Demographics of the Neighborhood, Kind of Species in Bronx - Report Example

Task Earth and Space Sciences Introduction The nearest neighborhood region in my environment is Bronx. Bronx is one of the boroughs of the capital city in USA; New York .Generally speaking this neighborhood can be divided into two main regions that try to conflict each other. This has been done based on the accurate based area’s history. We have the west Bronx and East Bronx. The Bronx Riveracts is the key boundary in the two regions. Several streets of the Bronx region continue from the Manhattan region on which the street numbering based system is located. The West Bronx is popular because of the Jerome Avenue. The west Bronx is characterized of more urbanized and hilly sections while the eastern part is dominated by new and suburb based coast. The area of this neighborhood had been annexed on 1895 while the river in 1894.The New York City was to be set on this area hundred years ago (Burden and Michael , 2013). Based on the above description of our neighborhood; Bronx, the research paper also looked intothe demographics of the neighborhood, kind of species (non -human, plants etc.) living inBronx, the current health of those species, whether the Bronx region need more of ‘green space and finally the Environmental injustice in the neighborhood. The environmental injustices cut across the justice issues such as solid waste, noisepollution, air pollution, species interaction. Essentially, the research paper will also address three (3) solutions for the environmental problems, the researcher’s perception on the proposed solutions and the area gaps that next research should look into. Discussion The demographics of Bronx The Bronx regions are considered by the U.S. Census based demographers as one of the few-based diversified area in the country. Essentially, there is a high chance of over 89.7 percent that two area residents sampled will be of different ethnicity or race. Currently, the majority race is Hispanic while whites form the lowest figure of the total population. In 2010, U.S based census, 1,385,108 residents of the area were counted. This was an increase of around 3.9 percent of the total population compared to 2000-census figure. The 2010 census revealed that 30.1% of the population was non-Hispanic based Black or African American, 10.9% were non-Hispanic White, 3.4% non-based Hispanic Asian, 1.2% more than one races (non-Hispanic) and finally 0.6% from some other non-Hispanic races. Therefore, we can conclude that 53.5% of Bronx’s baseddemographic comprisesof Hispanic or Latino. Moreover, based on the U.S. Census Bureau based estimates, 47.29% of the individuals aged 5 years or older speaks English at home while 43.67% of the remaining population speaks Spanish exclusively at their residential areas. Other languages spoken in Bronx include Italian, Yoruba, Kru, Ibo and French. In addition to that, 63,212 based households out of which 38.1% had dependents’ under the age of 18 and who live with them. In the houses, 32.0% have no families, married couples occupy 31.4% and finally 30.4% are held by mature female ladies without husbands. In addition to that, 9.4% of the households have over 65 years’ old relatives. Moreover, the average family size ranges from 3.37 while the household size averages at 2.78. On income, the median income per household in Bronx was $27,611, while the family average income level; $30,682 in 2010. It should also be noted that males have a median income of $31,178against females who possess $29,429. This means that per capita income of the neighborhood stand at $13,959. Amazingly, over 28perecent of the families and also 30.7 percent of the entire population fall below the poverty line level. However, the largest population below the line involves those individuals aged below 18 and over 65 years. Types of species in Bronx In this area, we look into the kinds of species (non -human, plants etc.) in the regions and their health status. The Bronx boosts of the Bronx Zoo (popularly known as Bronx Zoological Park).The zoo are located at the borough of the New York City. It is one of the largest based zoos in the world and in NorthAmerica. It hosts over 6000 animals with over 650-based species from the whole world. The zoo rests on265 acres pieces of land amid of the Bronx River flowing across it.In addition to that, the zoo host an aquarium managed by the wildlife based conservation society. The land was initially owned by Fordham university before it was sold to the city of New York for just $1,000.However,the cheap price was agreed on a condition that the land will be used mainly for animal rearing and plantation of trees. The Bronx Zoo hosts several species of animals and trees. First, there are several monkeys, world birds and reptiles. Moreover, lions, storks, zebra and gazelles are also seen to roam in the land bringing in an extraordinary beauty level. The zoo has also developed