Side effects of plastic pollution on the ecosystem

Apart from sustaining a rich diversity of natural ecosystems, the country’s water resources are critical for meeting basic needs related to water supplies for domestic, industrial and wildlife.

Humanity, however, has turned out to be the ecosystem’s worst enemy. We have turned to be the destroyer of much-needed water resources and other animal species living in water. Fauna and flora, animal, bird and many other species all suffer because of dumping of construction concrete debris and plastic bags. Plastics that washed into dams and lakes usually trap fish, frogs and other water living beings, eventually leading to their premature death.

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The plastic bags have adverse impacts on human and animal due to their impervious characteristic; they serve as a breeding place for mosquitoes and other vermin. Domestic animals like goats and cattle also feed on plastic, and they disrupt the digestive process causing the bloating and untimely death of animals.

The Botswana Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation, and Tourism have made several attempts to manage or control the proliferation of plastic bags in the environment through various strategies such as public education and awareness on the proper use of plastics, recycling, and minimization of its use. The alteration of waterways through dumping of waste in form of debris and plastic is alleged to cut water sources in the wild.

Rwanda and Kenya have already implemented ban on plastic and Botswana will soon join them and many other countries and cities around the world who have shifted towards the prohibition of the use of plastics as a pollution prevention measure.

By Meekaeel Siphambili

Email address: [email protected]