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Environmental Impact of Vegan Fashion

April 4, 2022 By Vishal Porwal (Guest Author/Managing Editor–The Luna Bags) and Edit by Dishan Mendis Leave a Comment

Environmental Impact of Vegan, Eco-friendly & Sustainable Fashion

In the recent past, we have observed how our shift towards an ethical treatment of animals has created a positive impact on animals, ourselves, and the environment. 

Animal farms leave a very large environmental footprint. Thus, adopting a plant-based vegan diet has become a sensible & prudent choice. 

However, it’s worth noting that animal agriculture is not the only perpetrator here. The fashion industry is not too far from being responsible for harming animals and the much-cherished environment. 

It’s really encouraging though to know that many people have started embracing veganism with their diet and fashion choices. Let’s discuss the impact of vegan fashion on the environment and what changes it will bring to our future.

What is Vegan Fashion?


While veganism means adopting a lifestyle that imposes no harm on animals, vegan fashion includes clothing and accessories made using products that are not derived from animals.

Further, it goes without saying, the end products of vegan fashion (e.g. cosmetics) are not to be tested on animals. While vegan fashion has an emphasis on safeguarding animal rights, eco-friendly/sustainable fashion is more focused on the environment.

Why Care About Vegan Fashion?


We believe it’s important to reflect upon our lifestyle choices and critically evaluate their impact from an ethical and ecological standpoint. It’s worth noting that the term veganism is quoted many times in the context of safeguarding animals, saving our environment and its resources for future use for good reasons.

The ecological disasters that are happening around us are interconnected to one another. Issues like deforestation, soil erosion, global warming, harm to aquatic life, and other similar calamities could be directly or indirectly influenced by our fashion choices.

Thus considering vegan, eco-friendly, and sustainable fashion would certainly be a move in the right direction not only to keep our environment healthy but also to promote healthy living!   

Impact of The Fashion Industry on The Environment

Less Ocean Pollution


Have you ever been aware of the scale of water pollution our regular non-sustainable clothes cause to the environment? It’s worth noting that the fashion industry is accountable for 20% of all industrial wastewater pollution worldwide! [1] 

The aquatic life suffers as washing the garments made of synthetic materials releases toxic substances into our waterways. That means plants and marine animals could consume these toxins leading to biomagnification.

When there is untreated toxic wastewater from textile manufacturers dumped straight into the rivers, the fabric polyester does not easily break down and stays in the ocean. When it comes to natural fibers like hemp, linen, and cotton, 70% of these fabric products are made of organic materials. Using such eco-friendly fabrics which do not include dangerous chemicals would also reduce ocean pollution. 

The most sustainable & eco-friendly way to wear cotton is, in its recycled form, which will not harm your skin as well. Another cause for pollution is the washing of regular clothes which tends to release microfibers every year into the ocean. Apparently, it is the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles. 

Again a solution to this issue can be using fibers made of organic materials which are easily biodegradable that can have a low impact when washing. 

Less Air Pollution


The world of fashion can be exciting & glamorous, but as unfortunate as it may sound, the quality of the air we breathe is declining due to its effects. It’s no secret that the fashion industry is accountable for 2 to 8 percent of the global carbon emissions [2]. That is more emissions than all maritime shipping combined and international flights. 

This can certainly be a cause for global warming, leading to excessive temperature rises, which in turn can interrupt the ecological balance. A significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions are caused during textile material production. 

Synthetic fibers are found in 60% of apparel [3], and polyester is one of those synthetic fibers and a plastic. Producing polyester releases more carbon emissions than cotton [4]. On the other hand, switching to vegan, eco-friendly & sustainable fabrics can be a more sensible & prudent option to consider, where the carbon footprint is expected to be much lower than that of polyester.

High Consumption of Water


Water is fundamental to all living creatures. After agriculture, the garment and textile industry is one of the most water-intensive industries in the world [5]. On the other hand, more eco-friendly & sustainable options to consider would be wearing recycled cotton, opting for organically made fabrics such as hemp & linen, and using biodegradable Tencel. 

Recycled cotton uses a very low amount of water to produce compared to traditional cotton [6] [7]. Hemp & linen plants require only a minimal amount of water to grow. Tencel which is derived from plant material is biodegradable and production requires only a 3rd of the water consumed to produce rayon comparatively.    

Soil Degradation


Soil degradation is the deteriorating process of physical, biological, and chemical composition of soil. The adverse effects of this process could mean declining soil fertility, soil erosion, parched land, drought & aridity (long-term effects), loss of arable land, and increased flooding. 

Cashmere goats and sheep nurtured for their wool heavily depend on pasture, and their overgrazing can be detrimental to the soil. Further substantial use of water & chemicals to grow cotton would not do any favors to the land either.

Deforestation


Even by 2020 the fashion industry heavily relies on trees to produce textile fibers making deforestation part of the supply chain. There are many textile materials made with cellulose taken from tree pulp. 

Such tree-based fibers include viscose, modal, and lyocell. These can be found in our shirts, pants, sports tops, leggings, and maxi dresses. 

