Regional Geography Essay Example for Free

Regional Geography Essay The reaction has been disjointed and slow, and results seen are even harder to find. Hillstrom and Hillstrom agree that â€Å" Pollution is a particularly insidious form of habitat degradation, fundamentally impacting fragile ecosystems in myriad ways, some of which are invisible to the naked eye† (17), mentioning specifically acid rain, and farm pesticide use as a couple of the not so quickly identifiable sources of habitat degradation. The authors of World Regional Geography point out that Environmental degradation in one place is often the result of demands for resources or goods in other places, and air and water pollution can flow across borders(18). The authors also note that Small farms are now being replaced by corporate farms and high tech operations such as shrimp farms, most of which, ironically cause environmental degradation and yet receive government assistance(19). Degradation also results when the vast expanses of concrete, in highly developed areas of urban sprawl, during heavy rains, sends tumultuous, unrestricted flow of groundwater to run amok. The water washes soil and impurities along with the run off, salts from road maintenance, as well as chemicals used by various processing plants. It is a vicious cycle, As economic prosperity expands, peoples consumption of goods and resources increases, and environmental degradation is usually the result, even when aware, to make the dollar, degradation processes are too often ignored as long as possible (20). Degradation can involve loss of plant life, and biodiversity, as well as pollution of soil and water sources. We need to become more active in defense of animal habitats, because realistically we too are animals, and the biodiversity that is important to wildlife, is equally important to humans. (17) Hillstrom Kevin, Hillstrom Laurie Collier. North America: A Continental Overview of Environmental Issues. Edition: illustrated, Published by ABC-CLIO, 2003. P. 43. (18) Hapke Holly M, Goodwin Conrad Mac, Pulsipher Lydia Mihelic, Pulsipher Alex. World Regional Geography: Global Patterns, Local Lives. Edition: 3, illustrated, Published by Macmillan, 2005. p. 13. (19) Ibid. p. 169. (20). Ibid. P. 455. 7 Johnson and Klemens warn us that Sprawl is leading to the loss of rare and common species and possible species extinction. It is also leading directly to the loss of our natural environment, of ecosystem functioning(21). The ecosystem is a delicate balance, and we can not continue to disregard the warnings. If the ecosystem were to stop functioning the world could become a science fiction movie stage. Imagine a world without birds and bees, our major natural pollinators, and the resulting plant species extinctions that would follow. Plant extinctions would be soon followed by animal extinctions, right on down the food chain. This stark truth could very well come true in the not so distant future, if humans do not make changes to accommodate the animals we share the earth with. One of the biggest changes that could occur, that would help slow the detrimental progress of urban sprawl, would be to adopt more compact development planning. Instead of subdivisions spread across hundreds of acres, connected by a network of roads to the strip malls a few miles in one direction, and the factories a few miles in the opposite direction, plan more considerately, keep the sprawl to a minimum. Also when in the planning process, demand developers leave larger buffer zones, as well as intact habitat corridors to allow wildlife unrestricted movement between the islands of adequate habitat. Stricter oversight, and regulation of corporations discharging waste into the environment is a must, for wildlife and their habitat, and for humans as well. It is a shame that in this age of technology, the scientific community seems to have thought of everything geared towards production and convenience, and yet neglected to foresee the destruction of our environment that has resulted. Works Cited: Emel Jody, Wolch Jennifer. Animal Geographies: Place, Politics, and Identity in the Nature-culture Borderlands, Edition: illustrated, Published by Verso, 1998. Hapke Holly M, Goodwin Conrad Mac, Pulsipher Lydia Mihelic, Pulsipher Alex. World Regional Geography: Global Patterns, Local Lives. Edition: 3, illustrated, Published by Macmillan, 2005. Hillstrom Kevin, Hillstrom Laurie Collier. North America: A Continental Overview of Environmental Issues. Edition: illustrated, Published by ABC-CLIO, 2003.