Environmental damage and consequences

Abstract

The atoll environment, in general, is a relatively restricted ecosystem where the impact of interference of man and nature will manifest conspicuously within a short time. The habitat is fragile, diverse and easily vulnerable and the effects of adverse factors on such systems are often of very serious consequences. Almost ail inhabited atolls of the world today are facing environmental stress both in the terrestrial and aquatic habitats. The post Worldwar II activities on the Indo-Pacific atolls, such as active settlement, extensive cultivation of crops, military establishments, atomic tests, oil exploitation, pollutions of various kinds, over exploitation of resources, wanton destruction of fauna and flora, introduction of exotic plants and animals, dredging and construction activities among the man made factors; cyclones, sea erosion, El-Nino, pests and predators coupled with natural senescence of corals among the natural factors are the major agents that have effected notable changes in the physiography, morphology and biotic communities of the atolls all over the world. Lack of large buffer zones around oceanic islands is a major impediment in the replenishment of the fauna, if subjected to depletion due to causes either natural or man made.