Thus the environmental consequences of fast fashion, high-end brands, and the fashion industry in general with negligent material sourcing, and high water consumption can not be ignored.  

Vegan Fashion: A Step in the Right Direction?


Some perceive veganism as the “new green,” and it seems sensible to opt for veganism as a way to live an ethical and sustainable lifestyle. 

What’s apparent is that vegan & sustainable fashion is less polluting and demands fewer natural resources such as fossil fuels, water, animals (zero demand for leather, wool, down, and silk), trees, and land. 

As the world population is expected to grow continuously, a rapid global movement towards vegan & sustainable fashion is an effective way to reduce our impact on the environment. 

How to Choose Vegan & Eco-friendly Fashion? 


When you make informed purchasing decisions about clothing, including beauty products, based on ethical and sustainable sourcing & production, it allows you to lead a vegan and sustainable lifestyle. Encourage you to check a few tips we have shared below to pursue vegan & sustainable fashion:

  • Opt for eco-friendly garments and accessories, while buying products online or at a store, and look for information about the materials used for clothing and beauty products. Brands claiming to make ethical & sustainable products may mention the types of raw materials used during manufacturing.
  • Clothing manufacturers also use recycled and upcycled materials, such as recycled cotton. Using clothes through recycling, upcycling, or reusing is a great way to save our resources and contribute towards ecological balance.
  • Make sure to choose ethical vegan fashion brands that use materials not derived from animals e.g. recycled cotton, hemp, linen, and biodegradable Tencel. 

How Vegan Leather is More Eco-Friendly


Leather production is another contaminating process and it’s responsible for having a negative influence on our environment. 

Alternatively, “vegan leather” is more sustainable and eco-friendly. Vegan leather can be made from plant-based fibers, including corn, pineapple leaves, cactus, cork, coconut, and apple peels. Since sustainable vegan leather is made up of plants (that can be easily reproduced) and bi-products of the food industry, they do not require resources as much as traditional leather. 

There are various types of vegan leather products in the market, people find with excitement, such as vegan bags, vegan belts, vegan boots, and other vegan shoes.

Last Thoughts


As the population and demand for resources grow, we all have a personal responsibility to do our utmost to champion ethics & sustainability to preserve the environment. To reduce the negative impact, protect the world’s natural resources, and live an environmentally conscious life, we encourage you to thoughtfully consider vegan & sustainable fashion!


Few things we hope you can do:

Comment: if you need any help, have questions, or would like to share your thoughts, please leave a comment below. Your feedback inspires us and we would reply as soon as possible.

Share: “sharing is caring”, if you found this article to be useful, please share it by using social buttons on the left or bottom.

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Recommended Posts:

  • 6 Convincing Reasons to Be Vegan
  • Documentaries for Environment & Species Extinction
  • Top 10 Causes of Deforestation
  • 10 Effects of Overfishing

References: 

1. https://www.wri.org/insights/apparel-industrys-environmental-impact-6-graphics

2. https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/putting-brakes-fast-fashion

3. https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/fashions-tiny-hidden-secret

4. https://www.wri.org/insights/apparel-industrys-environmental-impact-6-graphics

5. https://www.epa.gov/sustainability/lean-water-toolkit-chapter-2 

6. https://www.climateaction.org/news/levis_jeans_to_make_all_its_products_from_100_recycled_cotton

7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1964887/

Image credit: Henry Jose / flicker (CC BY 2.0)

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: eco friendly fashion, Environment, sustainable fashion, vegan fashion, vegan lifestyle

Vegan Fertilizers Guide (3 quick & easy methods)

January 15, 2022 By Kelly Lawrence (Guest Author) Leave a Comment

Vegan Fertilizers

Although fertilizers are widely available at gardening supply stores, they could be chemical fertilizers (ammonium sulfate) or contain components derived from animals (blood meal). 

Thus, using such materials may not be either ethical, healthy, or environmentally friendly, especially if you intend to consume what’s growing with that fertilizer and are conscious about the impact on animals and the environment. 

Instead, we invite all of you to go for vegan fertilizers! 

So now the all-important question, with what you can make vegan fertilizers?

Let’s read on to discover more!

Types of Vegan Fertilizer


There are three easy and quick ways to make organic vegan fertilizer:

  • Make grass fertilizer
  • Use tea compost
  • Make vinegar fertilizer

Check out how to produce three organic fertilizers to save money while boosting whatever you decide to grow.

Make Grass Fertilizer

Make Grass Fertilizers
Image credit: “grass clippings” by Rubbermaid Products (CC BY 2.0)

You are undoubtedly familiar with the frustration of dealing with grass cuttings if you have a garden. They may pile up at the rear end of the garden or fill up the entire garbage can. 

Fortunately, you can soak these grass clippings for several days the next time you get them out of the mower to produce a sprayable fertilizer. Then, you can apply it on plant leaves or soil because it is very mild.

Use Tea Compost

This tea compost fertilizer is similar to the grass, but it is more adaptable for not having gardens. By introducing oxygen to plants through the compost, you feed the plants and boost it with compost’s usual advantages. 

