CHANGES TO THE ENVIRONMENT Changes by Humans

HUMANS POLLUTE THE AIR WITH EMISSIONS FROM VEHICLES AND FACTORIES. Organisms breathing unclean air may become sick or die.

HUMANS CUT DOWN TREES TO BUILD HOMES.

THIS IS HARMFUL. Animals struggle to find trees and plants for food and shelter. There are less trees to clean the air.

IT CAN BE BENEFICIAL. Plants and animals that thrive in grassland areas have new areas for shelter and space.

HUMANS POLLUTE THE WATER WITH TOXIC CHEMICALS AND TRASH. Drinking water for humans and animals is poor quality. Plants and animals that live in the water are harmed.

HUMANS DIG MINES IN THE GROUND OR INSIDE MOUNTAINS.

HARMFUL EFFECTS Sinkholes can form swallowing large areas of land. Trees are logged to create areas for dumping debris from the mine. Water can be polluted by chemical runoff from mines.

BENEFICIAL EFFECTS Extract metals and minerals to build things Make jewelry Make medicines and materials

FARMERS/COMPANIES REPLANTING FIELDS WITH THE SAME CROP REPEATEDLY Harmful Effect (Long Term) The soil is depleted of minerals. Beneficial Effect (Short Term) Provide food and/or resources

CHANGES TO THE ENVIRONMENT Changes by Animals

BEAVERS CREATE DAMS WHICH BLOCK THE FLOW OF WATER. Harmful Effect Water does not reach plants or animals downstream who depend on it for survival. Beneficial Effect Dams create pond environments in which new plants and animals can survive.

HERD ANIMALS MAY OVERGRAZE THE LAND. Harmful Effects  Land with less or no grass can be easily eroded by wind and water.  Animals may pollute streams or lakes with their droppings. Can be cows, bison, zebra, gazelles or elephants

Beneficial Effect  Herd animals fertilize the land with their droppings which can lead to new plant growth.

ANIMALS MIGRATE TO NEW PLACES DUE TO A LACK OF RESOURCES. This is harmful because there is more competition for space and food.