2.
What are the key principles of conservation, and how do
environmental pollution and its impact on human health highlight the
importance of sustainable practices in ecology? (2%)
Conservation biology is a discipline centered on protecting Earth's biodiversity,
ecosystems, and natural resources for current and future generation. Conservation
is not merely about protecting wildlife or forests it is a holistic approach that
integrates ecological sustainability, economic development, and social well-being.
One of the strongest arguments for conservation lies in the growing link between
environmental pollution and its adverse effects on human health.
1. Principles of Conservation
Conservation is governed by several interrelated principles, each rooted in
ecological science and ethics. These principles provide a structured approach to
managing and sustaining ecosystems.
Preservation of Biodiversity
The variety of life at genetic, species, and ecosystem levels is essential for ecosystem
stability and function. Conserving biodiversity enhances resilience, enables
ecosystem services like pollination and nutrient cycling, and provides a biological
reservoir for future needs (e.g., medicine, agriculture).
Maintenance of Ecological Integrity
Ecological integrity refers to the ability of an ecosystem to maintain its structure,
function, and self-regulation. Conservation efforts must preserve the natural
interactions between species and their environment, not just individual organisms.
This includes protecting predator-prey relationships, migration corridors, and
nutrient cycles.
Sustainable Use of Resources
Unlike preservation, which seeks to protect nature from human use, conservation
often emphasizes wise use. Sustainable use involves utilizing natural resources at a
rate that does not exceed the ecosystem's capacity to regenerate them. Overfishing,
deforestation, and groundwater overuse violate this principle and lead to long-term
ecological degradation.
Adaptive Management and Restoration
Given the complexity of ecosystems and uncertainty in environmental conditions,
conservation must be adaptive. Restoration ecology, a subfield of conservation,
seeks to rehabilitate degraded ecosystems through interventions like reforestation,
wetland reconstruction, and soil remediation.
Human-Nature Integration
Modern conservation recognizes that humans are part of the ecosystem.
Community-based conservation, indigenous knowledge, and environmental
education are now integral to successful conservation programs. A critical failure of
past conservation models was the exclusion of local communities, which often led to
conflict and unsustainable outcomes.
2. Environmental Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of harmful substances into the environment, resulting
in adverse effects on ecosystems and human populations. It serves as a powerful
indicator of ecological imbalance and underscores the urgency of sustainable
practices.
2.1. Types of Pollution
Air Pollution
Air pollution is recognized as one of the leading contributors to the global
environmental burden of disease, even in countries with relatively low
concentrations of air pollution. Air pollution is a result of industrial and certain
domestic activity. An ever increasing use of fossil fuels in power plants, industries,
transportation, mining, construction of buildings, stone quarries had led to air
pollution. Emissions from industries, vehicles, and agriculture release pollutants like
sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. These cause respiratory
diseases, acid rain, and climate change.
Water Pollution
Water pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems. Water pollution
is caused by a variety of human activities such as industrial, agricultural and
domestic. Agricultural runoff, industrial waste, and plastic debris contaminate
freshwater and marine ecosystems. This reduces water quality, harms aquatic life,
and spreads waterborne diseases.
Soil Pollution
Solid waste is a mixture of plastics, cloth, glass, metal and organic matter, sewage,
sewage sludge, building debris, generated from households, commercial and
industries establishments add to soil pollution. Fly ash, iron and steel slag, medical
and industrial wastes disposed on land are important sources of soil pollution. In
addition, fertilizers and pesticides from agricultural use which reach soil as run- off
and land filling by municipal waste are growing cause of soil pollution. Acid rain and
dry deposition of pollutants on land surface also contribute to soil pollution.
Noise and Light Pollution
Noise is one of the most pervasive pollutants. A musical clock may be nice to listen
during the day, but may be an irritant during sleep at night. Noise by definition is
"sound without value" or "any noise that is unwanted by the recipient". Noise in
industries such as stone cutting and crushing, steel forgings, loudspeakers, shouting
by hawkers selling their wares, movement of heavy transport vehicles, railways and
airports leads to irritation and an increased blood pressure, loss of temper, decrease
in work efficiency, loss of hearing which may be first temporary but can become
permanent in the noise stress continues.
2.2. Human Health Impacts
Pollution directly affects human health, particularly in low-income and densely
populated areas.
➢ Respiratory and Cardiovascular Diseases:- Airborne pollutants increase the risk
of asthma, lung cancer, and heart disease.
➢ Neurodevelopmental Disorders:- Exposure to heavy metals like lead and mercury
affects brain development in children.
➢ Cancer Risks:- Carcinogens in industrial effluents and plastics raise cancer
incidence.
➢ Reproductive Health Issues:- Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) affect
fertility and development.
➢ Waterborne Diseases:- Poor sanitation and contaminated water sources spread
diseases like cholera and typhoid.