Water, a “sachet,” a pump, and a catalyst are all needed to make compost tea. The sachet enables air to flow and the compost to float while pumping.

Make Vinegar Fertilizer

Another way to create your fertilizers at home, where fertilizing your plants doesn’t require sacrificing your vegan principles!

Many people carry white vinegar in their cupboards since it has so many uses, and now it can help your plants flourish as well.

One sprinkle will feed for up to three months if mixed with a bit of water. 

Your trees will thrive with the natural, organic fertilizer that you prepare yourself. Any of these fertilizers will support anything you decide to plant, and they may also give you a great deal of joy!

You can rely on this video to better understand how to make plant-based fertilizers.

Why Not All Fertilizers Vegan?


The three major nutrients, N, P, K (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), are present in fertilizers. These, on the other hand, might originate from a multitude of places.

Animals have been a primary source of nutrients in conventional farming. Animal excrement and other “waste products” have provided the nutrients for plants.

For instance, many people use manure in the fields. As a result, many of these fertilizers are not vegan because they contain animal-derived components.

Non-vegan fertilizers contain these animal products:

  • Urea
  • Slaughterhouse waste
  • Hair
  • Horn
  • Feces
  • Springs
  • Bones

Fortunately, there is an alternative for those who opt for more ethical fertilizers which are 100% plant-based vegan fertilizers that have nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus.

Do Vegan Fertilizers Make Sense?


These fertilizers are becoming increasingly popular because animal rights and ecology are increasingly important. Is it necessary for fertilizers to be vegan? 

We’ll first look over the vegan fertilizer’s components to answer this question. These include two categories: organic and artificial. 

Many people could be inclined to obtain high yields by feeding with chemically manufactured or mineral fertilizers; however, they may not be ecologically friendly.

Since large-scale resources are necessary to derive phosphorus and potassium, the whole process tends to release a lot of CO2 into the atmosphere. 

Artificial fertilizers are very simple to wash away, and many fertilizers wind up in streams, groundwater, and rivers rather than with the plants. Organic products are more ecologically friendly and sustainable. 

But, bacteria must first make the compounds in the organic substances available to the plants. As a result, organic fertilizers function slower than synthetic fertilizers. 

On the other hand, the risk of leaching is not as high. The nutrients get to where they’re supposed to go: the plants. 

One issue on going exclusively with organic fertilizers is that some essential plant nutrients, particularly phosphorus, are not available in adequate amounts. So, such fertilizers which are primarily organic materials could have a low mineral concentration.

In this approach, the plant’s nutrition supply is assured while ensuring that nature is preserved as much as possible. 

Nitrogen-containing beans, fermentation wastes from biogas plants, plant extracts, compost, algae, green fertilization, or waste products from the food sector are only a few examples of organic fertilizer components.

Organic and vegan fertilizers in general, tend to have a lower mineral concentration than regular ones. As a result, you may need more vegan fertilizer to compensate.

But, it can be just as efficient as fertilizers containing animal products – it all depends on the nutritional content of the soil and necessary nutritional requirements of the plants.

Why Do Many People Opt For Vegan Fertilizers?


There are several reasons that many people switch to this type of fertilizer. Let’s see what they are.

Do Not Contain Animal Products

One of the primary benefits of vegan fertilizer is that it contains no animal products. Thus these fertilizers have no dependency on abusive animal farm industries. 

Furthermore, fertilizers sourced from animal products generate substantial greenhouse gases and contribute considerably to climate change. The extraction and processing of chemical fertilizers utilize more resources relatively and contribute towards more CO2 emissions.

Vegan fertilizers on the other hand, free of animal products are much better for the environment and have a low CO2 impact.

No Chemical & Harmful Substances

Many gardeners are disappointed because most animal products are tainted with medication residues or pathogens. 

Vegan fertilizers have an obvious benefit in this respect when producing your food, such as vegetables as potential risks of germs will be substantially reduced, and antibiotic or other medicine residues will not be present.

These fertilizers made with organic compounds also benefit from not having any chemical-synthetic materials.

More Soil Preservation and Less Leaching

Vegan fertilizers have another advantage since they offer a steady supply of vital plant nutrients. This is a long-term benefit of vegan fertilizers as they release nutrients to plants only when they are genuinely required. The rate of nutrient conversion depends on the temperature and humidity.

The organic substances boost heat storage and soil water capacity, promote soil fertility, sustain soil life, and enhance the overall soil quality. There is a low risk of leaching due to the slow and steady fertilization.

No Unpleasant Smell

Particularly in the application, they can have extra benefits: fertilizers of animal origin, such as horn shavings or guano, can have an unpleasant odor, which many gardeners find irritating.

On the other hand, vegan fertilizers tend to have a mild scent that is not repulsive after fertilization. These composts are nearly dust-free, which is a great plus in the summer when you need to fertilize.

Benefit The Ecosystem

Vegan fertilizers made chiefly from waste materials from food industries offer an added benefit for sustainability as resources are conserved, and items that otherwise wind up in landfills are recycled.

