Thank you to everyone who has followed my blog over the past few months. Although I had originally intended to write about a large variety of natural resources, I ended up discussing two: water and trees. I decided to limit my blog to two natural resources because when I began my research, I discovered the availability of a wide plethora of information with many different interesting topics and subtopics. I realized it would be more valuable to dig further in depth on a couple of topics, rather than cover a wide number of natural resources very generally. I hope that you were able to discover new online resources that can serve as a springboard from which to learn even more about water and forests in relation to climate change. I hope you will continue to read up on these important topics into the future.
I quite enjoyed the blog style format of this course, instead of one main essay, because it gave me the creative freedom to research what I am interested in. For those who have never written a blog before, I highly recommend it. It is a good way to keep track of new ideas and thoughts.
Main Ideas from my Blog
Eutrophication is resulting in algal blooms and hypoxic conditions in rivers and lakes, but the best way to combat this is uncertain. Phosphorous has greater negative consequences of eutrophication than nitrogen does. It is widely accepted that Phosphorous causes eutrophication, but with the right level and ratio of nitrogen eutrophication adverse effects may actually lessen.
Geo-engineering tools exist to mitigate hypoxic conditions and algal blooms, but many are too expensive to implement on a wide scale. Lürling et al. recommend first undergoing a thorough system analysis to determine the best course of action.
The clearing of forests for agriculture and forest fires are major drivers of deforestation around the world, and the situation is only worsening. The consequences from deforestation can especially be seen in the Amazon rainforest and in California.
Although data and websites exist and we have a general idea of where we have global forest cover gains and losses, solutions to combat deforestation are imperfect. UNFCCC REDD+ assists with reforestation and afforestation, but may need further groundwork development before achieving maximum impact.
Climate inaction is exacerbating our global environmental crisis. People are more likely to take action when the results are immediate and measure-able. Collection action is required.
As we continue to drain our natural resources and see how we are exacerbating the effects of climate change, I urge all of us to reconsider our actions. We are polluting and consuming water and wood faster than it can replenish, which will eventually leave us with nothing and will permanently damage Planet Earth. In the long term, the consequences of this will be devastating. If our natural resources run out, life as we know it may change forever. That being said, this can be mitigated if we take immediate action. It is not too late to save our planet.
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