A more modern threat to many animals is the destruction of their environment and the resultant changes in the ecology of whole areas. Our use of pesticides and other chemicals has polluted both soil and water‚ and this pollution has proved to be toxic to many of the plants which are part of the habitat of many animals. Furthermore‚ we regularly lay waste to land previously in habitat byanimal‚ in order to make way for expanding populations or‚ as in the case of deforestation‚ to provide goods for wealthy nations.