Sustainability Summer Assignment

In 1987, at a United Nations conference, the word sustainability was given the meaning "the ability of meeting needs in the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs". To put it simply, in order to ensure a clean and healthy future for our children and grandchildren, we must take care of our Earth. Sustainability in my eyes is the Earth's ability to hold strong and support us and the many environments that it possess, and our ability to do what we can to assist it in longevity and survival.

The Earth is often powerless in the preservation of some natural habitats once humans move in and use the land for its resources, industry, and urbanization. As we gather resources and tear back the land, animals and plants lose water, shelter, and food; all basic necessities for sustaining life. When most people think of habitat destruction, the most common image is deforestation in the rain forest. A form of habitat destruction that many people do not consider is prominent right here in the United States. Roadways cut across much of the land in the United States, breaking up ecosystems and thus degrading the environment to the point where nothing can survive. Another form of habitat destruction began hundreds of years ago when the settlers came to America and removed forests to make room for crop land. Habitat destruction is not limited to the land though, it also exists for marine life. However, the Earth shares some of the blame for the loss of marine habitats as tsunamis and hurricanes can drastically upset the lives of marine plant and animals, but humans are still largely at fault for the destruction of marine ecosystems. To provide new urban and industrial areas, wetlands and marshes are filled in, and since they produce chemicals that are dangerous to living things, quickly kill fish and other underwater life. The tourism industry brings hundreds of boaters, swimmers, and scuba divers into contact with ecosystems and organisms such as coral reefs that are very susceptible to damage. The production of dams prevent nutrients from flowing and fish from migrating. Oil spills also damage marine life, and an example o one would be the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Many miles of coastal land in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida was confirmed to have been contaminated with oil.

Nature preserves and wildlife refuges help to combat habitat destruction, as well as steps that are being taken to lessen the amount of deforestation in certain areas. A recommended method for preserving habitats at home is to plant a diverse, but sustainable, garden in your backyard that can house many different species of animals and plants. We all live on this Earth, so it isa important that we all do our share to take care of it.

Hyperlink A-Land destruction

Hyperlink B-Marine Destruction