An ecosystem is all the living things in a given area. This includes animals, trees and organisms. Human impact has been one of the ways in which the Ecosystem of South East Asia has been worst affected. Trees are one of the major parts of the ecosystem that has been worst affected. In South East Asia, logging has been one of the main economic activities. As a result, deforestation (Hobbs, 250) has contributed quite significantly to the destruction of the ecosystem. In most cases, the destruction of one part of the ecosystem in turn leads to a domino-like effect in which other parts are also affected. A good example of this is the deforestation that occurs in the slopes of the Himalaya causes the soil to erode to the Ganges River (South East Rainforests, 1). This affects the life of the fish, another part of the ecosystem, negatively.
The domino effect created by deforestation and soil erosion creates areas where floods can occur. This affects the ecosystem negatively since the ecosystem consists of even the smallest organisms some of which live within layers of the soil. Agriculture is another way in which people have made changes to the environment that in turn has affected agriculture (Hobbs, 219). The negative effects to the environment appear in the way of logging to make space for agriculture and burning of vegetation for cultivation especially the shift and burn cultivation (Hobbs, 219).
As if to prove that human nature has negatively affected the environment, areas that are characterized by lack of human activity are also characterized by the thriving ecosystems. For instance, the demilitarized zone also known as the DMZ is one of the areas where rare and exotic birds have chosen to nest (Hobbs, 274). The changes were beneficial to the region in that it is creating employment and a source of livelihood to the people of the region. An example of this is growing rice in the basins of China (Hobbs, 220).
Changes made to the environment in South East Asia were made with good intentions but they backfired on them. For example, the method of cultivation known as clear and burn (Hobbs, 219) adopted by people in china provinces were implemented for maximum agricultural benefit but they in turn ended up destroying the ecosystem. Another project that change the environment for the worse is the Three Gorges River, this project necessitated the destruction of the ecosystem. Water had to be diverted into the canals in the huge mountains of the Himalayas. The engineers used explosives in order to save time (Hobbs, 266). The use of explosives inevitably destroyed the trees and microscopic organisms. The project was important and beneficial to the people of the region since it now serves many people with water, but in so doing damage was done to the ecosystem.
There is a clear connection between the ecosystem and the political and institutional futures of South East Asia. Changes in the ecosystem have necessitated policies in both the politics and the industries which benefit the people of the region. Politically, changes have been made to regulate the encroachment of the people on the environment (Hobbs, 256). For example, excessive fishing needs to be controlled. The bodies that control these activities are mandated by the government.
Deforestation has been a major issue in countries in South East Asia. In countries such as Indonesia the rate of logging is alarming (South East Rainforests, 1). This has made the government make changes that regulate the rate of deforestation and implement ways in which rehabilitation can be implemented (Hobbs, 276).
In the institutions, changes are being made with accordance to the changes in the ecosystems (Hobbs, 276). In educational institutions like universities, programs have been made so that the students coming from the schools can cater for the environment. Students are learning how to rehabilitate the environment with programs like reforestation techniques and introducing new species of fish where they are diminished (Hobbs, 277).
Institutions have also come up with ways in which the students come up with ways to improve the lives of the members of the society. Agricultural courses are being taught in schools so that students can learn a better way of cultivation that at the very least does not hurt the environment (Hobbs, 276).The ecosystem includes every living thing in the region; this includes human beings. This means that it is necessary that a man must take all precautions in order to take care of the environment. The governments of South and East Asian countries must ensure that the people have alternative livelihoods that are not dependent on harming the ecosystems.
In conclusion, the ecosystem of South and East Asia is of uttermost importance to the inhabitants of the area. It is the responsibility of the people of the area to take care of their natural surroundings so that in turn the environment can take care of them. Since it is vital for the inhabitants of the area to utilize the environment for their benefit, they must ensure that they restore what they have destroyed. As such the governing bodies in the countries of South and, East Asia must ensure that they put measures in place that regulate the exploitation of the ecosystem and restores the areas that have been destroyed in the past.
References
Hobbs, J. (2010). : Fundamentals of World Regional Geography. California: Brooks/Cole.
Jernelov, A. (n.d.). The Environmental Effect of Tsunamis. Project Syndicate RSS. Retrieved October 20, 2014, from http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/the-environmental-effect-of-tsunamis
Southeast Asian Rainforests. (n.d.). Southeast Asian Rainforests. Retrieved October 20, 2014, from http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/se_asian_rnfrst.htm
