Page 37 - Health, Population and Environment Education 10

b. Impact on Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystem
With the increase of population, there is
random increase of deforestation for extension
of settlement areas and cultivable land. As a
result, the shelter place of wildlife is either
limited or destroyed. Destruction of shelter
place affects in the free movement, reproduction
process and food chain of wildlife. People do
hunting and poaching of different animals and
birds as well. Hence the number of wildlife is
decreased. Many of them have become rare Fig: 13
and some of them are already extinct.
Increase of population has resulted into
unmanaged urbanization and industrialization.
They cause land and water pollution. The
harmful solid and liquid wastes mixed with
deadly chemicals are randomly thrown on land
and get mixed into water resources like river,
lake, pond, watershed, streams etc. Random
discharge of waste on land causes spreading
of diseases, serious impact on reproduction
process and life cycle of terrestrial plants and Fig: 14
animals. Similarly, the plants, animals and
insects in the aquatic bodies are severely affected by mixing of solid and liquid wastes. As
a result, the entire water ecosystem is destroyed.

c. Impact on Water
Water is very important for all the living
creatures. Water resources and water
ecosystem are seriously affected by increase
of population. Due to increase of population,
there is increase of unmanaged urbanization
and industrialization. The wastes produced
from settlement areas and markets are thrown
in nearby water resources like rivers, streams,
lakes, ponds, etc. There is direct joining of
drainage and sewage from settlement areas Fig: 15
into water resources. There is increase of water
pollution and quality of water is decreased. Similarly, the industries randomly discharge
solid wastes and liquid discharges containing harmful chemicals, gases. They are mixed
into the water resource. Likewise, flood in river during rainy season and run off of chemical
fertilizers used on land to grow more food also increase water pollution. Hence, there
is scarcity of drinking water, spreading of various water borne diseases like diarrhoea,
dysentery, typhoid, jaundice, hepatitis, cholera, viral fever, liver problem, kidney disease,
gastric problems, nerve problems, etc. and serious impact on water ecosystem.

GREEN Health, Population and Environment Education Book-10 37