Question

How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna? Explain

Answer 1

• One of the important causes often cited as the reason for environmental degradation is overpopulation in third world countries.
• In India, the factors that contributed to decline in India’s flora and fauna is the forest fires, pollution of environment, over exploitation of resources, poaching, hunting, habitat destruction.
• As per some estimates, 20% of mammals in India, 10% of wild fora in India is in the threatened list.
• Other important causes for depletion of flora and fauna across the world are there is no equal sharing of responsibility for saving the environment, consumption of resources are inequitable, and unequal access to resources.
• The colonial period inflicted maximum damage to the Indian forests, due to expansion of mining activities, scientific and commercial forestry, agricultural activities and expansion of railways.
• Even after independence of India, development activities, large scale expansion of agricultural activities, river valley projects, mining projects resulted in depletion of flora and fauna.