4.2 Degradation, pollution and depletion

• Aardrijkskunde
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 3

4.2 Degradation, pollution & depletion

After studying this section, you will be able to:

• Define the three types of environmental problems
  
• Give examples from MEDCs and LEDCs for each type of environmental problem

Learning objectives

After studying this section, you will be able to:

• Define the three types of environmental problems;
  
• Give examples from MEDCs and LEDCs for each type of environmental problem.

Now first take your time to read 4.2 in your textbook

What do we call the introduction of harmful substances into the environment?

1. Depletion
2. Degradation
3. Pollution
4. Fragmentation

What do we call the decrease in size, quality and diversity of the natural landscape?

1. Pollution
2. Depletion
3. Degradation
4. Afforestation

What do we call the process of using natural resources more quickly than they are replenished?

1. Degradation
2. Depletion
3. Pollution
4. Recycling

Depletion

Degradation

Pollution

Talking point:
Do you do anything in particular to limit your impact on the environment? What could you do?

Fragmentation = A natural landscape which is split, for example through large-scale infrastructure projects.

Wildlife crossings = A solution to fragmentation by connecting fragmented areas, e.g. by a bridge.

Causes of desertification

Desertification = a type of soil degradation that takes place on a global scale, predominantly in LEDCs on the edge of deserts. 

Caused by climate change and human activity:

• Climate change; increasing risk of drought.
• Deforestation; a bare landscape is more vulnerable.
• Inappropriate farming; crops deplete nutrients in the soil.

Effects of desertification

• Relatively dry regions become infertile;
• Reduced diversity in the natural environment;
• Soil erosion;
• Expansion of the desert.

Farming on the edge of a desert requires special farming techniques, such as water harvesting in Guinea Bissau in the Sahel.

Pollution in MEDCs

Air pollution is a concern in many MEDCs. There are European regulations for it, but many (Dutch) cities do not meet them.

Car exhaust is a main contributor to a growing problem of poor air quality. Emissions from cars contain tiny dust particles, soot, and nitrogen oxides (NOx); all of these are harmful to human health. 

Low emission zones = An area in cities where older, more polluting cars are not allowed (Picture: Low emission zone in Utrecht. Trouw, 2017).

Pollution in LEDCs

Environmental laws are less strict in LEDCs:

• Worldwide consumption (in NICs and MEDCs) leads to E-waste.
• E-waste or electronic waste = waste from discarded mobile phones, computers and televisions.
• The waste items are shipped from MEDCs to LEDCs where they are taken apart or burned without protection.
• Export is officialy banned by the EU, but still taking place.

E-waste is exported from MEDCs to LEDCs where it is taken apart or burned without proper protection against harmful materials inside the products.

Depletion

Overfishing = A form of resource depletion; more fish are caught than can be replenished.

Solutions to manage the fish and the fishermen activities:

1. EU fishery policy that sets out a quota for how many fish of each species the European countries are allowed to catch.
2. Licencing of aquaculture: farmed fish.

Overuse of wood in LEDCs. Solutions: Afforestation and reforestation.

 Afforestation = Planting trees where there were previously none.

Reforestation = replanting of trees where trees disappeared.

Essence

There are three types of environmental problems: degradation, pollution and depletion. Examples can be found in both MEDCs and LEDCs. Degradation can be a result of road construction or poor farming practices. Pollution and depletion are often the result of economic progress, for example air pollution from car usage or e-waste. Depletion occurs when resources are used beyond their natural rate of replenishment, which has been the case with fish and wood.

Look at the planner in Teams to see which exercises of paragraph 4.2 you have to do.

Reduce, reuse, recycle

• Reduce the amount of waste you produce. 
• Reuse items as much as you can before replacing them.
  
• Recycle items wherever possible.
  

Using the 3 'R's helps to minimise the amount of space needed for landfill sites, where waste materials are disposed of.

Look at the planner in Teams to see which exercises of paragraph 4.2 you have to do.