They not only contain vital nutrients that people can use in gardening, but it also benefits the ecosystem and the gardener. Vegan compost with long-term biological benefits in contrast to chemical & mineral alternatives is much safer for humans, animals, and the environment!

Final Thoughts


We hope you found helpful information on “vegan fertilizers”. Encourage you to give vegan fertilizers a try to see how they make a difference in the lives of your plants and soil quality.


Few things we hope you can do:

Comment: if you need any help, have questions, or would like to share your thoughts, please leave a comment below. Your feedback inspires us and we would reply as soon as possible.

Share: “sharing is caring”, if you found this article to be useful, please share it by using social buttons on the left or bottom.

Subscribe: subscribe to our free newsletter and receive updates on latest articles, vegan news, recipes, health, and much more!

Follow: connect with us socially on Facebook (like), Pinterest (follow), Twitter (follow), or Instagram (follow)

Recommended posts:

Beginner Organic Vegetable Gardening Guide (no-till, no-dig & veganic)

Filed Under: Environment, Health Tagged With: Environment, vegan fertilizer, vegan gardening

10 Effects of Overfishing with Facts & Statistics

December 10, 2018 By Dishan Mendis Leave a Comment

10 Effects of Overfishing with Facts & Statistics

Overfishing is not just a modern development but has been continued for centuries and as unfortunate as it may sound, it has spread all across the globe.

The kind of technology and equipment we use today, it seems like as if we have waged war against the ocean species to exterminate them, but in the end, it could be a case of digging our own grave.  

According to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), 70% of the world’s fish stocks are under considerable pressure being “overexploited” or “significantly depleted” due to the impact of overfishing.

Let us see 10 major effects of overfishing with facts & statistics to know the gravity of it and have a grasp of its impact on the oceans, marine life, the ecosystems, and ourselves.

1) Species Extinction


Most of the Earth’s surface is covered by ocean and given its vastness, it’s daunting to know precisely the number of species that live there, let alone knowing exactly the extinct species due to direct & indirect effects of overfishing.

However, research warns that the number of species in the ocean is declining as oceans are being industrialized for food, and the number of marine extinctions can rapidly increase due to deteriorating ocean ecosystems.

According to one recent study, 15 animals have been documented as being disappeared completely from the oceans and one such example is the Steller’s sea cow.

Within 27 years after discovering the animal by Europeans in 1741, the mammal was easily hunted into extinction by fur traders, seal hunters, and others for its meat, fat, and hide.  

Baiji a freshwater dolphin was also another classic example of extinction caused by humans. The dolphin was rapidly hunted for its flesh and skin, where 6,000 Baijis known to have lived in the 1950s came down to 13 in 1997 quickly becoming scarce until the species was declared as extinct or at least functionally extinct.

Extinct Fish & Other Marine Species Due to Overfishing & Hunting

  1. Blackfin cisco
  2. Steller’s sea cow
  3. Gravenche
  4. Blue walleye
  5. Baiji
  6. Caribbean monk seal
  7. Houting

Source: https://www.iucnredlist.org  (International Union for Conservation of Nature)

2) Depletion of Fish Population & Endangering Species


via GIPHY  video credit: Allan Ecleo [CCPL 3.0]

Tonnes of fish are drawn out of the sea on a daily basis to an extent of hindering the ability of species to replenish their population levels.

In an international scientific study released by the Science Journal states that one-third (approx.) of all fishing stocks globally have been depleted and at this rate, all fish stocks worldwide could be fully exploited.

According to The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations data, the total capture fisheries production globally was estimated to be 90.9 million tonnes in 2016.

Many species of sharks, rays, and skates are now being risked with extinction, mainly due to overfishing.

Sharks, in particular, are threatened due to a cruel practice called shark finning where they slice off the shark fins and toss them back to the water while still alive making the sharks sink back to the bottom. Unable to swim they die of blood loss and get eaten by other fish, resulting in a painful death.

Approximately 100 million sharks are killed globally each year and the main incentive for this trade is coming from the demand for shark fin soup.

Bluefin tuna, a fish that ranks higher in its food chain has also suffered a fatal decline being endangered and fished to the brink of extinction with advanced fishing methods and high demand for the species by rich sushi lovers.

Other vulnerable species due to commercial overfishing are chinook salmon (some populations), cassava croaker (declined by 30% – 60% over the past 10 years), Atlantic cod, and porbeagle (a mackerel shark).

Critically Endangered Marine Species Due to Targeted Commercial Fishing

  1. Southern bluefin tuna
  2. Common skate
  3. European eel
  4. Totoaba
  5. Smoothback angelshark
  6. Sawback angelshark
  7. Striped smooth-hound
  8. Chinese bahaba
  9. Daggernose shark
  10. Pondicherry shark

Endangered Marine Species Due to Targeted Commercial Fishing & Hunting

  1. Atlantic bluefin tuna
  2. Blue whale
  3. Whale shark
  4. Sei whale
  5. North Atlantic right whale
  6. Great hammerhead
  7. Scalloped hammerhead
  8. Japanese eel
  9. Zebra shark
  10. White-spotted Izak
  11. Senegalese hake
  12. Narrownose smooth-hound
  13. Undulate ray
  14. Bottlenose skate

Source: https://www.iucnredlist.org  (International Union for Conservation of Nature)

3) Disruption of Marine Food Web & Food Chains


Effects of Overfishing - Marine Food Web & Food Chains

A growing body of scientific evidence shows the dangers for the predators in high volumes of forage fish overfishing (prey fish) and every other living organism involved in the food web and food chains.

