Pick one of the environmental issues mentioned and tell which one you think is most important and why. Type your response below. South Asia covers diversified climatic zones and experiences an array of climate change impacts. Human pressures together with changing hydrology and land resources have distinct impact on the production of food grain and resilience of ecosystems. The most threatened areas are grasslands and mountain forest ecosystems of the Himalayas and ecosystems of the Sundarbans. Forests of South Asia having most biologically diverse ecosystems on the planet are destroyed due to rapid deforestation and urbanization. Moreover, the South Asia partake the worst air pollution in the world, and it is maximum in India. Thar Desert is extending at a rate of 100 ha per year which may cause damage to approximately 13,000 ha of cultivated lands and pastures in India and Pakistan. Availability of freshwater is highly seasonal in this region, and water supplies become more threatened by higher temperatures, changes in river regimes, and greater incidence of coastal flooding. This article discusses major environmental issues faced by the South Asian people particularly Bangladesh and the resultant problems encountered by majority of people. Major environmental issues discussed here are climate change, geophysical setting, ecosystem changes, overgrazing, import of hazardous wastes, deforestation, desertification, pollution, population pressure, collapse and pollution of land resources, water resources and lack of potable water, biodiversity loss, food security risks, depletion of energy resources, and degradation of river and marine resources. Different problems created by mentioned environmental issues like biodiversity loss, impacts to the marine environment, atmospheric pollution, deficient urban structure, water scarcity and degradation, soil erosion and land degradation, natural disaster, pests, and diseases have been depicted in this chapter. Some recommendations have also been provided on the basis of major environmental issues identified and resultant problems.
South Asia is the large unique landmass representing the southern region of the Asian continent. The South Asia comprises of eight countries – Bangladesh, India , Nepal , Pakistan , Bhutan , Maldives, Sri Lanka , and Afghanistan (Sivakumar and Stefanski 2010). The total area of South Asia covers almost 5.1 million km2 (1.9 million mi2), and this is 11.51% of the Asian continent. The land mass of this region gives a ground for near 1.749 billion people that covers about one fourth of the world’s population (SACEP 2016). South Asia is not only the most populated region in the world but also densely populated (South Asia Regional Overview 2008).
The physiography of South Asia region ranges from the northern mountains to southern plateaus. The landforms distributed from the world’s highest magnificent Himalayas with nearly two dozen peaks rising to 24,000 ft or above of Bhutan and Nepal to the lowest, the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea beaches. The physical landscape of this region is also demonstrated with the fertile delta of Bangladesh, peninsula of India, and jewel-like islands of Sri Lanka and Maldives in the Indian Ocean.
The South Asia is ecologically more valuable area in the world because of its diversified natural resources and ecosystems . The total forest area of South Asia covers 2.73% of world’s forests and provides a shelter for approximately 15.5% flora and 12% fauna of the world. The floral diversity comprises 39,875 species of flowering plants, 66 conifers and cycads, and 764 ferns. Faunal diversity is wide-ranging with 933 species of mammals, 4494 birds, 923 reptiles, 332 amphibians, and 342 freshwater fishes. Only the Hindu Kush Himalayan belt was embracing a home to a number of 25,000 major plant species that covers 10% of the world’s total flora. In addition, India contains extensive savannah and forest habitats that provide spaces for many endemic species having international importance. Sri Lanka is also one of the most biologically diversified countries in the world. South Asia is the home of around 14% of the world’s mangrove habitat. Moreover highest percentage of threatened wetlands are in here, 82 of which are in Bangladesh.