The Costs of Human Modification

The Costs of Human Modification

According to Rowntree et al. (2017), people in North America have made various modifications to the physical environment. The modifications have significantly impacted the environment, including the transformation of soils and vegetation, changing the atmosphere and water management. The transformation of soils has occurred because of the soil erosion caused by deforestation and unsustainable ranching and cropping practices. The changes in the atmosphere have mainly been caused by the development of cities. Rowntree et al. (2017) argue that the development of cities in North America has led to the rise of an urban heat island effect characterized by temperatures between 5 to 12 degrees Celsius. The atmospheric changes in North America have also been caused by the emission of gases such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxides, hydrocarbons, sulfur, and particulates by automobiles, especially in the urban centers. North America also experiences acid rain because of the high amounts of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. The main impact of acid rain is damaged forests and poisonous lakes. Furthermore, the water management issue arises from increased water usage, especially in the urban centers.

The costs of human modification in North America have pushed North Americans to focus on creating sustainability by taking various measures. One of the measures is the creation of a Green Coalition that protects the environment by suing the United States government over the loss of habitat for endangered birds, creating small-scale restoration measures, and lobbying with water agencies to improve water management. The second measure is the New Agreement, which focuses on increasing the efficiency of existing water storage and irrigation infrastructure and maintaining the ecological lifeline for plants and wildlife. These initiatives have played a significant role in restoring the environment in the region and coping with the costs of human modification on the environment.

 References

Rowntree, L., Lewis, M., Price, M., & Wyckoff, W. (2017). Globalization and diversity: Geography of a changing world (5th ed.). Pearson.

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