Ten conservation priorities for remote sensing data

1. Species distribution and abundances: data from satellites can help outline species distribution
due to looking at habitat health and ecosystem change, however final spatial data and wider
coverage with multispectral sensors (known as MODIS) on satellites could much improve
current knowledge.
2. Species movements and life stages: remote sensing can help understand changes in species
movements by looking at shifts in land use that could impact migrations. Increased data could
also be gathered to understand smaller, more frequent movements.
3. Ecosystem processes: data from satellites can help understand how ecosystems respond to
various stressors, from nitrogen pollution to ocean acidification. High resolution and frequent
data could also help scientists better comprehend how ecosystems respond to extreme weather.
4. Climate change: long-term data on climate change can conservationists both view how global
warming is impacting species and ecosystems, as well as identify conservation priorities in a
warming world.
5. Rapid response: near real-time data from satellites can help conservationists and governments
react quickly to threats such as oil spills, illegal logging and mining, human-started fires, and
even coral bleaching events. Greater access to data could improve how quickly officials are able
to acting.
6. Protected areas: remote sensing can help design better protected areas, looking more
holistically at how to manage land inside and outside parks in order to better achieve
conservation goals.
7. Ecosystem services: data from satellites can help Payments for Ecosystem Service programs,
such as REDD+, monitor their outcomes and overall ability in protecting ecosystem services.
8. Conservation effectiveness: increased use of remote sensing data can help conservationists
monitor the success of new initiatives and the efficacy of protected areas.
9. Agricultural/aquaculture expansion and changes in land use/cover: remote sensing can help
identify where agriculture is expanding and intensifying in order to understand how this may
impact conservation work. But the paper also calls for more frequent high-resolution data to
better track both agriculture and aquaculture trends.
10. Degradation and disturbance regimes: many changes to ecosystems are not detectable by
simply looking at shifts in land cover, but combining remote sensing data with other
technologies and other types of data—such as field visits—could help piece together less visible
changes.
Air pollution is caused by the presence in the atmosphere of toxic substances, mainly produced
by human activities, even though sometimes it can result from natural phenomena such as
volcanic eruptions, dust storms and wildfires, also depleting the air quality.

Anthropogenic air pollution sources are:

-Combustion of fossil fuels, like coal and oil for electricity and road transport, producing air
pollutants like nitrogen and sulfur dioxide
-Emissions from industries and factories, releasing large amount of carbon monoxide,
hydrocarbon, chemicals and organic compounds into the air
-Agricultural activities, due to the use of pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizers that emit harmful
chemicals
-Waste production, mostly because of methane generation in landfills.

Effects
Air pollution has a major impact on the process of plant evolution by preventing
photosynthesis in many cases, with serious consequences for the purification of the air we
breathe. It also contributes to the formation of acid rain, atmospheric precipitations in the form of
rain, frost, snow or fog, which are released during the combustion of fossil fuels and transformed
by contact with water steam in the atmosphere.
On top of that, air pollution is a major contributor to global warming and climate change.
In fact, the abundance of carbon dioxide in the air is one of the causes of the greenhouse effect.
Normally, the presence of greenhouse gases should be beneficial for the planet because they
absorb the infra-red radiation produced by the surface of the earth. But the excessive
concentration of these gases in the atmosphere is the cause of the recent climate change.
Our continual exposure to air pollutants is responsible for the deterioration of human
health. Air pollution is indeed a significant risk factor for human health conditions, causing
allergies, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases as well as lung damage.

Humans are the main cause of water pollution, which is triggered in many ways: by the
dumping of industrial waste; due to temperature rise, that cause the alteration of water by
reducing the oxygen in its composition; Or due to deforestation, which causes sediments and
bacteria to appear under the soil and therefore contaminate groundwater.

In the same way, the pesticides used in agricultural fields filter through underground
channels and reach the consumption networks; and also as a result of accidental spillage of oil.
 What are the main consequences of water pollution? Firstly, the disappearance of
biodiversity and aquatic ecosystems. Also, humans are harmed by the alteration in the food chain
and by contracting illnesses when drinking or using contaminated water. As you can see, water
pollution has a great impact in the environment.

WHAT IS NOISE POLLUTION?

