Ecosystems and human social systems are complex because they contain many pieces and linkages. They’re adaptive because they contain feedback systems that help them survive in an ever-changing environment. The data is divided into five main categories by geography’s five themes: location, place, human-environment interaction, mobility, and region. Humans benefit from human-environmental interactions. Humans have interacted with the environment like no other species on the planet. Humans have reigned supreme over the Environment and linked ecosystems because they have adapted to the earth. There are numerous examples of human environments. Although the adverse effects of human-environmental interactions receive much attention, there are many good human-environmental interactions.
Types of human-environmental interactions
Human-environment interactions can be categorised into three types. They are:
- Environmental susceptibility: Humans rely on the environment for survival to obtain needed materials (e.g., air, water, food, shelter). Humans cannot survive without interacting with the environment in some way.
- Changes to the environment: Humans alter the environment to meet their aims and desires to meet their needs. Human activities can have both positive and harmful effects on the environment. Everything humans accomplish necessitates the use of natural resources, such as energy. For instance, humans have altered the physical environment by clearing land for agriculture or constructing dams, and they continue to do so through industrialisation and the construction of homes.
- Adaptation to the environment: Humans can change and adapt to varied environmental conditions to survive and meet their needs. Humans have adapted to natural conditions worldwide (For example, in the Arctic) and developed advanced systems (such as heating) to assist them in surviving and thriving.
Human Environment
The artificial environment created by people is referred to as the human environment. It is a person’s relationship with the natural and physical environment in which they live. Physical, biological, cultural, social, and economic variables all play a role in the environment. It encompasses structures, roads, cities, and the civilisation in which humans live.
Human-Environment Examples
India is one of these countries where water scarcity is hurting agriculture. One of the good human environment examples is the water scarcity in the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Although water is a renewable resource, we rapidly deplete water in reservoirs (porous, water-holding rocks). When a dam is created, the amount of water flowing downstream is reduced. This impacts downstream communities and wildlife that rely on that water. Human pollution and volcanic eruption cause damage to the atmosphere, which in turn result in acid rain, and global warming.
Different Kinds of Human-Environment Interactions examples
Human interactions have various effects on the environment, including overcrowding, pollution, and the combustion of fossil fuels. Climate change, soil erosion, and air pollution are all human-environment interaction examples.
A few human-environment interactions examples are given below:
- Natural resource utilisation: People use various natural resources in their daily lives, including lumber, metals, and oil. There is also a reliance on food and water to survive. People use energy for various reasons, including domestic cooking and industrial purposes. Natural resource depletion due to extraction and exploitation is a worry.
- Deforestation occurs when forests are cleared and trees are not replanted or allowed to regrow. A human-environment example would be Ethiopia, Mexico, Brazil, America, Congo, and India, which have removed many of their forests for economic and agricultural needs. In addition, forest loss has a significant impact on water supplies.
- Energy resources: Wind power, hydroelectric power, and solar power are examples of renewable energies that can be utilised instead of fossil fuels since they turn the energy of the wind, water, and sun into electricity. However, because they cannot be regenerated, the amount eventually becomes insufficient, and their use becomes unsustainable in the long run.
- Oil and gas drilling: The extraction of oil and gas has numerous detrimental consequences on the environment. Oil spills have significant financial consequences; they disrupt transportation and hurt residents; when birds are exposed to the oil spill, they lose their ability to seek food essential for their existence. Individuals are also exposed to unsafe seafood as a result of spills.
- Water resources: Due to expanding population and per capita consumption, water withdrawals have increased internationally during the previous three decades. Large-scale water extraction from bodies of water for domestic, agricultural, or industrial use limits the amount of water accessible to present and future generations. As a result, water demand rises, resulting in unsustainable water resource consumption.
Conclusion
Humans alter the environment for their gain. To obtain food, water, fuel, and shelter, humans must interact with the Environment. Thanks to technological breakthroughs and research, humans have exploited the environment, resulting in pollution and environmental devastation. Humans must be mindful of the environmental consequences of their actions. Human-caused problems can impact human activities such as human health and improving living standards. Not every interaction is terrible. Humans can contribute to the environment by preserving it. Sustainability implies providing today’s requirements without jeopardising future generations’ ability to meet their own.