Causes for Environmental degration.docx greg erd ergfe sdgfes gers
1.
Introduction
Environmental decline hasreferred to the decline of natural environment through lack of
resources such as air, water and soil, destruction of ecosystems and extinction of wildlife.
Bangladesh, a developing country with a high population density and rapid economic growth, is
facing serious environmental challenges. The joint effects of population growth,
industrialization, urbanization and climate change have accelerated environmental decline in the
country. This letter examines the major causes of environmental decline in Bangladesh, their
effects and potential solutions. Bangladesh is one of the weakest countries for environmental
issues due to its geographical location, low height and dependence on agriculture. The country
often experiences natural disasters such as floods, cyclones and river erosion, which deteriorate
with human activities such as deforestation, unplanned urbanization and pollution. If not
addressed properly, environmental decline will threaten the country's ecological balance,
agricultural productivity, public health and overall economic development.
Causes of Environmental Degradation in Bangladesh
1. Population Growth and Poverty
Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with a
population of over 170 million within a small geographical area of about 147,570 square
kilometers. This high population density creates immense pressure on natural resources
including water, land and forests.
High Population Density:
The growing population calls for extra housing, meals, and infrastructure, which leads to
deforestation, loss of agricultural land, and overextraction of groundwater. The
developing need for meals and electricity results in the overuse of agricultural land and
reducing down of forests for firewood and settlements.
Poverty and Unsustainable Resource Use:
About 20% of Bangladesh's population lives below the poverty line. Poverty forces
people to take advantage of natural resources naturally. Poor farmers often resort to
2.
cutting down treesfor fuel and expanding agricultural land in forest areas, causing
deforestation and decline of land.
2. Rapid Urbanization and Industrialization
Bangladesh has skilled speedy urbanization and industrialization over the past few many
years, which has contributed to environmental pollution and atmosphere destruction.
Unplanned Urbanization:
Unregulated urban growth has led to the destruction of wetlands, green spaces, and
agricultural land. Dhaka, the capital city, has become one of the most polluted cities in
the world due to poor urban planning and a lack of proper waste management.
o Encroachment on water bodies and humid land reduces the natural drainage
capacity of the city, which increases the risk of urban floods.
o Poor waste disposal systems have resulted in contamination of rivers and canals.
Industrial Pollution:
Industries, especially the textile, garment and brick oven industry, are major contributors
to pollution in Bangladesh.
o Textile industries discharge large amounts of dwarfs and toxic chemists in rivers,
such as the Buriganga River, making water insecure for human use and aquatic
life.
o Brick kilns emit harmful gases such as carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide,
which contribute to severe air pollution.
o Tanneries in Hazaribagh have been blamed for dumping untreated wastewater
containing heavy metals in the nearby rivers.
Construction and Transport Pollution:
A rapid increase in construction activities and the number of dust, noise and air pollution
in the number of vehicles on the road has increased. The transport area is the main source
of carbon emissions due to the use of poor quality of old vehicles and fuel.
3.
3. Deforestation andLand Degradation
Human activities and land management have reached a worrying level of forest
harvesting and land degeneration in Bangladesh due to poor methods.
Deforestation:
The forests cover about 11% of the total land in Bangladesh, which is below the ideal
level for ecological balance. The forest is driven by:
o Clean the land for agriculture and settlements.
o Illegal logging and fuelwood collection.
o Expansion of shrimp and fuelwood collection.
Soil Erosion:
Forest harvesting and poor agricultural practices lead to soil erosion, which reduces the
fertility of the land and the crop yield.
o Extreme use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has reduced soil quality.
o Topsoid's disadvantage has increased sedimentation in rivers, causing riverbank
erosion and flooding.
o Riverbank Erosion:
The broad Bangladesh river network, including Padma, Jamuna and Meghna
rivers, experiences significant erosion every year. This leads to:
o Loss of agricultural land.
o Displacement of thousands of people annually.
o The burden of sediment in rivers increased, contributing to floods.
4.
4. Climate Changeand Natural Disasters
Bangladesh is one of the world's most climate-disadvantages. The frequency and intensity
of natural disasters has intensified in rising global temperatures.
Floods:
About 20% of the country is flooded annually, while severe floods affect up to 70% of
the land in the extreme years.
o Flood waters contaminate drinking water, spread waterborne diseases, and destroy
crops and infrastructure.
Cyclones:
The Bay of Bengal makes Bangladesh very sensitive to tropical cyclones.
o Cyclones cause storm surges, salinity intrusion, and destruction of coastal
ecosystems.
Sea-Level Rise and Salinity Intrusion:
Rising sea levels threaten to submerge low-lying coastal areas, leading to salinity
intrusion into freshwater sources and agricultural land.
5. Pollution
Environmental pollution in Bangladesh has reached critical levels, affecting both rural and urban
areas.
Air Pollution:
Air pollution is caused by emissions from vehicles, brick kilns and industrial dysfunction
facilities.
o Dhaka’s air quality often the world's worst.
5.
o Fine particulatematter (PM2.5) pose serious health risks, including respiratory
and cardiovascular diseases.
Water Pollution:
Water pollution stems from untreated industrial flow, domestic sewage and agricultural
runoff.
o Polluted rivers and lakes damaged the aquatic ecosystems and threatened the
sources of drinking water.
Plastic and Heavy Metal Pollution:
Land plastic waste accumulates in landfills and water bodies, damaging wildlife and
marine ecosystems
Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and chromium contaminate soil and groundwater
from industrriial industrial debris waste.
6. Inadequate Waste Management
Bangladesh lacks proper waste management system, which causes widespread
environmental pollution and public health issues.
Lack of Infrastructure:
Municipalities and urban centers lack adequate infrastructure for waste collection and
disposal.
o Less than 50% of the waste produced in urban areas is collected and processed.
Illegal Dumping:
Illegal dumping of garbage in rivers, canals and open spaces causes contamination of
water and soil.
o Open waste burning releases toxic gases, more degeneration of air quality.
6.
Impacts of EnvironmentalDegradation
Health Risks: Increased air and water pollution have led to increased cases of respiratory
diseases, diarrhea and waterborne infections.
Loss of Biodiversity: Residence Destruction and Pollution threatens hazardous species
like Royal Bengal Tiger in Sundarbans.
Agricultural Decline: Land degeneration and infiltration of salinity reduces crop yields,
threatening food security.
Economic Consequences: Annual billions of infrastructure damage costs from floods
and cyclones.
Solutions and Recommendations
1. Reconstruction and forestry: Launch national programs to restore forest cover and
prevent illegal logging.
2. Pollution Control: Strengthen the implementation of environmental rules and install
pollution monitoring systems.
3. Durable Urban Planning: Develop smart cities with better waste disposal, drainage
systems and green spaces.
4. Waste Management: Improve garbage collection, recycling and landfill management.
5. Climate adaptation: Make a shelter and cyclone shelter and promote salt-tolerant crops.
6. Public Awareness: Educate citizens about environmental issues and encourage the
behavior of environmental friends.
7.
Conclusion
Environmental degeneration inBangladesh is run by a complex combination of human activities
and natural factors. Environmental challenges have intensified with population pressure,
industrial dysfunction pollution, forest pruning and weather change. To consider these issues, a
comprehensive strategy associated with government policies, community partnerships and
sustainable development methods is needed. It is crucial to ensure environmental stability to
protect Bangladesh's natural resources and protect the future of its population.