Importance of Environment | And A Need for Its Conservation

The environment is the key to the existence of life on Earth. However, due to global warming, excessive pollution, industrialization, etc., there is a drastic change in the environment.

A healthy environment is a gift of nature, and we need to conserve it to benefit those living in the future.

Importance of Environment for Life

The environment is the sole factor for the existence of life on Earth. Without it, there can be no life on earth.

In our solar system, other big planets have no life due to a lack of environment.

Hence, even scientists are working on only Mars to create life on it as it has a suitable environment. 

This shows the importance of the environment for life & existence.

So, below, we will see the importance of the environment in various roles in life.

For healthy living:

• One needs fresh air (pollution-free), a clean water supply, and tidy surroundings to have a healthy life.

• If air and water are polluted and the surroundings are filthy, we are prone to fatal health disorders.

• So, we need to safeguard the environment in terms of pollution and garbage disposal.

Safe breath:

• All living things breathe air for survival. This air mostly comprises nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gases.

• Of them, oxygen is the key for the body as it helps generate energy from the food consumed with the help of mitochondria.

• So, fresh air is an important component of the environment, and it must be kept pollution-free.

Clean water:

• Water comprises nearly 80% of total body mass. It is the medium for all the reactions and physiological processes in the body.

• If the water is contaminated by filth or toxins or even disease-causing microbes like bacteria, water is a great risk to drink.

Timely and sufficient rainfall:

• Rainfall is one of the steps of the water cycle on the earth.

• During the rainy season, farmers opt for farming with the hope of sufficient rainfall.

• And with global warming and pollution, there is insufficient or untimely rainfall, causing losses in farming.

• This rainfall depends on trees and green vegetation around to shower as the clouds need to be cooled to form droplets from vapor.

• The presence of plants, trees, and greenery is essential in the environment for rainfall, fresh air, and water.

Healthy soil:

• Soil is the other component of the environment.

• This soil is useful for the growth of plants, which are again a source of food for the animals around.

• The soil’s top layer is suitable for plant growth and seed germination.

Further, it is a great natural resource for many medicines, metals, chemicals, etc. So we need to conserve soil for a better environment.

Better plants:

• Plants and trees are also key to the importance of the environment.

• The trees, shrubs, bushes, and even small grass help purify the air as they generate oxygen and take up carbon dioxide.

• Thus, they keep oxygen levels in the air at optimum and also decrease the global warming component of air, i.e., carbon dioxide.

Importance of Environment for Humans

For food

• Food materials are obtained from plants, animals, and natural sources. We obtain carbohydrates, fats, and proteins from plants.

• From animals, we obtain meat (protein), milk, eggs (birds), and honey (bees).

For shelter

• The required building material, including furniture, is obtained from the surrounding environment.

For clothing

• Plants and animals provide clothing requirements such as cotton fibers, wool, and jute.

For furniture

Though we have plastic and artificially made furniture, nothing can replace furniture from an environment like wood, porcelain, china clay, etc.

For medicine

• We obtain many natural medicines, like medicinal plants, animals (cod liver oil), etc.

• These medicines are compatible with humans with minimal or no side effects compared to artificial drugs.

Importance of environment for Health.

Stress-free

• A healthy environment is good for a stress-free life. A person sitting in an office or closed room is more stressed than one working in an open environment like farms, seashores, etc.

• Hence, we see many educational institutes and research institutes built amidst the environment, away from the noisy city.

• In a healthy environment, there is less pollution of all sorts (air, sound, etc.). Besides, there is abundant fresh air without toxins and irritants.

Pleasant living

• To those who wish to live a pleasant life, it is better to build a home in places of environmental bliss like the seashore, between farms, etc.

• One experiences peace of mind and low disturbance in mood in such places.

Prevent the spread of diseases.

• There is a very high chance of spreading diseases in closed environments where many people are confined to small spaces.

• Many epidemic diseases spread fast in such places.

Considering the importance of the environment regarding the above points, everyone has to take precautions to minimize waste by carefully using power, automobiles, and other pollution-generating agents.

References:

• Environmental Health
• Water cycle
• Getting outside into nature helps improve your health.