Environmental issues In 1 edition of 36.

• large areas of the world are subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters, pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of biodiversity;
• soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion;
• ozone layer depletion;
• waste disposal;
• temperature change

• air pollution in major cities;
• soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices;
• desertification;
• river and coastal pollution from dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents;
• pollution in Mediterranean Sea from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff;
• inadequate potable water

• overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion;
• desertification;
• deforestation of tropical rainforest from international demand for timber and domestic use as fuel;
• loss of biodiversity;
• soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams;
• inadequate supplies of potable water

• inadequate supplies of potable water;
• water pollution;
• poaching;
• deforestation;
• desertification;
• droughts

• overgrazing;
• desertification;
• limited freshwater resources;
• air pollution

• droughts; desertification; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation (2019)

• soil erosion from overgrazing and agricultural expansion;
• deforestation;
• wildlife habitat loss

• deforestation due to demand for firewood;
• water shortages;
• droughts;
• desertification;
• soil erosion;
• illegal beach sand extraction;
• overfishing

• deforestation;
• overgrazing;
• soil erosion;
• desertification;
• poaching;
• overfishing;
• overhunting

• water pollution;
• tap water not potable;
• poaching;
• wildlife mismanagement;
• desertification;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion

• inadequate supplies of potable water;
• soil and water pollution from improper waste disposal in rural areas and poor farming practices;
• desertification

• deforestation;
• soil degradation and erosion from forest loss and crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing;
• silting of coral reefs

• poaching;
• water pollution;
• deforestation from agriculture and wood used for fuel;
• soil erosion;
• damage from mining

• air pollution from vehicle emissions;
• water pollution from raw sewage;
• tap water not potable;
• deforestation;
• wildlife protection

deforestation; water pollution from sewage and from industrial, mining, and agricultural effluents

• inadequate supplies of potable water;
• water pollution;
• limited arable land;
• deforestation (forests threatened by agriculture and the use of wood for fuel);
• desertification;
• endangered species

• rapid growth in population straining natural resources;
• increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam;
• desertification;
• oil pollution in coastal ecosystems;
• water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents;
• limited natural freshwater resources away from the Nile

• deforestation (agricultural expansion, fires, and grazing);
• desertification;
• water pollution;
• tap water non-potable;
• wildlife preservation

• deforestation;
• desertification;
• soil erosion;
• overgrazing

• limited supplies of potable water;
• overhunting depleting wildlife;
• population growth, deforestation, and overgrazing lead to soil erosion and soil degradation

• deforestation;
• overgrazing;
• soil erosion;
• desertification;
• loss of biodiversity;
• water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management;
• industrial pollution and pesticides contribute to air, water, and soil pollution

• deforestation from logging;
• solid-waste disposal;
• water pollution from oil industry;
• wildlife poaching

• deforestation due to slash-and-burn agriculture;
• desertification;
• water pollution;
• water-borne diseases

• drought in north;
• deforestation;
• overgrazing;
• soil erosion;
• poaching and habitat destruction;
• water pollution;
• inadequate potable water

• deforestation;
• inadequate potable water;
• desertification;
• soil contamination and erosion;
• overfishing, overpopulation in forest region;
• poor mining practices;
• water pollution;
• improper waste disposal

• deforestation (overharvesting of trees for timber and agricultural purposes);
• soil erosion;
• overgrazing;
• overfishing

• water pollution from urban and industrial wastes and from use of pesticides and fertilizers;
• flooding;
• water-hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• desertification;
• poaching

• overgrazing;
• severe soil erosion;
• soil exhaustion;
• desertification;
• Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa

• tropical rainforest deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• loss of biodiversity;
• hunting of endangered species for bushmeat;
• pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage;
• pollution of rivers from industrial run-off;
• burning and dumping of household waste

• desertification;
• limited natural freshwater resources;
• water pollution;
• threats to coastal ecosystem from sewage, oil byproducts, and industrial waste

