Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 8.2 Anthropogenic impacts on ecosystems
Ecosystem
Anthropogenic impacts
Causes of impacts
Agri-
ecosystems
Use of agricultural lands for the
urban constructions or industrial
purposes
Pollution of inland waters due to
nutrients, run-offs, and silting
Impoverishment of water resources
as a result of irrigation
Reduction of soil fertility due to
erosion, change of agricultural
practice, or decreased input of
nutrients
Increasing size of population
Increasing needs for food and
industrial products
Urbanization
Governmental subsidies to
agriculture
Poverty and unemployment
Climate changes
Weather change
Coastal
ecosystems
Exhaustion of
sh resources
(exceeding the permissible levels of
catch)
Transformation of wetlands and
coastal habitats
Water pollution by agricultural and
industrial sources
Increasing size of population
Increasing needs for food and the
growth of tourism
Development of urbanization and of
recreation places
Governmental subsidies to fishery
Inadequate information about the
state of ecosystems, especially from
the viewpoint of fishery conditions
Fragmentation and destruction of
natural barriers by tides and reefs
Intrusion of alien species
Poverty and unemployment
Possible rise of sea level
Uncoordinated ecological policy in
coastal regions
Climate changes
Forest
ecosystems
Transformation or fragmentation of
forest ecosystems as a result of
either agricultural use or
urbanization
Increasing size of population
Growing needs for wood
Governmental subsidies connected
with deforestation and use of timber
Biodiversity losses due to fires and
deforestation, emissions of stored
carbon, pollution of the atmosphere
and water basins
Inadequate estimation of losses
caused by industrial pollution of the
atmosphere
Poverty and unemployment
Acid precipitation due to industrial
pollutions
Intrusion of alien species
Over-exploitation of water resources
in their economic use
(continued)
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