Q.'Man is the world's most dangerous animal — and the only one able to save the planet.' Critically discuss this paradox as it emerges in the essay, using the evidence Palkhivala marshals about the four biological systems, the forests and the loss of species. (Answer in 120–150 words.)

What is Environmental Degradation? — A First Look

Imagine you have a glass of clean water. You drop a spoonful of mud into it. The water becomes cloudy, less useful for drinking, and harder for fish to live in. That single act is a tiny example of environmental degradation — the process by which the environment loses its quality and ability to support life.

Now scale that up. A factory dumping chemicals into a river. Farmers overusing fertiliser until the soil turns salty. A forest cut down for timber, leaving bare land that washes away in the rain. Each of these is a form of environmental degradation. The environment — air, water, soil, forests, biodiversity — is being damaged or depleted faster than it can recover.

The Precise Statement

Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources (such as air, water, soil), destruction of ecosystems, and extinction of wildlife. It is caused by human activities (pollution, deforestation, overexploitation) and, less commonly, by natural disasters. The result is a reduced capacity of the environment to meet ecological and human needs.

Why Does It Happen? — The Core Drivers

There are four main ways humans cause environmental degradation:

These are not separate — they often reinforce each other. Deforestation leads to soil erosion, which pollutes rivers, which harms aquatic life.

A Concrete Example: The Ganga River …