Causes of Environmental Degradation

The main causes of environment degradation are excessive population growth and lack of public awareness about its bad effects on the environment. If the present population trend continues, the population of Nepal doubles just after 31 years. Our forests are being cleared rapidly for settlement and cultivation. People are cutting down huge number of trees for firewood and timber. Population and expansion of cities are continuing in urban areas. The lack of care and maintenance of such heritage is making the situation worse than ever.

Weak economic condition

Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world and maximum people have to depend on natural resources such as forests for firewood and timber. The population to fed has doubled after just 31 years and such growing population seeking more land to grow food, has destroyed valuable forests and killed wild animals. Similarly, many industries and factories have been with no proper mechanism for waste materials coming out of them.

Population growth

The people from villages have been migrating to towns and cities in search of modern facilities. This made the cities more crowded, dirty and polluted. Many unwanted gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide are produced from the factories. Such gases pollutes the atmosphere.

Destruction of natural resources

The slogan 'The green forest is the wealth of Nepal' was very popular in the past. Out of the total area of the country the forest covered 80,000 sq. km. It has decreased to 54,000 sq km over a short period of time. Some causes of the destruction of forest are give below:

1. The presence of the Himalayan and Terai people on the forest led to the destruction of forests.
   
2. Most of the forests were owned privately by the influential people in a certain period of history.
   
3. Due to ineffective law to protect and conserve forests, it has been difficult to prevent people from destroying forests, it has been difficult to prevent people from destroying forests and killing wild creatures.
   
4. Destruction of cultural heritage.
   

Nepal has great cultural heritage. But now a days temples and bihars are over crowded. New generations are attracted to the western culture rather than their own culture which is fading away glory of culture. However some temples are renovated in order to improve tourism still no proper attention is given to them. Besides, some bihars are neglected completely.

Pollution

Pollution is one of the major cause of environmental degradation. If there is no scientific planning for the establishment of factories and industries, the dust, smoke and chemicals thrown by them make our environmental polluted. Urbanization and industrialization demand newer and newer constructions everyday. Extension of settlement areas has decreased the productivity of land and forest. Rapid population growth has disturbed various aspects like climate, water sources, forest, vegetation, mountain, lake, land etc.

Things to remember

• Pollution is one of the major cause of environmental degradation.
• The main causes of environment degradation are excessive population growth and lack of public awareness about its bad effects on the environment.
• Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world and maximum people have to depend on natural resources such as forests for firewood and timber.
• Many unwanted gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide are produced from the factories. Such gases pollutes the atmosphere.
• However some temples are renovated in order to improve tourism still no proper attention is given to them. Besides, some bihars are neglected completely.

• It includes every relationship which established among the people.
• There can be more than one community in a society. Community smaller than society.
• It is a network of social relationships which cannot see or touched.
• common interests and common objectives are not necessary for society.

Quiz