ENVIRONMENTALISSUES.pptVIP

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Summary of Environmental Issues Along with the country in general, Alabama’s physical environment improved after 1970, due to urban migration, less chemicals on the farm and forest, better technology , and the Clean Air and Water Acts. Alabama actually has a pretty good physical environment, largely because it is still largely rural (if not agricultural). Alabama has some problems left over from the past. Alabama has some problems in its urban areas. Alabama has many concerned groups monitoring the environment and helping maintain quality. Summary of Environmental Issues, cont. Aside from state actions, land in Alabama is conserved in these ways: Private foundations and trusts Farmers finding alternatives uses including agro-tourism and rural expensive, extensive housing Sports, particularly large hunting tracts The perception that Alabama has a poor environment partly comes from the notion that the general quality of life in the South is poor, and thus the misconception that the physical environment must be poor too. This material may be found on the website. Indicators of Good Physical Environment This space is reserved for a summary of environmental indicators, if useful. I think this summary would create a diversion, and not be useful. Also, I would have to collect the data. However, that is not a hard task and I’d be happy to work on it. Environmental Problems from the Past Old mining and manufacturing scars in the north, especially around Montgomery. Chemicals and radioactive agents from the defense industry. Lakes, ponds, and streams that had been polluted or that had undergone eutrophication, and have not recovered. Poorly planned water supplies and sewage systems for urban areas of all sizes. Alabama’s physical environmental is fragile due to the climate and soil. Some (national) forested areas had been logged off or overused, and have never properly recovered. Present Environmental Issues Alabama gets cheap electric