Heavy use was starting to degrade the environment and visitors got injured and lost crossing the lava fields.

The lack of economic opportunities for local people also constrains them to degrade the environment as a means of sustenance.

Chemical, industrial and thermal pollution, especially as a byproduct of the burgeoning steel industry after the 1890s, continued to degrade the environment.

While the action of an individual may not strongly affect the environment, the mass effect of a large number of hikers can degrade the environment.

A further study has demonstrated that litter has the potential to degrade an environment such that the tranquillity rating drops on average by one scale point.