

Solutions to Rainforest Destruction

• Use different sustainable agricultural practices.
• Eliminate illegal or unsustainable logging in the rainforest.
• Create animal reserves and protected areas.
• Reduce greenhouse gases contributing to climate change.

Soil Degradation and Desertification

Soil degradation is the loss of soil fertility due to several factors:

Causes of Soil Degradation

• Deforestation: Soil is exposed to sunlight, which breaks down organic compounds needed by plants.
• Soil Erosion: Natural erosion is intensified by human activities. When vegetation is removed, there are no plant roots to hold the soil in place. As a result, soil can be washed away easily by rain.
• Soil Contamination: Toxic substances from industry, pesticides used in agriculture, and acid rain.
• Nutrient Depletion: Using the land to cultivate only one type of plant without proper fertilizer depletes soil nutrients.

When soil productivity and vegetation loss reach a certain point, desertification occurs.

How to Stop Soil Degradation

• Reforestation: Use species adapted to the soil characteristics.
• Organic Fertilizers: Improve productivity and do not contaminate the soil.
• Pollution Reduction: Toxic waste discharge directly onto the soil is a serious problem, but air and water pollution can also affect soil quality.
• Crop Rotation: Alternating different crops can replenish the nutrients in the soil naturally.
• The Fight Against Poverty: Poverty is often a root cause of bad agricultural practices. Fertilizer is expensive, and farmers often lack the skills to improve the soil without depleting its nutrients.

Factors Contributing to Biodiversity Loss

The loss of biodiversity is driven by several interconnected factors:

• Deforestation and habitat destruction.
• Overexploitation of animal species due to overfishing or uncontrolled hunting.
• Reduction of natural habitat for certain animals.
• Climate change: Animals and plants cannot adapt quickly to the new conditions. They either die out or need to move to new areas.