As you can see in the image above, it’s much easier to understand with some common sense, how interruptions of human activity can cause adverse effects to the species of a marine food web.  

Forage fish typically make up 30% or more of the total quantity of fish caught annually which can negatively affect the predator fish species.

This is quite evident in the case of the Southern Resident orca population declared endangered in 2005. One study suggests that orcas were starving due to the overfishing of Chinook salmon which comprised roughly 80 percent of the whales’ diet.

On the other hand, when the population of predatory species (such as sharks and tuna) is declining, it results in an increase of forage fish which in turn can cause an increased growth of algae which threatens the coral reefs’ health and a disruption to the ecosystem.

The reason for the growth of algae is the diet of forage fish that consume invertebrate herbivores such as snails and crustaceans that keep control over the harmful growth of the algal community.

4) Increased Damage to the Seabed


Fishing gear has a major effect on the seabed, especially bottom trawling which has a substantial impact on some ecosystems existing at the bottom.

Bottom trawling is a method where fishing vessels use large, heavy nets to catch fish & other seafood species that inhabit the bottom of the ocean.

These nets can weigh several tons and dragging them cause severe damage to the seafloor such as deep-sea corals & sponges, seafloor life, nursery & spawning grounds for many species, and breakdown of waste substances

Bottom fishing is not something new and has been there for over a century, and it is responsible for an annual account of over 30 million tonnes of global fishing harvest which gives the highest yield than any other method.

5) Effect on Coral Reefs


Though the total area of the world’s coral reefs is less than 1% of the whole area of oceanic environment, the variety of life supported by coral reefs is similar to some of its terrestrial counterparts such as the Amazon and the reefs are habitats to 25% of all marine life.

Yet fishing gear such as spearguns, fish traps, beach seine nets, gill nets, and ghost nets can damage coral reefs severely.

Further non-selective gears, such as nets and traps, may reduce herbivorous fish that consume algae that could potentially cause an overgrowth of algae which in turn can stifle the reefs.

Other fishing techniques such as blast fishing and cyanide fishing are also major threats to coral reef ecosystems that can cause coral reef degradation and increase mortality.

6) Secondary Effects (bycatch) on Marine Species


Effects of Overfishing - Bycatch

Whenever there is commercial fishing, there is bycatch, the incidental capture, and loss of non-targeted marine animals and recognized as a major threat to marine biodiversity worldwide.

When extremely strong nets and lines are set, spreading over thousands of miles, it’s inevitable such fishing gear would be a destructive force for undesired marine species being incidentally entangled & captured.

Bycatch affects the loss of billions of fish, along with marine turtles, seals, whales, dolphins, seabirds, invertebrates, corals and many other species. Global bycatch is estimated at 7.3 million tonnes.

Extinct & Endangered Marine Species, Incidentally Affected by Commercial Fishing

  1. Vaquita
  2. Giant devil ray (devil fish)
  3. New Zealand sea lion
  4. Hawaiian monk seal
  5. Blue whale
  6. Baiji
  7. West Indian Ocean coelacanth
  8. Green sea turtle
  9. North Atlantic right whale
  10. Whale shark
  11. Sakhalin taimen
  12. Sei whale
  13. Taiwan angelshark
  14. Galapagos penguin
  15. Scalloped hammerhead
  16. Great hammerhead
  17. Sea otter
  18. Marine otter
  19. Australian sea lion
  20. Yellow-eyed penguin
  21. Finless porpoise
  22. Senegalese hake
  23. Undulate ray

7) Environmental Pollution


It was estimated in 2016 that there are approximately 4.6 million fishing vessels in the world and according to a report from European Commission, for each ton of captured fish, 1.7 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) is emitted.

In another report from Oceana, an international organization focused solely on protecting the oceans says, the global fishing fleet is 250% larger in capacity than what is required to capture the ocean’s sustainable produce.

In the year 2000 worldwide commercial fisheries had burnt almost 50 billion liters of fuel to harvest & process around 80 million tons of fish and other seafood products.

The reasons for such a large amount of fuel consumption by commercial fisheries are due to the activities taking place in modern fishing vessels such as onboard processing, refrigeration, etc. and mostly by vessel propulsion.

Various human activities have contributed significantly to elevate the levels of greenhouse gases which is a leading cause of global climate change that has already triggered catastrophic consequences. The fishing industry is no exception in this regard, having its share of contribution towards rising temperatures.

Research has further shown that fishing debris such as ghost nets, buoys, ropes, and lines, are among the debris appear in the oceans and vessel spillages such as oil, chemicals and other harmful organisms due to faulty ballast water and bilge water management systems can hurt marine life & the ecosystems severely.

