Things That Affects The Environment Essay Example

Many things can consistently be found in nature that can help it and hurt it. On our walk, I found thirteen things (but there are a lot more) that could hurt and help the environment. I found things like cars, paths, trash, animals, animal feces, and naturally occurring things like the sun and erosion. Many of these things hurt the environment but there are a lot of things that do not.

Out of all the objects and things I found, I want to specifically talk about three of them. First is the sun, the sun is such a beneficial thing for nature. It helps plants photosynthesis so they can grow so the crucial of life can continue. The sun is one of the most important stars in our solar system, animals including humans need plants for food and the oxygen the plants produce. Without the sun the Earth would freeze over, there would be no wind, ocean currents, or clouds to regulate the water cycle. Life depends on the sun. The next thing I found was animals. All types and sizes of animals are critical to the environment. Animals are the ecological balance between them and nature. Some animals help bring out nutrients, others help in decomposition, carbon, and nitrogen cycles. Every living thing plays a vital role. For example, bees are the pollinating super insects. Most plants need the service of nature’s pollinators and cannot fertilize themselves without the help of bees.       

There are things in nature that have both good and bad traits and ways they affect the environment. Man-made paths are there to protect nature but they are also harmful to it. Paths are put in nature to preserve the environment around it and keep people safe. But in the process of semi helping the environment, they also hinder it. The paths trample native vegetation, consistent walking on the paths causes erosion of the soil, when people bring snacks on their hikes and leave it causes the displacement of animals from their preferred habitats in search of food. I also found animal feces. Animal poop when left on top of the ground will eventually break down and can wash into the water supply, it can pollute rivers and streams. Pet waste also carries bacteria, parasites, and other harmful diseases that can be transmitted through waterways. But wild animal feces is good for the environment it fertilizes the ground so plants can grow.       

Harmful things to the environment that I found on our nature walk were cars and trash. Both are pollutants that are harmful and can cause damage to the environment and the species that live in them. Cars, specifically ones that run on gas aka fossil fuel burning cars, are major pollutants. Cars consume and expend a lot of energy even before hitting the roads. Automotive production leaves a footprint because the materials that go into making cars (like steel, rubber, glass, plastics, paints, and much more) take a lot of energy to make, an energy that causes pollutants. When a car is no longer driveable and is discarded it is still leaving an impact on the environment. Plastics, toxic battery acids, and other materials take a long time to decompose and when they do they leave behind toxic minerals that are harmful to the environment and everything that lives in it. When cars burn fule they also contribute to air pollution and greenhouse gasses. Trash is also a major pollutant because it can end up harming animals and plants. Plastics and other materials take a long time to decompose or never decompose. Pollutants threaten aquatic life and other animals because they can consume them and they can die. Overflowing amounts of trash causes air pollution that can cause respiratory diseases. When certain materials decompose they release toxic materials that can cause erosion and global warming.      

In conclusion, when going on a short walk you can always find something that affects the environment. The sun, the sun is such a beneficial thing for nature. It helps plants photosynthesis so they can grow so the crucial of life can continue. Animals are the ecological balance between them and nature. Some animals help bring out nutrients, others help in decomposition, carbon, and nitrogen cycles. There are things in nature that have both good and bad traits and ways they affect the environment. Man-made paths are there to protect nature but they are also harmful to it. Paths are put in nature to preserve the environment around it and keep people safe.  Animal poop when left on top of the ground will eventually break down and can wash into the water supply, it can pollute rivers and streams.  Cars, specifically ones that run on gas aka fossil fuel burning cars, are major pollutants. Cars consume and expend a lot of energy even before hitting the roads. Automotive production leaves a footprint because the materials that go into making cars (like steel, rubber, glass, plastics, paints, and much more) take a lot of energy to make, an energy that causes pollutants. Trash is also a major pollutant because it can end up harming animals and plants. Plastics and other materials take a long time to decompose or never decompose.