• erosion and soil degradation from deforestation and overgrazing;
• desertification;
• agricultural fires;
• water pollution from raw sewage and other organic wastes;
• wildlife preservation

• deforestation;
• land degradation;
• water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes;
• siltation of fish spawning grounds;
• high temperatures and changing precipitation patterns

• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• desertification;
• loss of pasture land;
• inadequate supplies of potable water

• desertification caused in part by overgrazing, deforestation, and drought-aggravated soil erosion;
• limited natural freshwater resources;
• locust infestation

• water pollution, degradation of coral reefs;
• soil erosion;
• wildlife preservation;
• solid-waste disposal

in the north:

• land degradation and desertification, with soil erosion from farming, overgrazing, and vegetation removal;
• water and soil pollution from industrial-waste dumping;
• in the south: desertification;
• overgrazing;
• sparse water

note: data does not include former Western Sahara

• increased population migration to urban and coastal areas;
• desertification;
• soil erosion;
• deforestation;
• water pollution from artisanal mining;
• pollution of surface and coastal waters;
• wildlife preservation (elephant poaching for ivory)

• depletion and degradation of water and aquatic resources;
• desertification;
• land degradation;
• loss of biodiversity;
• wildlife poaching

• overgrazing;
• soil erosion;
• deforestation;
• desertification;
• contaminated water;
• inadequate potable water;
• wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened by poaching and habitat destruction

• urban air and water pollution;
• rapid deforestation;
• soil degradation;
• loss of arable land;
• water, air, and soil pollution from oil spills

• deforestation;
• overgrazing;
• land degradation;
• soil erosion;
• a decline in soil fertility (soil exhaustion);
• wetland degradation and loss of biodiversity;
• widespread poaching

development threatens wildlife on Saint Helena

• deforestation and illegal logging;
• soil erosion and exhaustion;
• inadequate sewage treatment in cities;
• biodiversity

• deforestation;
• overgrazing;
• soil erosion;
• desertification;
• droughts;
• seasonal flooding;
• overfishing;
• weak environmental laws;
• poaching

• limited freshwater resources;
• water pollution;
• biodiversity

• overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture resulting in deforestation, soil exhaustion, and flooding;
• loss of biodiversity;
• air pollution;
• water pollution;
• overfishing

• water scarcity;
• contaminated water;
• improper waste disposal;
• deforestation;
• land degradation;
• overgrazing;
• soil erosion;
• desertification

• limited freshwater resources due to lack of major rivers or lakes;
• pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban waste;
• air pollution resulting in acid rain;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• land degradation;
• desertification;
• solid waste pollution;
• significant floral extinctions

• water pollution;
• inadequate supplies of potable water;
• wildlife conservation and loss of biodiversity;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• desertification;
• drought

• water pollution;
• inadequate supplies of potable water;
• water scarcity and drought;
• overhunting;
• soil erosion;
• desertification;
• deforestation;
• loss of biodiversity

• water pollution;
• improper management of liquid waste;
• indoor air pollution from burning wood or charcoal for cooking and heating;
• soil degradation;
• deforestation;
• desertification;
• coral reef destruction;
• illegal hunting and animal trade, especially ivory;
• loss of biodiversity;
• solid waste disposal

• deforestation from slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel;
• very little rainforest still present and what remains is highly degraded;
• desertification;
• water pollution;
• air pollution in urban areas

• toxic and hazardous waste disposal;
• water pollution from raw sewage;
• limited freshwater resources;
• deforestation;
• overgrazing;
• soil erosion;
• desertification

• draining of wetlands for agricultural use;
• deforestation;
• overgrazing;
• soil erosion;
• water pollution from industrial discharge and water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria;
• widespread poaching

• air pollution and acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region;
• chemical runoff into watersheds;
• loss of biodiversity;
• poaching;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• desertification;
• lack of adequate water treatment

• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• land degradation;
• air and water pollution;
• poaching;
• toxic waste and heavy metal pollution from mining

size of ozone hole over continent; ice loss

problems from introduction of foreign species on Iles Crozet; overfishing of Patagonian toothfish around Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen

damage to native wildlife from imported animals

changes in sea levels and other disruptions in the Arctic environment

water pollution from fertilizer runoff

pollutants transported from southerly latitudes by winds and ocean currents

• limited natural freshwater resources;
• inadequate potable water;
• soil degradation;
• overgrazing;
• deforestation (cut down for fuel and building materials);
• desertification;
• air and water pollution in urban areas

• soil pollution from toxic chemicals;
• deforestation;
• river pollution;
• threats to drinking water supplies from use of hydropower;
• nuclear power plant located in earthquake zone

• severe air, soil, and water pollution;
• soil pollution from oil spills, pesticides, and toxic defoliants used in producing cotton;
• surface and underground water pollution from untreated municipal and industrial wastewater and agricultural run-off

• flooding;
• water pollution, especially of fishing areas, from the use of commercial pesticides;
• groundwater pollution from naturally occurring arsenic;
• falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country;
• soil degradation and erosion;
• deforestation;
• destruction of wetlands;
• severe overpopulation with noise pollution

• soil erosion;
• limited access to potable water;
• wildlife conservation;
• industrial pollution;
• waste disposal

wastewater discharge into the lagoon on Diego Garcia

• air pollution and acid rain from reliance on coal;
• carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels;
• water shortages, particularly in the north;
• water pollution from untreated wastes;
• coastal destruction due to land reclamation, industrial development, and aquaculture;
• deforestation and habitat destruction;
• poor land management leading to soil erosion, landslides, floods, droughts, dust storms, and desertification;
• trade in endangered species

• air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi;
• heavy water pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea;
• inadequate supplies of potable water;
• soil pollution from toxic chemicals;
• land and forest degradation;
• biodiversity loss;
• waste management

• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• overgrazing;
• desertification;
• air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions;
• water pollution from raw sewage and agricultural pesticides;
• tap water not potable;
• growing population overstraining natural resources;
• biodiversity loss

• air pollution from power plants results in acid rain;
• acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality;
• waste management issues;
• ongoing environmental clean-up in small area of Fukushima after nuclear accident in 2011

• radioactive or toxic chemical sites from former defense industries;
• severe industrial pollution in some cities;
• air and soil pollution (including dust storms) from chemical pesticides and natural salts left after two rivers were diverted;
• soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals;
• salination from infrastructure and irrigation practices;
• water pollution;
• desertification

• water pollution;
• inadequate potable water;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion and degradation

• air pollution in large cities;
• acid rain;
• water pollution from sewage and industrial effluents;
• drift-net fishing;
• solid waste disposal;
• transboundary air pollution from China

• water pollution;
• increasing soil salinity from irrigation practices;
• air pollution due to vehicle traffic

• rising sea levels;
• depletion of freshwater aquifers;
• inadequate sewage treatment;
• coral reef bleaching

• limited natural freshwater resources in some areas;
• air pollution from coal-burning power plants and lax regulations in Ulaanbaatar;
• soil erosion from deforestation and overgrazing;
• water pollution;
• desertification;
• effects from mining

• deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives);
• forest degradation;
• soil erosion;
• contaminated water from human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents;
• unmanaged solid waste;
• wildlife conservation;
• air pollution from vehicular emissions

• water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff;
• limited natural freshwater resources;
• most of the population does not have access to potable water;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• desertification;
• air pollution and noise pollution in urban areas

• air pollution from heavy industry, coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities;
• industrial, municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• soil contamination from agricultural chemicals;
• nuclear waste disposal;
• scattered areas of radioactive contamination;
• groundwater contamination from toxic waste;
• urban solid-waste management;
• abandoned stocks of pesticides

• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• poaching;
• effects of urbanization;
• coastal degradation from mining activities and pollution;
• coral reef destruction;
• freshwater resources polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff;
• waste disposal;
• air pollution in Colombo

• air pollution from motor vehicles and industry;
• water pollution from agricultural runoff and untreated industrial waste and sewage;
• poor management of water resources;
• soil erosion;
• increasing levels of soil salinity

• soil and groundwater pollution from agricultural chemicals and pesticides;
• salination, waterlogging of soil due to poor irrigation methods;
• Caspian Sea pollution;
• river diversion for irrigation;
• soil erosion;
• desertification

• growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts in the shrinking Aral Sea;
• desertification;
• water pollution and soil salination from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides;
• soil contamination from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals

inadequate potable water

limited natural freshwater resources; water management hampered by tree-clearing to increase crop production, causing rapid rainfall runoff

• difficulty in properly disposing waste from tourists;
• air pollution from waste-burning;
• water pollution from plastics

coral reef decay; solid waste disposal

• pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships;
• soil erosion;
• illegal solid-waste disposal

• deforestation;
• water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff;
• inability to properly dispose of solid waste

• limited natural freshwater resources;
• water pollution from sewage and mining/industry waste;
• coral reef preservation

• no natural freshwater resources;
• trash washing up or being deposited on beaches;
• no recycling or waste-treatment facilities;
• deforestation

• deforestation, largely from clearing land for cattle ranching and agriculture;
• soil erosion;
• coastal marine pollution;
• fisheries protection;
• solid waste management;
• air pollution

• soil degradation and desertification (brought on by poor farming techniques and natural disasters);
• biodiversity loss;
• deforestation;
• air and water pollution

• waste management, including pollution of marine areas from domestic sewage, inadequate sewage treatment facilities, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, mismanagement of toxic substances, and ineffective regulations;
• damage from neglect and a lack of controls at major refinery

• pollution from agrochemicals and from untreated sewage;
• forests endangered by the expansion of farming;
• soil erosion;
• pollution of the coastal zone from agricultural/industrial chemicals and untreated sewage

soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation

• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• water pollution;
• contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes

• deforestation causing habitat and species loss;
• coastal erosion and contamination;
• pollution and sedimentation;
• inadequate solid waste management

• deforestation in the Peten rainforest;
• soil erosion;
• water pollution

• deforestation (trees cleared for agriculture and used as fuel);
• soil erosion;
• inadequate potable water and lack of sanitation;
• natural disasters

• deforestation from logging and agricultural clearing;
• land degradation and soil erosion from overdevelopment and improper land use practices;
• mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water) and other rivers and streams

• heavy rates of deforestation;
• coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills;
• damage to coral reefs;
• air pollution in Kingston from vehicle emissions;
• land erosion

land erosion on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation

some coral bleaching

• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• water pollution;
• drought

• water pollution from agricultural runoff;
• deforestation of tropical rainforest;
• land degradation and soil erosion in Panama Canal;
• air pollution in urban areas;
• effects of mining

• soil erosion;
• occasional droughts cause water shortages;
• industrial pollution

• land-based pollution;
• urbanization;
• limited freshwater resources;
• overfishing

• deforestation;
• soil erosion and silting affects marine life on coral reefs;
• water pollution from uncontrolled dumping of sewage

deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region

• waste management;
• salinity intrusions;
• limited freshwater resources;
• over-exploitation of marine resources (reef fisheries, coral, and shell);
• water pollution and damage to coral reefs from boats

• pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from boats;
• poor land-use planning;
• deforestation;
• watershed management;
• squatter settlement control

• scarcity of potable water;
• inadequate solid waste management;
• pollution from construction, chemical runoff, and sewage

• water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage;
• widespread pollution of waterways and coastal areas;
• illegal dumping;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• fisheries and wildlife depletion

limited natural freshwater resources

• lack of natural freshwater resources;
• protection of coral reefs;
• solid waste management;
• coastal development;
• increased boating and overfishing

• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents;
• air pollution from industrial and power plants;
• loss of biodiversity

• deforestation;
• soil erosion from overgrazing;
• air pollution;
• wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal

• some forest degradation from air and soil pollution;
• soil pollution from agricultural chemicals;
• air pollution from coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants, and from trucks transiting Austria;
• water pollution

soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine

• urbanization;
• possible risks from industry and intensive farming;
• air and water pollution

• air pollution;
• deforestation and illegal logging;
• inadequate wastewater treatment and flood management facilities;
• urban waste disposal;
• uncleared land mines from the 1990s

• air pollution from industrial emissions;
• rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents;
• deforestation;
• forest damage from air pollution and acid rain;
• soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes

air pollution in urban areas, as well as emissions from neighboring countries; surface water pollution in the Danube River Basin

• air and water pollution (including acid rain) in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava;
• pollution from industry, mining, and agriculture

• air pollution, principally from vehicle and power-plant emissions;
• nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea;
• water pollution from animal wastes and pesticides

air pollution from sulfur dioxide from oil-shale-burning power plants; coastal seawater pollution

various forms of air, soil, and water pollution; see individual country entries

• coastal erosion,
• landslides and rockfalls,
• flash flooding,
• wind storms;
• oil spills

• limited air pollution in urban centers;
• some water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals;
• habitat loss threatens wildlife populations

air pollution and acid rain from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff

• air pollution and acid rain from coal-burning utilities and industries;
• water pollution from raw sewage and industrial effluents;
• hazardous waste disposal

limited natural freshwater resources

• air pollution;
• air emissions from transport and electricity power stations;
• water pollution;
• degradation of coastal zones;
• loss of biodiversity;
• municipal and industrial waste disposal

coastal erosion, coastal flooding; declining biodiversity

some air pollution from the surrounding city of Rome

air and soil pollution; water pollution from industry and large-scale agriculture

• water pollution,
• especially of lakes,
• from agricultural runoff;
• deforestation,
• including problems with acid rain

air pollution, marine pollution; waste disposal (both household and industrial)

• air pollution from industrial emissions;
• water pollution from industrial and agricultural effluents, as well as acid rain;
• inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities

• habitat and species loss;
• water pollution;
• improper solid-waste disposal

• air pollution from power plants and lignite mines;
• water scarcity and pollution;
• land degradation

some soil, water, and air pollution

some air pollution generated locally, some carried over from surrounding countries

• water pollution;
• air pollution;
• deforestation;
• groundwater pollution from chemicals and waste;
• soil degradation and erosion

air and water pollution in urban areas; soil pollution of farmland

• limited natural freshwater resources;
• deforestation;
• wildlife preservation

soil and water pollution from heavy use of agricultural chemicals; extensive soil erosion and declining soil fertility from farming methods

pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets; serious air pollution in some cities from lignite power plants and household use of coal and wood for heating

water pollution, including industrial and agricultural chemicals in rivers; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities

air pollution from metallurgical plants, smoke from wood-burning stoves, and vehicle emissions

• water pollution;
• acid rain damaging forests and affecting lakes and fish stocks;
• air pollution from vehicle emissions

• air pollution (despite environmental policy improvements) because of coal-burning in homes and power plants;
• acid rain leading to forest damage;
• water pollution from industrial and municipal sources;
• disposal of hazardous wastes

• soil erosion;
• air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions;
• water pollution, especially in urban centers and coastal areas

• soil erosion, degradation, and desertification;
• water pollution;
• air pollution in south from industrial effluents;
• contamination of Danube delta wetlands

• air pollution;
• urbanization decreasing rural farmlands;
• water shortage

• air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities;
• water pollution from industrial wastes in rivers;
• inadequate management of domestic, industrial, and hazardous waste

• air pollution and acid rain;
• land erosion from agricultural and mining practices;
• water pollution