Not all sound is considered noise pollution. The World Health Organization (WHO)
defines noise above 65 decibels (dB) as noise pollution. To be precise, noise becomes harmful
when it exceeds 75 decibels (dB) and is painful above 120 dB. As a consequence, it is
recommended noise levels be kept below 65 dB during the day and indicates that restful sleep is
impossible with nighttime ambient noise levels in excess of 30 dB.

CAUSES OF NOISE POLLUTION

There are many sources of noise pollution, but here are some of the main ones:

Traffic noise
Traffic noise accounts for most polluting noise in cities. For example, a car horn produces
90 dB and a bus produces 100 dB.

Air traffic noise

There are fewer aircraft flying over cities than there are cars on the roads, but the impact
is greater: a single aircraft produces 130 dB.

Construction sites
Building and car park construction and road and pavement resurfacing works are very
noisy. For example, a pneumatic drill produces 110 dB.

Catering and night life

Bars, restaurants and terraces that spill outside when the weather is good can produce
more than 100 dB. This includes noise from pubs and clubs.

Animals
 Noise made by animals can go unnoticed, but a howling or barking dog, for example, can
produce around 60-80 dB.

Fatal Effects of Noise Pollution

1. Hearing Problems
Any unwanted sound that our ears have not been built to filter can cause problems within
the body. Our ears can take in a certain range of sounds without getting damaged.

Man-made noises such as jackhammers, horns, machinery, airplanes, and even vehicles
can be too loud for our hearing range.

Constant exposure to loud levels of noise can easily result in the damage of our eardrums
and loss of hearing. It also reduces our sensitivity to sounds that our ears pick up unconsciously
to regulate our body’s rhythm.

2. Health Issues
Excessive noise pollution in working areas such as offices, construction sites, bars and
even in our homes can influence psychological health.

Studies show that the occurrence of aggressive behavior, disturbance of sleep, constant
stress, fatigue, and hypertension can be linked to excessive noise levels. These, in turn, can cause
more severe and chronic health issues later in life.

3. Sleeping Disorders
While it may not seem like much at this point, excessively high levels of noise are likely
to hamper your sleeping pattern thereby leading to irritation and uncomfortable situations.

Without a good night’s sleep, you might experience multiple problems related to fatigue.
This will affect your performance in the office as well as at home. It is therefore recommended to
take a sound sleep to give your body proper rest.
 If a certain noise is disturbing your sleep, take an actionable measure to reduce it. While
in some instances, it is completely unavoidable; there are other instances (like noise from TV or
gadgets) that can be easily avoided by making good lifestyle changes.

4. Cardiovascular Issues
Blood pressure levels, cardiovascular disease, and stress-related heart problems are on the
rise.
Studies suggest that high-intensity noise causes high blood pressure and increases
heartbeat rate as it disrupts the normal blood flow.
Since bringing these rates to a manageable level depends on our understanding of noise
pollution- we need to be wary of the ill-effects and tackle these situations mindfully.

5. Trouble Communicating
High decibel noise can put trouble and affect free communication between people. This
may lead to misunderstanding and you may get difficult understanding the other person.
Constant sharp noise can give you a severe headache and disturb your emotional balance.

Land pollution is a major problem around the world and is caused by a variety of
factors. Some of main causes of soil pollution include deforestation and consequent erosion,
agriculture, industry, mining, landfills and illegal dumping of waste as well as urbanization and
construction.
Some of the potential consequences include birth defects, the development of breathing
disorders, skin diseases, and cancer. Most of these develop after exposure to waste from water
poisoning and soil contamination.

The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (Republic Act No. 9275) aims to protect the
country's water bodies from pollution from land-based sources (industries and commercial
establishments, agriculture and community/household activities). The Clean Water Act’s
primary objective is to restore and maintain the integrity of the nation’s waters. The objective
translates into two fundamental national goals: to eliminate the discharge of pollutants into the
nation’s waters, and to achieve water quality levels that are fishable and swimmable.

Pollution here, there, and everywhere

 Let me ask you, did you dare to care?
My friend, wake up and grow,
Our environment is in deep sorrow.

Plants provides humans oxygen,

They need us to water them often
But Deforestation for a new establishment
Bring tears to our environment

Stop coal mining, dynamite fishing and plastic burning

My friend, learn to walk instead of driving
Simple actions help Mother Nature
Let us all be mature in all manner

Throwing of garbage in a waste receptacle

Can make Mother Nature giggle
Observe water and energy conservation,
For it will be needed by the next generation