1. Contemporary Environmental Issues
There are major environmental issues that require urgent attention to make the ecology friendly.
Global warming: This has been considered as the most pressing environmental issue.
Climate change is real and it is influenced by human activities through the production of green house gases such as methane and carbon dioxide.
Global warming is necessitated by the ability of our ecosystem to respond to climate change due to compromised environment.
Global warming has the effect of melting polar ice caps, displacing people form tropical and coastal islands and can ultimately threaten the survival of human race.

2. Clean and Renewable energy:
This is second only to climate change.
The human race is faced with the environmental problem of cleaning up or replacing the burning of fossil fuels that enhanced industrial revolution during 18th century.
Unless a clean and renewable energy is found as an alternative, our planet risks being turned into an inhabitable and hostile not fit for human survival.
There is need for the development and adoption of clean energy.
Ocean system collapse: Oceans are critical part of Earths support system and are considered to pose huge risks and sink for atmospheric oxygen and carbon dioxide.
It is important to prevent ocean systems from collapse since the over exploitation of oceans might result in the collapse of the fishing industry.
Acid rain resulting from industrial pollution has pollutes oceans and seas hence killing coral reefs; this has the effect of threatening tourism.
Oceans are degraded by spills, run off chemicals.

3. Electronic & Nuclear Waste:
This type of wastes can cause massive pollution and several health complications.
Millions of electronic products such as computers, laptops, television sets and mobile phones are discarded annually in developed countries and dumped into third world societies.
The recovery of these products in the developing economies can result in the release of hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, heavy metals and many other toxic substances.
This will harm the workers that are exposed to the dangerous materials.
These wastes are the modern environmental threats due to technological advancements. The disposal of nuclear wastes from the reactors poses major risks to the environment.
Nuclear wastes such as Plutonium-239 are very dangerous when released to the environment, same to isotopes. Currently there are 31 countries with nuclear reactors.

4. Water degradation:
In the modern world the quality of water is under threat from the fast growing population.
The quality of inland water is under compromise from dumped industrial and chemical wastes, untreated sewage, medicinal residues and fertilizes and chemical run off.
The above activities worsen the already existing problem of water pollution.
The increased use of underground water in coastal regions results in the intrusion of salt water.
Land rush:
The world’s population is growing at a faster rate. This has led to large number of people being declared food-insecure; this has therefore resulted in land rush since nations are scrambling to secure land for agriculture and also to grow bio-energy crops to generate cheap fuels.
Slashing and burning of forests is an ever increasing practice and it can lead to biodiversity and ecosystems loss as well as land degradation.
According to the UNEP, approximately 5 million hectares of land is annually lost through soil erosion and land degradation. P
astoralists and cattle ranchers are plundering the Amazon rain forest at an alarming rate.

5. Biodiversity conservation: Biodiversity is critical for the survival of the ecosystem because it can help in food production, disease control, crop pollination and recreation.
Increased human population: The world’s population is increasing at a faster rate. This has resulted in over consumption, leading to poverty and other environmental problems.
New technologies: Increased demand for food globally has forced scientists to manipulate plant DNA to produce strong and drought and disease resistant crops.
There is the general fear that GMO products are harmful to human beings.
When GMO food products are released to the environment, they may not be recalled, making it a dangerous global experiment.
Habitat loss: Habitat loss and fragmentation due to deforestation and human development. This is considered as the major cause of diminishing biodiversity globally. Many species are faced with extinction.

6. Global Warming
Global warming is one of the major issues that we are being faced with today. The term signifies an increase in the atmospheric temperature near the earth's surface, which is caused due to various reasons. Scientists are of the opinion that a rise in the carbon dioxide levels will further aggravate the situation.
The greenhouse effect causes the earth's heat to be trapped in the atmosphere, which results in the increase in temperatures. Global warming has thus caused a change in the climate of the earth, causing temperatures to rise. This, in turn, has an effect on various species dependent on the basic laws of nature.
A warmer earth also causes changes in the rainfall patterns and thus affects humans, plants and animals as well.

7. Ozone depletion
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are considered to be the main cause of ozone depletion. The term ozone depletion implies a decline in the quantity of ozone in the earth's stratosphere.
The loss of ozone in the lower stratosphere was first recorded in Antarctica in the 1970s.
CFCs when released into the atmosphere add to the ozone depletion which are used in aerosol sprays as well as air conditioners.
The ozone hole in the Antarctic is caused primarily due to these CFCs. Due to ozone depletion, humans are faced with various other problems such as dealing with the harmful effects of UV rays. These affect not only humans, but also affect plants and various species of animals as well.

