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Wildlife conservation is a practice in which people attempt to protect endangered plant and animal species, along with their habitats. The goal is to ensure that nature will be around for future generations to enjoy, and to recognize the importance of wildlife and wilderness lands to humans. Many nations have government agencies dedicated to this practice, and they can help to implement policies designed to protect wildlife. There are also many independent non profit organizations that promote various conservation causes.
A number of different disciplines are involved in wildlife conservation. In order to practice it, people must use biology and other sciences to identify populations that are at risk, and to study those populations to learn more about their needs. Economics often becomes involved when organizations work to set land aside for the use of wildlife, with conservationists attempting to arrive at efficient land-use solutions. The field also relies heavily on education, using outreach programs to teach people about wildlife and to show people why conserving natural habitats is important. Wildlife conservationists work all over the world to identify species that are in need of assistance and to protect them. This discipline often involves
capturing animals and breeding them in captivity to ensure that the population remains large and diverse while conservationists work to establish territory for the animals so that they can have a safe place in the wild. Conservation also needs to be balanced with other land uses. Many nations, for example, value forms of recreation in the wilderness, like hiking, camping, and hunting, making it difficult to set aside land specifically for the use of animals. A wide assortment of issues intersect with this field. Establishing protected territories for animals might, for example, infringe on plans to use land for farming or housing. A wildlife park might also interfere with international borders or traditional tribal lands. Problems like pollution, deforestation, overhunting, and other environmental issues also play a role. Despite the many barriers to conservation that must be overcome, many people believe that the fight to save wildlife and natural habitat is critical.
Many organizations that promote wildlife conservation use famous and photogenic animals like pandas, cheetahs, gray wolves, and elephants to promote their cause. By attracting people to the issue, these organizations hope to gather support and funds to
protect animals that are less well-known, such as rare and endangered birds, small mammals, and reptiles. These animals also provide a rallying point and symbol for conservation.
What is the Difference between Climate Change and Global Warming?
Climate change and global warming both spend a lot of time in the news, and it is important to distinguish between these two related concepts. Put simply, “climate change” refers to long term shifts in the Earth's climate in which the climate differs radically from the expected norm. “Global warming” is a type of climate change, and the term is usually used specifically to refer to the climate change which began to occur in the 20th century. Both climate change and global warming are topics of interest to scientists, paleontologists, and ecologists. A number of factors can influence the Earth's climate, causing climate change and global warming, ranging from volcanic eruptions to pollution created by humans. Using archaeological and paleontological evidence, scientists have documented numerous instances of climate change in the Earth's past, and they have examined how, why, and when these changes occurred, using a number of indicators to track these events. Glaciation is a major indicator of climate change. When the planet experiences cooling, glaciation increases, as it did during the ice ages. With warming trends come a corresponding decrease in
glaciation. Dissolved gases in the atmosphere, pollen levels, and rainfall patterns can also provide clues. Estimates about historical shifts in temperature and climate can be arrived at by using evidence such as ice cores along with contemporary reports, such as discussions of unusually warm winters or difficult growing seasons. The Earth has been experiencing climate change since it was created, and it is clearly a natural process, as demonstrated by the long term trends which have been documented by scientists. Global warming has become an issue because the warming trend appears to be drastically accelerated and more severe than previous documented periods of warming. Some researchers have suggested that human activities have played a role in the global warming trend, and that it may be necessary to modify the human lifestyle in order to prevent additional damage.
The issues of climate change and global warming are both important. Changes in the Earth's climate historically may explain patterns of extinction in some animals, along with human migration patterns and historical events such as famines and plagues. Small variations in temperature, rainfall, and other climactic factors can have a huge impact,
as research on climate change and global warming has shown. The difference of only a few degrees can cause serious problems, which is an issue of particular concern in an overcrowded world where shortages of food and decreases in available land could trigger major sociological issues.
What Does "Endemic" Mean?
When something is said to be “endemic,” it means that it is characteristic of an area, and naturally present in the region. Biologists often use this term to describe plants and animals, and it may also be used by epidemiologists. By contrast, the closely-related word “epidemic” means that something is new to the area, and not naturally occurring. “Endemic” comes from the Greek en-, a prefix meaning “in,” and demos, which is used to mean “district” in this sense, although it can also mean “people.” In the sense of biology, people usually use this term to describe a species that is unique to a particular area. For example, a biologist might say “the Red Breasted Snork is endemic to the Fallacious Islands,” meaning that the Red Breasted Snork is found primarily (or only) in the Fallacious Islands. Endemic plants and animals characterize the region they live in, allowing biologists to identify specific regional zones, and they may be ancient or new residents. Endemic vegetation and animals are often vulnerable to changes in their natural environment. Unlike organisms with what is known as a “cosmopolitan distribution,” meaning that they are found in
many areas, endemic organisms have a limited range. This means that expanded human activities, natural disasters, and climate change can all threaten the well-being of a population. Many endangered organisms are considered endemic, making their preservation even more challenging. In epidemiology, an endemic disease is a disease which is naturally present in a population, rather than a disease which is introduced. For example, malaria is endemic to many parts of Africa and Southeast Asia, with a fairly steady infection rate among the general population. Sometimes, such diseases can play an active role in evolution; for example, many people of African descent suffer from sickle cell anemia, a disease that is closely linked with malarial regions.