other kinds of species in the region for instance the snow leopard cub that was recently developed under the Fordham university breeding based program. The programs involve creation of new breeds through interbreeding and capturing of other species from other reserves and zoos such as Congo forest (Chan and Lowe, 2001). The biggest challenges to the zoo and creation of new species are that several animals have been escaping from the zoo for instance wild bird. Thebirds migrate to other animal reserves due to lack of adequate food or water. Therefore, there is need for the stakeholders to address the matter adequately. Whether Bronx need more green space For years, the dream of conservation groups has been to ring Bronx and Manhattan in an "emerald tree like necklace" of green parks and tree-lined based walkways. However, this has been hampered by the presence of sky crappers and other buildings encroaching daily toward the Bronx zoo. The Bush administration took initiative to rebrand the region and enhance green space but this has not been fully attained. It took action from Mychal Johnson, an environmental based activist in South Bronx to turn some of the city’s streets green. The state’s Department of Environmental Conservation proposes that more land in the region should be converted into green space based on the current government set areas. The greening will involve flowers planted in the streets and other parking lots. Moreover, several plants should be planted on the Bronx zoo to maintain the kind of species available. Environmental injustice in Bronx Environmentalinjustice can be dated back in the United States’ early 1960s and a 1980s. The injustice involves violated environmental theories of justice, law and governance, development, sustainability and political based ecology. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports in Bronx, air, water and noise pollution dominates the regions. Amazingly, the government has done little to control the pollution in Bronx River. Pollution control has been hampered by poor environmental legislation and failure to include all stakeholders in the whole process. Proponents of environmental justice view the environment as where we live, play and work. Therefore, it is essential to control the pollution, industrial sewerages and other environmental based crimes in the neighborhood. The noise pollution is rampant in the region. This emanates from the industrial parks bordering residential areas of the region. Moreover, it has been resulting from the mining sites within the region. Secondly, the industrial parks dumps wastes in the Bronx River, hence such contaminations are perceived to create diseases to the people. TheEnvironmental justice advocates revealed that the population in the region has few alternatives to take due to the lack of political, social and economic powers over the environmental laws violators (Skelos and William, 2001). Moreover, there is environmental racism, which has been blamed for minority population underrepresentation in environmental conservation. Moreover, the racismsparkled environmental discrimination that is historically found to promote creation of environmental hazardous based sites in some regions and especially those possessed by the minority groups. Solutions for the environmental problems The environmental problem in Bronx calls for the implementation of three main solutions. First, the congress must make strong environmental policies that ensure those who dare to pollute the surrounding and the river are heavily fined. Secondly, there is need to educate the public about the dangers of pollution. This can be attained through seminars and conferences held by environmental conservationists. Third there is need to impose heavy fines to all the industrialists found to dump wastes on the surrounding. This will ensure that the environment is conserved for future Bronx’sgeneration. My take on these solutions is that they will help the region conserve environment. However, more research need to be conducted and especially on environmental matters. Conclusion In summary form, we analyze critically the history of Bronx starting from the lists of her neighbors, environmental challenges faced, kinds of species within the region and also the demographic situation. The region border New York hence we expect a lot of activities to take place. The main challenge is environmental injustice. Works Cited Burden, Amanda, and Michael Bloomberg. New York City Public Schools Demographic and Enrollment Trends, 1990-2002. New York, NY: The Dept, 2003. Print. Chan, E. and L. Lowe. New York City Environmental Justice Alliance. In C. Convis, ed. Conservation Geography: Case Studies in GIS, Computer Mapping, and Activism. Redlands: Environmental Systems Research Institute Press.2001.Print. Skelos, Dean G, and William L. Parment. Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment. Mineola: EN-DE Reporting, 2001. Print. Read More