Ecology

As more than half of the world’s population now lives in cities, urban ecology — the study of ecosystems within metropolitan areas — is gaining importance. Cities may seem distant from “nature,” but they host complex interactions between humans, wildlife, and green spaces that shape both environmental and public health.

Urban areas face unique ecological challenges: air and noise pollution, heat islands, water runoff, and habitat fragmentation. However, they also offer opportunities for sustainable innovation. Green roofs, urban gardens, and eco-parks improve biodiversity, reduce pollution, and enhance residents’ quality of life.

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Forests cover about 30% of the Earth’s land surface and are home to more than 80% of terrestrial species. They act as carbon sinks, regulate rainfall patterns, and provide livelihoods for millions. Yet deforestation — the large-scale removal of forests for agriculture, logging, or urban development — continues at an alarming rate.

The Amazon rainforest, often referred to as the “lungs of the Earth,” is particularly vulnerable. Slash-and-burn agriculture, illegal logging, and cattle ranching are decimating vast stretches of rainforest. Similar trends are occurring in Southeast Asia, Central Africa, and other biodiversity hotspots.

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Plastic pollution has become one of the most visible and pervasive environmental challenges today. From plastic bags in oceans to microplastics in drinking water, plastic waste is polluting ecosystems, harming wildlife, and entering the food chain.

Every year, humans produce over 400 million tons of plastic — much of it used only once before being discarded. Because plastic takes hundreds (sometimes thousands) of years to break down, it accumulates in landfills, rivers, and oceans.

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Climate change is arguably the most pressing ecological issue of our time. Caused primarily by the accumulation of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere, climate change is driving shifts in global temperatures, weather patterns, sea levels, and natural disasters.

Human activities — particularly the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial agriculture — are the main contributors to climate change. As a result, polar ice caps are melting, wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense, and droughts and floods are disrupting communities and ecosystems around the world.

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Biodiversity — the variety of life on Earth — is more than just a collection of plants, animals, and microorganisms. It’s a dynamic web of interconnected systems that sustain ecosystems and, by extension, human life. From the bees that pollinate our crops to the forests that purify our air, biodiversity plays a crucial role in regulating the planet’s climate, water cycles, and soil fertility.

However, biodiversity is under threat. Habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, overfishing, and invasive species are accelerating extinction rates at unprecedented levels.

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