Just because something is naturally present doesn't mean that it is not harmful. Poison ivy, for example, is endemic to the North eastern regions of North America, and most people regard this plant as extremely irritating. These organisms can also threaten their environment if the environment becomes unbalanced; for example, an endemic deer may experience a population explosion if predators are eliminated, leading to overgrazing and hardship for smaller animals.
Often, the balance of native populations of plants and animals is very fragile, and a small disruption can make a huge difference.
What is a Tropical Rainforest?
The term “tropical rainforest” refers to large areas of forest near the equator, generally between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Brazil has the largest rainforests, followed by Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rainforests can also be found in Hawaii, the Caribbean, and some parts of Southeast Asia. They get their name from the extreme amounts of rain that generally fall in the areas. The heavy rains create a specific type of biome not found in other parts of the world. Typically, a tropical rainforest receives yearly rain totals of around 300 inches (760 cm), though this amount can vary depending on the exact location. To truly understand the significance of that much rain, these amounts can be compared to yearly rainfall in, for instance, Washington, D.C., in the United States. Washington, D.C., receives yearly rainfall of about 37 inches (94 cm). The dampness and relative warm temperatures inside a tropical rainforest create a humid environment that allows the plants and trees to keep their green foliage year round. Most scientists agree that conserving the rainforests may be essential to protecting life all over the planet. More than 40% of the earth’s oxygen
is created within the biome, and in addition, the tropical rainforest is home to at least half of all the plants and animals in the world. From a medical standpoint, the rainforest is considered crucial to the manufacture of commonly used drugs and development of new medical treatments. More than a quarter of all medicines have their origins in the tropical rainforest. Most scientists believe that rainforests at one time made up more than 14% of the earth’s surface. Some scientists estimate that as much as 80% of the world’s rainforests have been lost due to deforestation, and that only 6% of the earth is covered in this type of biome. Deforestation is considered a serious threat to the tropical rainforest and the unique biome it creates. Many types of coveted lumber grow only in rainforests, and harvesting of these trees has been occurring much faster than they can be replaced. Hundreds of different species of animals make their home in the tropical rainforest, and many of them are believed to be endangered. Some of these endangered animals include the mountain gorilla, the Sumatran orangutan, and the brown spider monkey.
Conservation of these endangered animals and the tropical rainforest are considered critical, and many environmental groups are exclusively dedicated to rainforest protection.
What Are the Causes of industrial Air Pollution?
Industrial air pollution, caused by the release of particulates and chemicals during manufacturing, is a serious health problem in industrialized nations. Waste from mechanical and chemical industries is exhausted into the air, much the way a car puts out fumes from its tailpipe. These substances combine with ozone in the air to produce smog, which when inhaled causes breathing difficulties and can kill susceptible people. Air quality monitoring helps alert populations to industrial air pollution levels that may be dangerous. Preventing it requires a combination of legal regulations and technology. Chemicals that are common in industrial air pollution include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as methane benzene, toluene, and xylene, from industrial processes and evaporation of fuel and chemicals. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide are produced by combustion of fuel matter, such as petroleum and coal. Various particulates can be expelled by volcanoes, forest fires, and other natural occurrences, but unfiltered air and smoke from fuel combustion and industrial activity accounts for about 10% of man-made particulate pollutants.
All of these chemicals and particulates contribute to industrial air pollution. They combine with ozone in the air to form smog, which looks like a dirty brown fog and substantially lowers air quality. Cars emit a large proportion of pollutants but, with more regulatory controls and fuelefficient models, this source has been reduced somewhat. Smoke stacks on power plants and industrial incinerators release a large amount of VOCs and SO2. Landfills generate methane, which is not toxic but is very flammable and can also displace oxygen in enclosed spaces, causing suffocation. Ground-level ozone combined with pollutants reduces lung function and causes inflammation. Patients with asthma living in polluted areas report more frequent attacks and an increased need for medication and doctor visits than in areas with less smog. Health effects from industrial air pollution are more severe for people who have conditions such as asthma or cardiovascular issues. People most at risk include children, asthma sufferers, others with respiratory problems, and adults who engage in outdoor activities. Susceptible people should pay attention to air quality monitoring announcements and take appropriate precautions, such
as staying indoors, wearing a mask, and keeping medications on hand in case they are needed. In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authors and enforces regulations concerning health and environmental concerns. Regulatory committees, such as the European Commission’s environmental body, oversee legislation adopted by member states to ensure pollution stays under control. Use of land planning strategies and reduction efforts, such as particulate collectors, VOC absorption systems, and exhaust recirculation, will help keep industrial air pollution from escaping and keep the air clean for everyone.