Environmental degradation is an increasingly pressing issue that affects us all. It is caused by a variety of factors, ranging from human activities to natural disasters, and its effects can be devastating. Many of these effects cause further degradation, which means that environmental degradation’s impact works in a downward cycle. Fortunately, there are solutions, and we can all work together to mitigate the impacts of environmental degradation. Plant With Purpose exists to help reverse this cycle and create a more sustainable future for communities all around our planet.

This farmer in Burundi cuts trees and makes charcoal to supplement his shrinking agricultural output. He understands the negative environmental impact, but continues in order to feed his family.

As we seek to address the causes and effects of environmental degradation, climate change is impossible to ignore. Around the world, climate change is already disrupting seasons’ natural rhythms and creating excalatingweather events such as extreme heat, drought, destructive storms, flooding, and more. This intense and increasingly unpredictable weather is worsening erosion and drastically changing landscapes. Floods carry away large amounts of sediment and deposit it elsewhere, leading to a loss of nutrients in the soil. On the other hand, droughts are leading to soil erosion through strong winds and lack of water. Both storms and droughts are especially damaging in rural, agricultural communities where the environment is a core source of income. 

Low income nations have contributed little to climate change, and consistently have the smallest amounts of emissions (in fact, farmers help to sequester carbon). However, these nations are often most vulnerable to climate change’s effects. As climate change continues to escalate we will see the result in farmers being unable to farm their ancestral lands, forcing some to become climate refugees in search of places where their families can get enough to eat. Environmental degradation at this scale doesn’t have to continue. If we understand these causes and effects, and work together to pursue sustainable solutions, we can create a sustainable future for both people and planet.

Causes

Poverty

Poverty is a major contributor to environmental degradation. About 85% percent of the world’s poor live in rural areas and rely on agriculture for their livelihood, so they understand more than most how important it is to protect the natural environment. But people living in poverty often experience hunger and food insecurity, and in desperation, they may over-exploit natural resources. For example, trees are frequently harvested to turn into charcoal, which can be sold for quick cash. Trees may also be cut down or burned so the land can be used as additional farmland. These processes lead to deforestation, air pollution, and additional unsustainable practices that harm the environment.

Poverty causes environmental degradation in other ways, as well. People living in poverty may not have access to education about environmental issues or the resources to invest in sustainable practices. Poverty also makes people more likely to engage in activities that are harmful to the environment, such as burning wood for fuel or dumping waste into rivers and streams. These activities have long-term negative impacts on the environment, including air and water pollution, soil erosion, and loss of biodiversity. As the environment is degraded over time, farming conditions get worse, and farmers are forced to continue over-exploiting the environment to make ends meet. Poverty and environmental degradation quickly become a vicious cycle.

Deforestation

Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests to make the land available for other uses. It is one of the leading causes of environmental degradation because it disrupts the water cycle, reduces biodiversity, and contributes to climate change. 

Trees play an important role in the water cycle because they absorb water from the ground and release it into the atmosphere. Without healthy trees to regulate water levels, the water cycle is disrupted and the surrounding area is more susceptible to droughts and floods. These natural disasters can be devastating for farming communities. Additionally, deforestation leads to soil erosion, desertification and other land degradation issues. 

Deforestation also has a negative impact on biodiversity. As trees are cut down, protected plant and animal species lose their natural habitat. Forests become smaller and more isolated which limits species’ movements, reduces genetic diversity, and makes animals more vulnerable to hunters and poachers.

Finally, deforestation causes environmental degradation by releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Over time, this incremental increase in carbon dioxide has a big impact on the natural environment by magnifying the other negative effects of deforestation.

Soil Damage

Soil damage is another cause of environmental degradation because healthy soil is critical for a healthy environment. The soil supports the health of native plants and local farms, and it plays an important role in regulating air and water quality. Healthy soil can even mitigate the effects of droughts and floods, especially in an area with steep slopes. When soil is damaged, the environment is more susceptible to extreme weather events.

Soil damage also contributes to environmental degradation in several other ways. It can lead to increased air and water pollution, as the dust particles are carried away by wind and deposited in other areas. Soil erosion can also lead to decreased biodiversity, reducing the amount of natural habitat available for plants and animals. All of these effects of soil erosion have serious environmental consequences and should be considered when developing land management strategies.