8) Increased Risk of Diseases to Marine Life & Humans


Other than directly being exposed to fish with toxins such as mercury, PCBs, cadmium lead and diseases such as viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (ich) and whirling disease, the pollution we discussed above can further cause many other types of diseases to marine life and humans.

Overfishing & pollution by fishing industry may cause harmful algal blooms (HABs) that can release extremely dangerous toxins which have already affected people and animals with illnesses such as ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP), neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP), paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), etc.

Further harmful algal blooms can create dead zones in the water, complicate & raise operating costs for drinking water management & treatment causing issues for everyone that depends on clean water.  

Declines of fish species due to overfishing which rely on snails as a source of food that carry disease-causing parasites have given rise to the incidence of snail fever (schistosomiasis) in Africa.

Spillage of ballast water & bilge water that may include thousands of harmful organisms, oil, chemicals, particles, and other waste materials could spread diseases to many parts of the world, poisoning & threatening people, animals, and plant life.

9) Economic & Financial Impact


A classic example which shows the dangers of reliance on fishing as a source of income & livelihood was the case of Newfoundland. When cod was abundant in the Northern Atlantic Ocean, people used the cod stock as a means of support to thrive.

With the use of new technology, the cod population was depleted dramatically despite the warnings to the industry since they were desperate for short-term gains.

Consequently, it led to a fully exploited cod stock, resulting in around 40,000 people losing their livelihood with an ecosystem in complete ruin causing a major economic impact for the area.

According to a report released by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) in the United Kingdom, overfishing costs more than 100,000 jobs and up to $3.2 billion annually since the dwindling fish stocks are losing its ability to provide any sustenance.

Another major sector economically impacted due to overfishing is the tourism industry. Charter boat companies are finding it difficult to stay profitable since many tourists are now unwilling to pay high fees for ordinary & dull recreational ocean tours.

Leatherback turtles predate on jellyfish and can consume 600 or more jellyfish in a single day. When the turtle population declines due to bycatch, the jellyfish population grows which makes certain recreational zones dangerous, negatively affecting revenues coming from tourism.

Bottom trawling as we discussed earlier is also wreaking havoc on the seabed that affects seagrasses, interdependent coral reefs & its vibrant fish species with aesthetic value, and other seafloor habitats which have great value for tourism.

10) Collapse of the World’s Largest Ecosystem and a Lost Sensation of a Rich Ocean


Ocean - Effects of Overfishing

Considering all the outcomes discussed above due to overfishing, we learned the devastating impact it can have on the largest ecosystems in the world.

Given that the ocean covers 70% of the earth’s surface with approx. 2.2 million ocean species and 80% of this enormous undersea realm being unexplored, we may yet to see the full scale of the ripple effect of overfishing.

A report by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) in the UK stated, “overfishing is the single most destructive force in the marine environment.”

Imagine an ocean without intelligent dolphins, magnificent blue whales (we’re really fortunate to be alive to witness the largest animal to have ever existed), schooling fish or amazing coral reefs.

As hypothetical as it may sound, a doomed ocean may not be far-fetched as you may imagine at the current rates of overfishing.

National Geographic reported that “a study of catch data published in 2006 in the journal Science grimly predicted that if fishing rates continue apace, all the world’s fisheries will have collapsed by the year 2048.”

Pinterest PIn: 10 Effects of Overfishing with Facts & Statistics

Conclusion


Now that you’re aware of the damage caused by overfishing and how modern & large-scale fishery is on course of disrupting the delicate balance of the ocean ecosystem which can create chain reactions to a point of no return, it’s quite difficult to find an acceptable justification for the crisis at hand. 

While our marine conservation organizations should continue to lobby for creating & imposing better environmental laws, policies and raise public awareness, we all can do our best, making changes at an individual level.

Did you know a vegan diet doesn’t contribute towards overfishing and has the least environmental impact?

Read more to know how a vegan diet reduces the environmental impact enabling long-term sustenance, besides enjoying its many health benefits, and reducing demand for products derived from animals!    

Related Posts:

  • Six Convincing Reasons to be Vegan
  • Veganism and The Environment
  • Environmentally Friendly Vegan Fish & Seafood
  • Documentaries on Environment & Species Extinction
  • Top 10 Causes of Deforestation
  • Environmental Impact of Vegan Fashion

Other Links:

  • Home (2009 film – YouTube)
  • Oceanography Guide for Kids with Fun Activities and Facts

References:

https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/overfishing

https://www.worldwildlife.org/publications/living-blue-planet-report-2015

https://www.iucnredlist.org

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5547646/

http://copa.acguanacaste.ac.cr:8080/bitstream/handle/11606/234/Sobrepesca-pdf.pdf

https://news.mongabay.com/2015/01/oceans-15-meet-the-species-that-have-vanished-forever-from-our-seas/

http://www.fao.org/fishery/sofia/en

http://www.fao.org/3/i9540en/I9540EN.pdf

https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/sharks-rays/shark-finning-sharks-turned-prey

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/could_freshwater_crustaceans_curb_algal_blooms_462na4_en.pdf

https://www.fishforward.eu/sl/facts-figures/

https://oceana.org/sites/default/files/reports/Bycatch_Report_FINAL.pdf

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/sei-whale

http://www.fao.org/state-of-fisheries-aquaculture/en/

https://energyefficiency-fisheries.jrc.ec.europa.eu/c/document_library/get_file

https://www.cdc.gov/habs/illness-symptoms-marine.html

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ocean-species.html

https://oceana.org/sites/default/files/reports/SOWF_FINAL_July071.pdf

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: animal exploitation, Environment, fishing

Top 10 Causes of Deforestation and Livestock The Biggest Contributor!

