When talking about environmental damage, we must have thought about the existence of burning forests, the extinction of endangered animals, so that water and air sources began to be polluted. Everything that happens must have a cause.
The main factor that makes it damaged is the human activity itself. In this article, the author does not only talk about the consequences of environmental damage. The author also discusses the steps to preserve the environment which is also an effort to establish the environment.
Causes and Effects of Environmental Damage
The environment is often interpreted by many experts with everything that is found or found around living things. The environment can have an influence on all the developments of life, whether it occurs directly or indirectly.
However, when examined from Law no. 23 of 1997, the environment is the unity of space with all objects and the unity of living things. Humans are also included in it which is able to provide continuity of life and welfare, both for humans themselves and other living creatures.
If you look at this definition, there are two causes of environmental damage and of course, it ends in unwanted environmental damage, such as floods, earthquakes, air pollution, and so on.
1. Caused by Nature
The cause of environmental damage can not be separated from the consequences of natural events themselves. For example, what happened in Aceh, Papua, Yogya, and Nias (in Indonesia) and another places around the world. When an earthquake occurs, environmental damage is unavoidable.
Humans in this case cannot explain in detail why an earthquake must occur. Only nature itself knows better. Not only earthquakes are classified as the cause of environmental damage due to nature, but there are also hurricanes, storms, and volcanic eruptions.
This disaster occurred because of nature and the will of God the Creator. It's just that humans can only examine themselves, maybe natural disasters that God has presented as a warning to be more grateful and take better care of nature.
2. Caused by Human Actions
Apart from nature, the cause of environmental damage is humans themselves. In fact, even natural disasters can be predicted from human behavior at first. It's just that the perpetrators cannot be detected, so when a natural disaster occurs, it is nature that is judged to be the cause of environmental damage.
The author's courage to judge humans as the cause of environmental damage is that many humans use nature for their own interests. Humans sometimes don't think about the long term that will happen when they destroy the environment.
You can see, by setting up factories carelessly, it causes environmental damage in the form of pollution, both to water, air, soil, and sound. Likewise, floods often occur when it rains. This happens because the drainage does not run smoothly because humans often throw garbage carelessly, including into the drainage.
Another consequence of not taking care of the environment is the emergence of various diseases. Diarrhea and digestive diseases become subscription diseases when environmental damage has occurred. Because to get clean water is very difficult. Water has been polluted so that disease can attack humans unexpectedly.
Steps to Preserve the Environment
Humans are suspected to be the main cause of environmental damage, so humans also have to do environmental conservation. Preservation of life is not the duty of the government, but also the duty of every human person.
Because those who feel the consequences of environmental damage are also the entire human person, not only the government. If every human being becomes a fighter to preserve the environment, then what steps can be taken?
1. Soil Preservation
Humans must be able to conserve soil in various ways, one of which is by planting organic waste into the soil. This can provide fertility to the soil and any plants planted will be able to grow well and organically.
In addition, humans also no longer need to use artificial fertilizers that are mixed with chemical substances. The use of artificial fertilizers will damage the soil and also have an unfavorable effect when consuming the planted fruits or vegetables.
2. Air Conservation
To protect the environment from damage, humans must also conserve the air they breathe. Reduce excessive use of fuel. Sometimes people don't realize this. They seem to ignore the use of motorized vehicles for short distances. Supposedly, if the distance you want to travel is close, use a vehicle that does not require fuel.
In addition, also reduce the use of excessive electronic goods. Once again, humans like to forget that excessive use of fuel and electronic goods can cause gas emissions. This is the cause of air pollution which ultimately results in the destruction of environmental sustainability.
3. Forest Preservation
To protect the environment from damage, the government and the community must protect the forest properly. The government must have the courage to take firm action against the perpetrators of forest destruction by cutting down trees illegally.
The human person must also be self-aware, not just for the sake of momentary interest by cutting down trees at will.
The illegal felling of trees can cause flooding. It has been stated previously that flooding is the cause of environmental damage. Therefore, it is important for everyone, not only the government, to preserve the forest by not cutting down trees indiscriminately.
4. Preservation of Seas, Beaches, and Rivers
Seas, beaches, and rivers are part of the environment. Therefore, humans must take good care of it. Otherwise, environmental damage will occur. What should be done in terms of marine, coastal, and river conservation? The thing that must be done is not to throw garbage anywhere.
In addition, factories around the coast, sea, and rivers can minimize factory waste. Because if the sea, rivers, and beaches are damaged, this clearly has a significant negative effect on human life. Therefore, maintain the sustainability of the sea.
5. Preservation of Flora and Fauna
Animals and plants are part of the inhabitants of this earth. Protecting animals and plants also includes protecting the earth. If the earth is maintained, the environment will automatically be well maintained.
To protect flora and fauna, humans do not do hunting that can threaten the extinction of animals in the forest. Indeed, preserving the forest by not cutting down trees indiscriminately also includes preserving the flora and fauna. That way, the animals in the forest can live well.
If humans want to maintain these five conservation points, then environmental damage will not occur. But because of a momentary desire, they forget what must be guarded and preserved. They only think about their personal gain.
They forget that there are other creatures that live on this earth, so that when a natural disaster occurs, then humans realize that all this cannot be separated from the fatal mistakes they have made.
That's a review of the effects of environmental damage and prevention. May be useful!