Environment refers to everything that is surrounding us and is composed of both the living and the non-living parts and can be aquatic or terrestrial. The non-living parts include the water, soil air, and nutrients while the living section includes plants, microorganisms, and animals. It affects our lives because we breathe air and water covers a huge fraction of the surface of the earth while plants and animal share some resources with us.A healthy environment has all the necessary nutrients and chemical elements circulating in a cycle as it supports millions of species.
The various species collectively help cycle elements as they produce foods, feed, carry on with their live activities and even when they die. In the process, different goods and services that are useful to human life are created. Environment is, therefore, essential in all aspects of our human life; from the food we eat to advancement of civilization.
Importance of Environment in Human Life
- Completes the food Chain; plants utilize sunlight, elements in the soil, air and water to create their own foods. They are then eaten by animals while humans use plants for foods.
- Provide useful natural resources; we derive almost all our material needs from the environment. Some of these resources are medicines and biofuels.
- Purifies air; trees use carbon dioxide and generate oxygen while preparing foods through photosynthesis. This process regulates and upholds the carbon cycle thus improving air quality.
- Temperature regulation; shades cast by plants and trees moderate temperatures thereby making warm places cooler. Tree cover also prevents strong winds that spread warmth.
- Provides shelter; Building materials that we use to build shelter and furniture all come from the environment around us.
- Medicine; human beings get many medicines from the ecosystem. Good examples are medicinal plants and animal parts like cod liver oil.
- Reduce climate change; natural lands like grasslands, forests and parks play a crucial role in the efforts to limit climate change, regardless of size.
- Prevents disasters; natural ecosystems like swamps on coats moderate server elements and reduce their effect. The swarms prevent slow water and prevent floods.
- Supports biodiversity; the environment balances the number of different species and population of a particular category thus ensuring there is constant flow of energy.
- Natural beauty; our surrounding is a source of natural splendor. People use nature for recreation, tourism and sports.
- Clothing; the clothing requirements such as wool, cotton fibers and jute come from plants and animals, both of which come from the ecosystem.
- Improves water quality; open lands and parklands uphold natural infiltration processes and reduce imperviousness. Both phenomena are intimately linked to high water quality.
- Improves the quality of air; as plants utilize carbon dioxide and release oxygen, they purify eliminate pollutants improving its quality a great deal.
- Provides homes; animals and human beings not only live but also thrive within the environment. It gives us a home where we can live freely without restrictions.
- Facilitate blissful living; to live a pleasant life, build a home in an area with environmental bliss like on a beach or between farms. You’ll experience minimal mood disturbance.
Conclusion
Since all the good and services that are used by humanity directly or indirectly come from the environment; it is paramount that we preserve it. The benefits of quality water, biodiversity, and pure air cannot be overestimated. Earth is the only plant that supports life. So, besides taking steps to minimize its destruction, everyone should start taking appropriate actions to reverse the damage that the planet has already suffered.
By: Joni Kim
EdgeArticles 