June 9, 2018 By Dishan Mendis 6 Comments

Top 10 Causes of Deforestation

We have been so swift to identify and capitalize on all the financial gains to be made out of forests. But what’s our reckoning on the priceless relationship & the services of forests to the web of life?  

How do we even begin to measure the value of oxygen & clean air, clean water, healthy climate, diversity of wildlife, protection from floods, landslides, and avalanches?     

Go to a rainforest, and we doubt there is any yardstick to fathom the richness you experience being surrounded by trees, plants & waterfalls, the chill and the refreshing clean air you breathe, the awe of seeing the wildlife & its biodiversity, giving us the realization of being part of something bigger & magnificent!

beautiful forest

Let’s understand what deforestation is and the leading causes of this crisis.  

What is Deforestation?

Deforestation is the permanent process of cutting, clearing, and removal of trees, plants and related ecosystems from a wide area into less biodiverse ecosystems such as pasture, cropland, plantations and other uses where the trees are never re-planted.

Forests have a 31% coverage of the land area on the planet. 70% of the world’s plants and animals live in forests and are deprived of their natural habitats due to deforestation, most of the threatened and endangered species live in forests, and apparently, every 2 seconds, a forest area equivalent to an area of the size of a football field is destroyed by man.

Causes of Deforestation

1) Animal Agriculture & Livestock Ranching


Causes of Deforestation - Animal Agriculture & Livestock Ranching

Demand for beef & its production is the top driver of deforestation.

The main ways of degradation & deforestation are:

  • Degeneration of grassland with pasture already in use
  • Clearing of forests for new pasture
  • Clearing of forests to grow crops such as soya beans and cereals as feed for livestock

The damage is so grave the deforestation beef production creates is more than twofold compared to the production of soy, palm oil, and wood products which are the second, third, and fourth biggest drivers respectively combined.

The other impact of cattle as pointed out earlier is that it can also convert non-forest landscapes, from grasslands to dead, unproductive land with erosion.

If you look at South America, deforestation due to beef is even more severe where beef was responsible for 71% of total deforestation between 1990 and 2005, compared to just over 17% for all other commercial & agricultural drivers combined [1].

2) Crop Agriculture


Causes of Deforestation - Crop Agriculture

Industrial agriculture and subsistence agriculture (farming by locals to feed themselves) together is the second most substantial driver of deforestation after animal agriculture.

The most notable commercial crop agricultural drivers of deforestation include soy and palm oil production.

a) Soybean Production

The biggest driver of deforestation under crop production is soybean production. Only a small percentage of soy is used for human consumption whereas 70% to 75% of it is used as feed for animal farms. Soy is used as a primary source of protein in livestock feed for cows, chickens, pigs, as well as for farmed fish.

The effect is significantly apparent in Latin America where the world’s growing demand for meat and the resultant demand for soy as feed for cattle has resulted in deforestation and devastating effects for ecosystems.   

As far as the human consumption is concerned, soybeans are consumed as a curry, as tofu, soy milk, soy sauce, meat substitutes and many other soy products.

b) Palm Oil

It is the most widely consumed vegetable oil on the planet and found in everything from our foods, cosmetics, cleaning products to fuels, thus one of the world’s leading deforestation drivers.

It’s a source of huge profits for multinational corporations, and biggest palm oil producers are Malaysia and Indonesia. Vast strips of forests and carbon-rich swamps are cleared for palm oil plantations, releasing a great amount of carbon into the atmosphere which influences global warming while affecting indigenous people and many endangered species.

c) Subsistence Agriculture

A third to two-fifths of tropical deforestation is due to subsistence activities by local people who use the resources of rainforests for their own survival.

Besides cutting trees as building materials, they use the slash-and-burn technique where any wild or forested land is cleared and any remaining vegetation is burned for short-term agriculture. Once the land is infertile they move into a new plot which causes further deforestation. Apparently, this method of farming is used by 200–500 million people worldwide.

Subsistence agriculture consists of staple crops like maize, manioc, bananas, palms, rice and small-scale cultivation of coffee, cocoa, and cotton while forest degradation occurs due to livestock grazing as well.

d) Tobacco Industry

An estimated 200,000 ha of deforestation is caused by tobacco farming each year and it occurs mainly in the developing world which constitutes to 1.7% of forest cover loss or 4.6% of total national deforestation.  

Every year about 11.4 million metric tonnes of wood are used as wood fires and other methods for the drying of tobacco leaf.

