Environmental advocacy groups - typically non-governmental organisations like Environment Tobago are formed to offset ( - mitigate), conserve, or correct stresses people ( - humankind) make on Earth. Which in turn compromises the quality of the relationship between nature and people.
The struggle to identify environmentally impacting issues and the work to adapt to outcomes - positive or negative, has led to a particular language; the terminology of the trade. Familiarity the lexicon will provide neophytes to the field a major assist. No matter where in the spectrum of ‘environmentalism’ his or her future path leads.
Figure 1: Incomplete list of environmental issues
Biodiversity loss
The big picture is captured by the United Nations on [their website](https://unfoundation.org/blog/post/biodiversity-explained%3E-facts-myths-and-the-race-to-protect-it/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCA%3EiAhP67BhAVEiwA2E_9gw9pCMGNxWAD4t-_f054fK4sDoriwchIvBshDMoIWMHaQLf4%3Exy3MOxoClTUQAvD_BwE) “As ecosystems and habitats degrade and disappear worldwide, biodiversity (the interconnectedness of all forms of life on our planet) is in jeopardy. In light of a new global agreement to protect our lands, ocean, and waters, explore what biodiversity really means and what it will take to preserve life on Earth.”
In Tobago optimism would be a key requirement in the ongoing struggle to maintain functional biodiversity [levels]. The challenges are similar to other places. In that human encroachment for land, for food production, for industry aren’t lessening, they’re escalating. What is needed is very strong political messaging and a population that recognises what biodiversity poverty means.
Deforestation
“Deforestation is the purposeful clearing of forested land. Throughout history and into modern times, forests have been razed to make space for agriculture and animal grazing, and to obtain wood for fuel, manufacturing, and construction. Deforestation has greatly altered landscapes around the world.” - UN
And its implications for clean air, oxygenation, water - in short, quality of life, are immense considerations. Which is ironic that forests, a service of nature - which people have benefited from for ages, will become a threatened assets. Tobago been lucky sort of, in that the Main Ridge Forest Reserve was legally instituted into law at a time when government decree meant simply, the King and his lords, wishes.
- Environmental racism
- Food waste
- Global warming
- Greenhouse effect
- Ocean acidification
- Overfishing
- Water pollution
The list above is in random order - there is no matching sequence to inform relevance or gravity. However for those who do want some order to their reading - the Dewey system (in use in libraries) arrange topics by number.