We are extinguishing the earth's biodiversity, degrading most ecosystems

Swazis must be keen to set aside their cultural norms by which they presently live if global warming prevention is important to them. They must accept that they and everyone they know must sooner or later learn to live on a fraction of the energy they currently consume.
But most importantly, they can raise consciousness of global warming right now so that others can make a difference, too. As a country, we need to make these changes swiftly if we are to avoid a climate catastrophe. We are extinguishing the Earth's biodiversity and degrading most ecosystems, creating a bleak future for ourselves.
The earth is large, but finite.
The result of the enormous human population and the environmental impact of our current way of life is tremendous, and cannot be ignored. But we can help stop global warming.
Let me invite you to follow me as we discuss the environmental problems that play a major role in the delay of development in Swaziland. Swaziland suffers from many environmental problems including deforestation, degradation and fragmentation, desertification, loss of soil fertility, a dramatic decline and loss of biodiversity, air pollution, and water pollution.
These problems hinder our country from making progress with regard to economic development and full achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Due to the fact that these issues are not fully understood, many Swazis have been delayed in solving these problems.
Deforestation
Deforestation is “the clearing and destruction of forests to harvest wood for consumption, clear land for agricultural uses, and make way for expanding settlement frontiers” (DeBlij, et al. 2007). Given the extensive loss of forest in recent years, Swaziland Government has always been trying to address the problem. The planting a tree strategy was initiated in the country even though it was not strengthened.
Degradation and Fragmentation
Degradation is “the temporary or permanent deterioration in the density or structure of vegetation cover or species composition, resulting from the removal of plants and trees important in the life cycle of other species, from erosion, and from other adverse changes in the local environment” (Mabogunje, 1995). Degradation is caused by selective logging and by not replanting artificial or regenerating natural forests.
Desertification
Desertification is “the encroachment of desert conditions on moister zones along the desert margins, where plant cover and soils are threatened by desiccation- through overuse, in part by humans and their domestic animals, and, possibly, in part because of inexorable shifts in the central government” (DeBlij, et, al. 2007). The main causes of desertification are human activities and changes in climate.

Loss of Soil Fertility
According to the Forest Development Institute (IDF), the non-stop burning of forests, mostly by people trying to clear land for hunting, is hurting the fertility of soils in some parts of Swaziland.  Many people in rural areas purposefully burn the dry grasses in fields used for planting, but some of these fires are also set by people not thinking while tossing burning cigarettes into the dry grass.

Dramatic Decline and Loss of Biodiversity
Biodiversity is “the total variety of plant and animal species in a particular place; also known as biological diversity” (DeBlij, et, al. 2007). During mining, tons of the earth’s land is scooped up in order to get to the minerals. This process causes the land to lose its biodiversity. The problems also can be found in water sources. Because of the use of toxic chemicals by several mining companies, the bodies of water that provide thousands of Swazis with drinking water which are being destroyed.
Insufficient actions to guard against deforestation, land devastation and the release of toxic materials into water bodies and the environment from mining are leading to the extermination of some species of plants and animals. Plant life is destroyed, streams are polluted with hazardous chemicals or are destroyed, and animals have to leave their natural habitat to safe areas.
Air Pollution
Swaziland is one of the least urbanised countries even though urbanisation is observed to be growing very rapid in other countries. With this growth comes pollution. Poverty-stricken citizens in a country, particularly in the urban population, are most negatively impacted by poor air, water and land quality. The causes of air pollution are multiple. Because many households are using charcoal or wood for energy, which gives rise to the production of carbon dioxide.  The people that live in Swaziland are exposed to indoor and outdoor air pollution that can cause many different health problems. The indoor pollution partly comes from the increased use of wood and charcoal in cooking.
Water Pollution
A big cause of the pollution of water in Swaziland is that we have not totally worked on waste disposal and homestead settlement. Swaziland is paying for allowing people to construct homesteads near rivers and allow them to dispose their refuse into the rivers. Access to water that is clean is a problem in the country. Water is polluted mostly by human waste. Diseases like typhoid, cholera, and diarrhoea come from contaminated water. Water pollution is the reason for many infant mortality rates and health problems of people of all ages, as observed by many public health specialists.
Conclusion
From this discussion, it is observed that the environmental problems in Swaziland are tougher than one could have ever imagined. The problems are extending from so many diverse reasons and origins. The main problems Swaziland is facing today are deforestation, degradation and fragmentation, desertification, the loss of soil fertility, a dramatic decline and loss of biodiversity, air pollution, and water pollution.
These problems hinder Swaziland from making progress with regard to economic development. Due to the fact that these issues are not fully understood, many Swazis have been delayed in solving the problems.