Believe it or not, that’s an equivalent of one tree for every 300 cigarettes and to put it into perspective further, in 2012, 967 million daily smokers consumed approximately 6.25 trillion cigarettes worldwide according to the WHO estimates.

3) Pulp & Paper Industry


Paper is manufactured from tree fibers, either from the growing forests or recovered paper and the pulp and paper industry is a significant driver of deforestation.

Broad swathes of forest have been cut down to supply paper and since the mid-1990s, the majority of deforestation for pulp and paper production has occurred in Indonesia

Unfortunately, countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia don’t seem to have well-regulated certification programs in place to ensure certified sustainable forests.

The two major companies that account for 80 percent of Indonesia’s pulp and paper production are Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) and Asian Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL) and these two companies seem to have taken advantage for years from the lack of regulation.

4) Logging for Timber


Causes of Deforestation - Logging for Timber

Logging for timber is the process of cutting and processing trees to meet the demand of the world’s markets for furniture, construction, and other wooden products.

Since trucks and large equipment need access into the forest and transport timber, there is a requirement to clear forests for large roadways by loggers.

Although selective logging seems to be an alternative where only one or two species of trees are cut down it doesn’t seem to help matters due to higher rates of forest fires, thinning of the forest’s protective canopy and disrupting the ecology.

The importance of forest canopy to the forest’s ecosystem is that it accommodates and protects plants, animals & insect populations, and forest floor which slows soil erosion.

Legal and illegal logging both cause forest degradation which result in more than 70% of total forest degradation in Latin America and Asia while in Brazil and Indonesia, approximately 80% to 90% of logging is deemed illegal.

5) Mining


Since lucrative resources such as gold, copper, diamonds, gemstones and other precious metals are found in rainforests, mining for those resources has posed an underestimated risk to tropical forests worldwide

Large-scale mining operations can result in substantial deforestation through its own forest clearing and the construction & expansion of roads which can then open remote forest areas to temporary settlers, land speculators, and other small-scale miners.

The other threat comes from wildcat gold miners that enter areas rumored to have gold deposits in pursuit of wealth. They cut trees, detonate explosives, hunt wildlife and cause erosion by clearing hillsides.

6) Overpopulation


It’s obvious that the rise in population invariably results in a rise in deforestation and so far these two variables have not been mutually exclusive.

According to a report by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change:

  • Deforestation attributed to agriculture is approximately 80 percent
  • Deforestation attributed to logging is approximately 14 percent
  • Deforestation attributed to firewood is approximately 5 percent
  • Remaining deforestation is utilized for other purposes

All these human activities which cause deforestation tend to rise with the rise of population.

7) Forest Fires


via GIPHY

Wildfires can be considered a cause of nature and a natural element of many forest landscapes, but occurring at the wrong time, place, frequency and intensity can cause devastation.

As a matter of fact, each year millions of acres of forest around the world are annihilated or degraded by fire.

Furthermore, fire is often used as a convenient way for humans to clear forests for uses such as crops.

8) Climate Change


It is true that forest loss can be both a cause and an effect of climate change.

Typically rainforests (especially tropical rainforests) are quite humid due to the water vapor released along with oxygen, but when trees are cut down, the humidity levels can drop.

This can cause the remaining plants to dry out and increase the risk of fire damage and can destroy forests rapidly.

9) Infrastructure Expansion


Causes of Deforestation - Infrastructure ExpansionAlthough much criticism regarding the drivers of deforestation is focused on activities such as logging and commercial agriculture, such large-scale activities have been made possible only through infrastructure, such as roads, railways & bridges for transportation, energy projects such as dams and irrigation.

For an instance, the expansion of road networks in ecologically rich areas such as the Amazon Basin or the Indo-Malayan tropical forests of Southeast Asia has aggravated deforestation.

According to one study, most of the deforestation occurs within 5 km of a road or navigable river.

10) Fuelwood & Charcoal


Since humans began to harness fire, wood has been used as a primary fuel and it is still a major source of energy for people from developing countries.

Though wood fuel may not be a major cause of deforestation on a global scale compared to other drivers of deforestation, it can still have a serious effect at local level.

A difference between firewood and charcoal is that charcoal usually comes from trunks or large branches and requires cutting trees. Charcoal has many different uses such as cooking fuel, metallurgical fuel, industrial fuel, automotive fuel, as a carbon source, used for drawing, and used as a medicine for digestive issues.

As you can see, since there are many uses of charcoal, it is one of the causes of deforestation and a lot of trees have to be cut down to meet the varied demand.

In 2009 the deforestation of tropical countries due to charcoal production was estimated to be at less than 7%.



Related Posts:

  • Documentaries for Environment & Species Extinction
  • Veganism and The Environment
  • 10 Effects of Overfishing with Facts & Statistics
  • Environmental Impact of Vegan Fashion
  • How to Prevent and Reverse Deforestation

Other Links:

Home (2009 film – YouTube)

Reference

http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/10/12/124004/meta

Filed Under: Deforestation, Environment Tagged With: Environment

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