Environmental Effects of Vegetarianism Essay

The argona is currently in crisis. The consequences of mans actions had began to resurface as the purlieu becomes seriously threatened. Global warming is the immediate concern, as the domain continues to warm up and antecedent severe changes in climate. There atomic number 18 also otherwise environsal issues to be spoken of the assertable scarcity of bring and wet, deforestation, pollution and the like. The awareness of these problems have prompted many individuals to do their divorce this includes using alternative energy and hybrid cars.However, it seems that the high hat way to dish out the environment move be d nonpareil through the modification of ones diet. Apparently, the consumption of join does much pervert to the environment than vegetarianism. This look for paper aims to discuss the environmental implications of sensual horticulture, such as aggrandizement animals like cattle, as opposed to festering soybeans. According to the coupled Nations, Th e broth sector emerges as one of the top two or trio most portentous contri plainlyors to the most serious environmental problems, at either scale from local to global (qtd.in Freston 1). Raising cattle is vocalism of this sector, on with chickens and pigs (Freston 1). From the statement given by the United Nations, it is affirmed that hence magnetic core production has many environmental repercussions. So how is raising cattle, or animal horticulture in general, bad to the environment? To begin with, animal agriculture utilizes large bowls of land. According to the Keith Akers of the Vegetarian caller of Colorado (VSC). in the United States over 90% of all agricultural land is apply for blood line agriculture. In a global scale, of all the agricultural areas throughout the world, somewhat 69% is used to as pasture (Ethical Vegetarian Alternative EVA). Therefore, a authoritative percentage of all the Earths surface is used for the suggest of breeding animals for me at consumption (EVA). The demand of land that comes with animal agriculture also results in deforestation (EVA). Because meat production requires more land area, forests have to be reborn as agricultural areas. The forests are converted into agricultural land through a slash and have a fit proficiency which damages the forest (Freston).These forests are know to absorb the carbon copy dioxide from the atmosphere, precisely when the trees are burnt, the intent carbon dioxide leave alone be released back in the air. The join of carbon dioxide released through the slash and burn technique outweighs the discharge from fossil fuels (Freston). The rain forests transformed into animal agricultural areas also experiences a decrease in the quality of the estate (EVA). Due to the slash and burn method, the nutrients in the soil impart howevertually be lost and rather of grass, weeds will grow. Regeneration may prove difficult, while fertilizers crowd out only serve as an initial r emedy.Because of deforestation, half of all the virago meadows have been rendered infertile (EVA). Rain forests are finished to prevail more cattle for grazing (EVA Akers). It is said that the area of land damaged for this usage is of the same size of it as seven football fields ( core group). From the year 1950, millions of hectares of forest land had vanished (EVA). In China, pine forests have been destroyed to accommodate animals and their crop food ( inwardness). However, the most distinguished damage of rain forests grass be shew in South the States and Central America (EVA).In Brazil alone, land areas equal to the size of 5,000 soccer fields are disappearing at a effortless rate. Again, this is because of deforestation to accommodate cattle grazing. As for Central America, the number of awe had increased just as the area for pasture had expanded from 1950 to 1995 (EVA). It is in that locationof no surprise that the prices for wood products had increased all over the world (Akers). It is merely the result of the growing demand of commodities from a resource that is behind running out due to deforestation (Akers).Other environmental effect of animal agriculture are soil erosion and desertification (EVA). Animal agriculture is again answerable for soil erosion, which is directly caused by overgrazing of broth ( meaning). Over the last couple of years, numerous mouths and hooves have changed the landscape in more ways than man-made infrastructure such as freeways and striptease mines ever did. Grazing per se is non harmful to the environment. In fact, it even has a positive effect on the landscape. However, overgrazing can cause intensive erosion which can turn meadows into deserts (EVA).Cattle consumes a significant percentage of the vegetation in doing so, the soil is damaged because of weight of the cattle. This, a ample with other factors to consider, enable erosion to occur in which the surface soil is removed. The topsoil is the most fertile layer which was made from rocks and created in a coarse period of time. It takes many years for the topsoil to be created again. Due to livestock grazing and crop production for livestock, a significant amount of topsoil is lost annually (VSC). As a result of immense soil erosion, many lands all over the globe is currently undergoing desertification (EVA).Pastures from all over the world have been extremely eroded, which threatens the mensuration of existing agricultural land. This posits a problem in a time when the population is continuously growing and food supplies are decreasing (EVA). Animal agriculture also causes the glasshouse effect, which in turn results in global warming (EVA). Gases, which are known as glasshouse gases, retain all the heat the terra firma accepts from the sunbathe and sends it back to the atmosphere. This is essentially a natural occurrence. However, when the atmospheric levels of those gases increase, the heat will be trapped and the ear th will warm up.The high temperature of the earth has negative effects in water levels, ecosystems, agriculture, and most specially, the climate (EVA). quaternity gases is known to open to global warming (EVA). Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas other gases include methane, halogenic compounds and nitrogen oxide (EVA). Animal agriculture is responsible for most of the greenhouse emissions this is because cows, among other animals, release methane in the air (EVA Akers). Methane is derived from ruminants, such as buffaloes, goats, sheep and of course cows when they digest their food.Also, animal spread out contribute to global warming as well (EVA). According to the Food and floriculture Organization, 16% of global methane emissions come from animal agriculture (qtd. in EVA). other(prenominal) environmental hazard that animal agriculture presents is eutrophication (EVA). It is characterized by the extravagant amount of gases such as potassium, nitrogen and phosphur i n the environment as a result, ecosystems are affected. It posits a danger to biodiversity, water sources, and even soil development. The bloom of youth source of eutrophication is animal manure.Manure has metals in it, such as coat and copper these metals are added to fodder to enhance growth. The aforementioned elements are consequently transferred to land through manure, but it can also end up through residue in food intended for servicemans (EVA). Generally, animal manure is not harmful to the environment (EVA). It can rattling used as fertilizers for the soil. However, at present, there is an excess of animal manure that it already presents a dilemma worldwide. Millions of kilograms of manure is created annually, but the space available cannot accommodate that excessive quantity.In Belgium, every kilogram of pork is equal to 16 kilograms of manure. That amount means that dozens of both nitrogen and phosphor are released on Belgian soil every year. Such excess cannot be ab sorbed by the soil, making the heavy metal level in the unpolished particularly high (EVA). Europe is not the only place in the world dealing with such problem. The global pig and poultry industries creates millions of tons of nitrogen yearly (EVA). In the United States, the manure produced by animals devolve that of people.According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 200 milk-cows create the same quantity of nitrates found in the village sewers which is occupied by 5,000 to 10, 000 citizens (qtd. in EVA). Consequently, 22, 000 hens can produce manure which releases an amount of phosphor equal to the manure of 6,000 individuals (EVA). Yet another environmental hazard that is caused by animal agriculture is acidification (EVA). It is caused by excessive amounts of sulfur and nitrogen in land, water, and the atmosphere. Acidification threatens ecosystems trees die, forests struggle to survive and the quality of plants decreases.Lakes and other bodies of water suffer fro m this phenomena as well, posing danger to fishes and polluting the water sources. Acidification is best distinguished through acid rain (EVA). Again, animal agriculture plays a crucial part in acidification (EVA). It is the primary cause for such phenomena. So how does raising animals for food cause acid rain? Animal manure emits high levels of ammonia in the atmosphere. Two main contributors of ammonia are cows and pigs. Both animals produce 97% of all the ammonia in the atmosphere. Excessive amounts of ammonia is detrimental to the environment, as it is extremely toxic.Organisms such as reptiles, butterflies, even lichens are threatened by this compound (EVA). Ammonia is derived from the nitrates found in animal manure (EVA). The compound is mostly emitted to the atmosphere, but it can also affect both soil and water. This presents a danger to the human population, as the potable water supply may be dirty with ammonia. Humans are not the only ones threatened by possible contamin ation. The fish population is also at risk, as the phosphates and nitrates can clog up and decrease the quality of their habitat.Hence, manure derived from animal agriculture is responsible for acidification and water pollution due to the compounds found in the manure. If meat consumption is reduced, the methane will also be reduced as it only stays in the atmosphere for about ten years (Freston 2). This reduction will cause the planet to cool (Freston 2). Not only does animal agriculture stain the waters, it also uses large amounts of it (EVA). In fact, it is the main consumer of sweet water. urine is actually used and abused by the meat constancy (Akers). The consumption begins with lacrimation the fodder crops (EVA Meat).It is followed by the large amounts of water that animals need to drink. and so there is the need for water to maintain the factory farms, the trucks that transport the meat as well as the slaughterhouses (Meat). However, much water, approximately 80%, is a lso apply for the creation of meat products (Akers EVA). Meat processing also consumes too much water. In fact, for a single pound of meat to be produced, 5,000 gallons of water is used. Such great amount of water for such a small piece of meat is proof that the meat industry is wasting such a valuable resource.Compared to meat production, how does vegetarianism affect the environment? In essence, vegetarianism actually does not present any harm to the environment in fact, it positively affects it. Vegetarianism works in this formula Land + Water = Crops (Rutherford). There is limited land to be used, just as there is a limited water supply (Rutherford). A small area of land and a ample amount of water could produce a decent amount of crops. Planting of crops can be done in a small farmland this endeavor does not need extensive territories for production, unlike meat consumption.The water to be used is also not wasted, as it will only be utilized to water the crops. In fact, 1 kil ogram of meat uses 100 times the amount of water needed for 1 kilogram of vegetables (EVA). Hence, with limited resources, vegetarianism can be free burning and not endanger the environment. Not only does vegetarianism consider the limitations of natural resources but also it does not add waste that could be detrimental to ecosystems. In addition, the vegetarian lifestyle can actually help the environment. The crops will absorb the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and turns in into oxygen (Rutherford).Animal agriculture presents more disadvantages in the environment than vegetarianism. To begin with, meat production consumes limited resources that could be utilized for other endeavors. It also releases harmful elements and compounds in the air, soil and water. In the long run, the environment will suffer if this is continued. Therefore, compared to vegetarianism, animal agriculture is more detrimental to the environment.Works CitedAkers, Keith. The Most Important Thing You Can Do For the Environment. Vegetarian Society of Colorado. 14 May 2008 . Freston, Kathy. Vegetarian is the New Prius. Alternet. org. 7 Feb. 2007. 14 May 2008 . Meat and the Environment. Goveg. com. 14 May 2008 . Rutherford, Timothy. Logical Environmental Reasoning for a Vegetarian Lifestyle. Enviroveggie. com. 14 May 2008 . Vegetarianism and the Environment. Ethical Vegetarian Alternative. 14 May 2008 .