8. Pollution Air pollution Water pollution Soil pollution Noise pollution
Pollution is something that we face on an everyday basis. It is probably a problem that we may have become immune to, given our fast-paced lives. Air pollution and noise pollution are increasing at an alarming rate today. Air pollution occurs with the addition of harmful chemicals into the earth's atmosphere. The main pollutants of air are carbon monoxide, CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons), nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. Water pollution is caused when wastes are released into the water and contaminates it. Soil pollution takes place when the soil is contaminated due to various industrial activities. Noise pollution occurs when the noise levels (honking, loud speakers, etc.) crosses the normal decibel level. This can have a harmful effect on one's hearing and lead to more severe after-effects, both physical and psychological (fatigue, irritation, stress, etc.).
Air pollution
Water pollution
Soil pollution
Noise pollution

9. Loss of Natural Resources
With the alarming rate of increase in population, the loss of natural resources has become one of the major concerns.
Issues like deforestation, animal extinction, shortage of water, lack of space and food are only some of the concerns brought on by the lack of resources.
There are many reasons that lead to the loss of natural resources (increasing demands brought on by population explosion, disregard for nature, human greed).
This, in turn, affects the varied ecosystems.

10. Activities such as overfishing and hunting have even led many species of fish and animals respectively to the brink of extinction.
Forests are being cleared to meet the rising demands for the need of paper, wood and land.
Mining and burning of fossil fuels have led to further depletion of resources. Then again, this is merely scratching the surface.

11. Nuclear Problems
Nuclear energy is generated from the splitting of uranium atoms. This energy is used to produce electricity. While there are definite advantages of generating nuclear power, what stands equally true is the fact that the process of producing the same harms the environment in many ways.
The process of converting uranium into usable energy produces radioactive waste (2000 metric tons of radioactive waste is generated in a year in the USA alone) which is extremely harmful for human, animal and plant health at many levels.

12. Along with that, the storage of nuclear power at a plant, as well as the fact that most other equipment in the plant will also convert into radioactive material over time and remain radioactive for several years is a major threat. While decaying, radioactive material releases certain particles which leads to damaging effects on health, like cancer.
Along with these health concerns, production of nuclear energy also leads to several other harmful effects like emission of carbon dioxide (during mining, transport, waste management and other processes of producing nuclear energy), usage of excessive water and water discharge. This will, in turn, affect the environment at many levels.

13. Loss of Biodiversity
Biodiversity refers to the combination of a diverse range of species on earth.
The varied plants, animals and microorganisms, the different ecosystems (coral reefs, deserts, rain forests, etc.) all have a unique role to play in the cycle of earth.
These diverse species lead to the boost of varied ecosystems, which thus enables them to prevent, as well as recover from several disasters.
However, due to varied human activities like deforestation, and hunting, the natural habitats as well as the survival of several species are being threatened. Several plant and animal species are on the verge of extinction, while others have already become extinct. The extinction of animals and plants can lead to varied effects, some of which are - increase in sea levels (leading to floods), droughts, wildfires, forest destruction and more.

14. Climate Change in the Pacific Southwest Region
“Climate change is the biggest conservation challenge facing the Forest Service in the 21st century and contributing to global efforts that help forests mitigate and adapt to climate change is a priority for the Forest Service in California.” ~ Randy Moore, Pacific Southwest Regional Forester

15. The Forest Service strategy includes helping forests adapt to changes in climate by restoring the resilience of forest, range and aquatic ecosystems; managing forests to increase the carbon dioxide they capture and store; using forest products to reduce and replace fossil fuel energy; maintaining a research program, and reducing the agency's environmental footprint.
Many ecosystems are likely to be threatened in this century by an unprecedented combination of climate change, associated disturbances, and other global change drivers.
Major disturbances such as floods and droughts are likely to increase in number and intensity. The ecological impacts of wildfires as well as forest pests and diseases are expected to rise, with extended periods of high fire risk and large increases in area burned.

16. The effects of climate change are evident in forests today:
Fires are a natural part of forested landscapes, but each year the fire season is coming earlier and ending later. In addition, the fires themselves are burning hotter and have become more damaging and dangerous.
Insects are also a natural part of forested landscapes, but now the insects—both the native ones and the invaders—are spreading more rapidly. The winter cold isn't knocking some populations back. Epidemics are larger and last longer, killing more trees and increasing fire risk.
The warmer winters are also affecting our water supplies. The snowpacks are thinner and they melt earlier in spring, so the water runs out from the forest earlier in summer. Extended droughts make trees more vulnerable to fire and insects.

17. Climate Change, Mitigation, and Adaptation Science
The Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW) plays a leadership role in climate change and greenhouse gas science at national and international levels. Research of PSW scientists focuses on assessing climates, evaluating ecosystem responses, promoting approaches to sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, and developing adaptation strategies to manage natural resources in the face of changing climates.