Environmental Issues
Problems related to the environment and ecosystems caused by humans.
Air pollution, Water pollution, and Land pollution.
What is the Syr Darya?
The two major rivers diverted from the Aral Sea's inflow are the Amu Darya and this other river.
What is bycatch
which is the capture of unwanted sea life while fishing for a different species.
What is sustainability
using resources wisely so that people, the environment, and the economy can all thrive—both now and in the future.
Name at least two Environmental Issues
climate change, pollution, resource depletion, and biodiversity loss
What is pollution?
the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause harm
What is the Aral sea crisis?
the environmental catastrophe resulting from the diversion of the rivers that fed the Aral Sea—mainly the Amu Darya and Syr Darya—for large-scale irrigation projects during the Soviet era.
What is overfishing
when vessels catch fish faster than stocks can replenish
What continent did we talk about that was apart of this topic?
Europe
How much of earth's land surface was altered by humans?
75%
What is water pollution caused by?
from industrial waste and agricultural runoff
What has happened since the Aral Sea has been drying up?
fisheries and the communities that depended on them collapsed. The increasingly salty water became polluted with fertilizer and pesticides.
Air pollution
What causes land pollution?
Land pollution occurs when harmful substances accumulate in the soil, impacting its quality and ecosystem health.
What has this crisis lead to?
This led to the dramatic shrinking of the sea, devastating ecosystems, local economies, and public health in the surrounding regions of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
What is deforestation
The clearing of large areas of forest land for development or agriculture.