Local farmers rest from heavy work clearing fire breaks, reducing the risk of bushfires that can devastate farms and communities. Bushfire rates are increasing due to climate change.

Effects

There are many things that serve as both causes and effects of environmental degradation. This is in part because unsustainable environmental practices may help us make ends meet in the short term, but they have long term harmful effects on our natural environment. In this way, environmental degradation can feel like a very difficult cycle to break out of.

Poverty

In many rural areas, people rely on agriculture and the environment for their livelihood. As the environment is degraded, agriculture becomes a much less sustainable source of income for these families. And yet, many farmers turn to strategies like deforestation, overgrazing, and pollution to make ends meet – even though these strategies all contribute to environmental degradation and can lead to decreased crop yields and water shortages. Overconsuming from the environment in this way leads to poverty, because it leaves people unable to produce enough food to feed their families in the long term. This cyclical relationship between poverty and the environment reflects the severity of our environmental crisis.

Chanceline, a rural farmer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, describes this cycle like this: “I was exclusively dependent on agriculture to support my family… Relying only on agriculture hindered my development. I also dreamed of starting some commerce, but I never had the financial resources to get started with my dream.”

As extreme weather events damage crops and reduce crop yields across Eastern Africa, people like Chanceline have struggled to produce enough food to feed their families. As farming becomes less reliable, diversifying income sources is increasingly important for rural families.

Deforestation

As environmental degradation worsens poverty, it drives people towards overharvesting of resources, namely, trees. When the environment is degraded, people are more likely to deforest an area to access the fertile forest soil for agricultural and other uses. Trees may be cut down to sell the wood, create charcoal, or turn forests into additional farmland. Deforestation also occurs when land is cleared for agricultural or industrial purposes or when forests are burned to create space for urban development. All of these activities lead to a decrease in the amount of forested land available, which can have a devastating impact on the environment.

Soil Damage

Soil damage is another effect of environmental degradation. Climate change causes unpredictable weather, which makes the soil compacted, increases the soil density and reduces the amount of air and water that can be held in the soil. Over time, this weather, combined with steep terrain, leads to erosion, which removes valuable topsoil and reduces the soil’s fertility. As the environment is degraded, the soil salinity increases, limiting plants’ ability to absorb water and nutrients. Soil damage can also be caused by human activity like overgrazing and deforestation. 

Over time soil erosion has serious environmental consequences, like a decrease in soil fertility, increased sedimentation in waterways, and an increased risk of flooding. In addition, soil erosion means loss of topsoil and essential vitamins and minerals, which are essential for plant growth and food production. 

Further Vulnerability

When people living in rural areas experience environmental degradation and increasing poverty, they often resort to desperate measures to make ends meet. Many times, children are taken out of school to work on their farm, or may be sold as child brides. Young girls are disproportionately likely to experience this, contributing to the education gap between men and women in rural areas. When the environment suffers, gender equality and education suffer as well.

Some people resort to migration, either to more urban areas or other countries, in search of sufficient work opportunities. Other people migrate because environmental degradation has made their homes unsafe. When temperatures increase, and flooding and droughts become more common, farming can be an unreliable source of income or even destroy neighborhoods and farmlands. The world is seeing an increase in climate refugees – people who are displaced from their homes because of climate-related events like floods and other natural disasters. Unfortunately, traveling to a new home can be dangerous, and displaced rural people in new cities or countries are especially vulnerable to exploitation. Environmental degradation is a significant contributor to human trafficking and violent activity.

Solutions

Challenges like poverty, deforestation, and soil damage are both causes and effects of environmental degradation. This means that when one of these causes grows out of control, it sets off the other causes, and they all grow more severe. For example, climate change may trigger higher rates of soil erosion and drive rural farmers deeper into poverty. Then the farmers turn to unsustainable agricultural practices to provide for their families, the soil is eroded even further, and the impact of climate change is exacerbated. The relationship between these causes and effects can lead to a very difficult life for someone living in a rural area that has been degraded. 

These farmers practice agroforestry, or planting trees among crops. Agroforestry is a way to increase soil health and reduce erosion, resulting in higher crop yields.

