environmental degradation
Nature's quality worsening
Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the natural world through human activity—pollution, deforestation, resource depletion, habitat destruction.
The term frames ecological damage as decline from a better previous state: Industrial runoff has caused severe environmental degradation of the river system.
It appears frequently in policy discussions and scientific reports about long-term harm to ecosystems.
Reduction in species variety
- habitat destructionEliminating natural living spaces
- ecosystem collapseTotal breakdown of environmental systems
- overfishingUnsustainable marine harvest
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
wildlife trafficking · invasive species · population crash · endangered species · mass extinction · pollinator decline · sixth extinction
Harvesting every standing tree
- illegal loggingUnlawful forest harvesting
- rainforest destructionElimination of tropical woodlands
- habitat fragmentationBreaking continuous environments into isolated patches
- slash-and-burnPrimitive clearing method
land clearing · forest fires · desertification · Amazon · Borneo · lumber industry
Vacation near the sea
- desertificationLand becoming barren, infertile
- wind erosionLand worn by air
- water erosionLand worn by flowing liquid
- landslidesMasses of earth falling
siltation · soil compaction · nutrient depletion · dust storms · badlands · beach erosion · agricultural runoff
Byproducts from manufacturing processes
- toxic spillsAccidental discharge of poisons
- chemical runoffPollutants flowing from land
- heavy metalsDense metallic environmental contaminants
- pesticide residueChemicals left on sprayed plants
groundwater pollution · mercury poisoning · lead contamination · PCBs · DDT · cadmium · asbestos exposure · radioactive waste
Rising planetary temperatures
- greenhouse gasesEmissions that trap heat
- carbon emissionsReleased greenhouse gases
- temperature riseIncrease in heat level
- sea level riseIncreasing ocean surface height
ocean acidification · coral bleaching · glacier retreat · permafrost thaw · extreme weather · heatwaves · droughts · flooding
biodiversity loss
Reduction in species variety
- habitat destructionEliminating natural living spaces
- ecosystem collapseTotal breakdown of environmental systems
- overfishingUnsustainable marine harvest
poaching · wildlife trafficking · invasive species · population crash · endangered species · mass extinction · pollinator decline · sixth extinction
clearcutting
Harvesting every standing tree
- illegal loggingUnlawful forest harvesting
- rainforest destructionElimination of tropical woodlands
- habitat fragmentationBreaking continuous environments into isolated patches
slash-and-burn · land clearing · forest fires · desertification · Amazon · Borneo · lumber industry
coastal retreat
Vacation near the sea
- desertificationLand becoming barren, infertile
- wind erosionLand worn by air
- water erosionLand worn by flowing liquid
landslides · siltation · soil compaction · nutrient depletion · dust storms · badlands · beach erosion · agricultural runoff
industrial waste
Byproducts from manufacturing processes
- toxic spillsAccidental discharge of poisons
- chemical runoffPollutants flowing from land
- heavy metalsDense metallic environmental contaminants
pesticide residue · groundwater pollution · mercury poisoning · lead contamination · PCBs · DDT · cadmium · asbestos exposure · radioactive waste · oil spills
global warming
Rising planetary temperatures
- greenhouse gasesEmissions that trap heat
- carbon emissionsReleased greenhouse gases
- temperature riseIncrease in heat level
sea level rise · ocean acidification · coral bleaching · glacier retreat · permafrost thaw · extreme weather · heatwaves · droughts · flooding · thermal expansion
- environmental harmair pollution, water pollution, pollution, oil spills, acid rain
- regional crisespoverty, inequality, violence, crime, corruption
- collapsecollapse, cave in, cave-in, fall in, give way
- corrosionrust, rusting, corrosion, iron oxide, galvanic corrosion
environmental degradationenvironmental restoration
Repairing degraded natural systems
ecological restoration · habitat restoration · rewilding · reforestation · land reclamation
environmental degradationconservation
Preventing waste or loss
environmental conservation · environmental protection · nature conservation · preservation · environmental stewardship
environmental degradationenvironmental health
Surroundings' effect on wellness
ecosystem health · environmental quality · pristine environment · ecological balance · wilderness
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