Anicet in Burundi explains how his struggle with poverty was related to famine and food insecurity: “Before, we were living in extreme poverty and a state of panic because we could not find enough food. There were years when we only ate once a day,” he shares.

But what is Anciet supposed to do when the few available opportunities to earn cash threaten to fan the flames of environmental degradation? This is the problem Plant With Purpose helps solve.

Solutions to poverty, climate change, and environmental degradation exist. When these solutions are applied holistically, they can turn cycles of poverty into cycles of abundance.

Regenerative Farming

Regenerative farming is an agricultural practice that integrates methods like cover crops and crop rotation to restore the health of the soil and reverse environmental damage. Regenerative farming is a great solution to environmental degradation because it improves and strengthens the fertility, structure, and organic matter in the soil. With more effective agricultural practices, farmers can reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, promoting healthier microbial activity in the soil. Regenerative farming also improves water retention and reduces water runoff, which helps reduce soil erosion and improve water quality.

In addition to improving soil health, regenerative farming also restores biodiversity by increasing the number of beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife. This helps to create a more balanced ecosystem that can better resist pests and diseases. By reducing the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, regenerative farming creates a safer environment for local wildlife and helps protect waterways from contamination.

Finally, regenerative agriculture increases farmer crop yields, which alleviates poverty and prevents farmers from turning to unsustainable agricultural practices in the future.

As poverty is reduced, so too are the demands that it places on an ecosystem.

Tree Planting

Planting trees is another effective way to prevent environmental degradation because trees are one of the most powerful natural defenses against environmental stress. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and other pollutants from the air, helping to reduce air pollution. They also provide shade and shelter, helping to reduce the urban heat island effect by cooling urban areas. Tree roots help reduce soil erosion by stabilizing the soil, conserve water by reducing runoff, and provide a natural filter for water that passes through the soil. In flood-prone areas, trees can be great natural barriers that protect communities from excess water. Finally, trees provide a habitat for local wildlife and help to maintain biodiversity. Planting trees is a simple and effective way to help protect the environment from degradation.

Savings & Loan Opportunities

Savings and loan opportunities can be an effective tool in preventing environmental degradation. At Plant With Purpose, these opportunities take the shape of Purpose Groups – a self-governed group of farmers who work together to save money and make investments in their farms and communities. According to our latest impact study, participants in our programs have 225% more savings than their peers. These savings provide farmers with access to capital for projects that promote sustainability, or simply provide families with a non-destructive means to grow financially and overcome poverty. With more savings, people in rural communities have the means and margin to conserve and restore natural resources, such as forests and wetlands. 

Spiritual Renewal

Spiritual renewal is a powerful tool for preventing environmental degradation. A restored relationship with the Creator helps us recognize our interdependence with the rest of creation. This recognition helps us develop a sense of responsibility for the environment and a desire to protect it. Spiritual renewal can also lead to stewardship: more mindful consumption, greater respect for the environment, and more sustainable practices. Additionally, spiritual renewal inspires us to take action to protect the environment, such as engaging in conservation efforts, reducing waste, and advocating for environmental policies.

While a variety of solutions for environmental degradation exist, it’s important to implement them holistically. One of these solutions alone, without the integration of other activities, is likely insufficient to reverse environmental degradation. For this reason, Plant With Purpose establishes Purpose Groups in rural communities. These Purpose Groups are platforms that serve as farmer field schools, savings and loan groups, and spiritual communities. Participants in our programs are equipped with the agricultural, economic, and spiritual tools they need to transform the environment in their communities. 

“I am convinced that this new venture will make it easier for me to save even more money in the near future. I want to apply that towards growing my business,” explains Chanceline, exemplifying how her savings and investments create a cycle of abundance. “The Purpose Group curriculum has helped me learn to make contour canals fixed with grasses and shrubs. I have also planted agroforestry and indigenous trees and used mulching and organic fertilizer combined with Mucuna green manure to improve the health of our farm.”

Stories like Chanceline’s are evidence that when we invest in the right holistic solutions, we can have a long-lasting impact on lives and environments around the world. Protecting the environment is not a lost cause. Instead, we can turn the cycle of poverty and environmental degradation into a cycle of abundance. 

Last Updated: January 2025

UPDATE: Read Environmental Degradation Part Two where we talk about Eight Ways to Invest in People and Planet for the Next Generation