AN APOCALYPSE WARNING ON THE EXTINCTION OF 1M SPECIES 

Nature is held together by a strong bond and the bond is at the risk of unravelling from activities like deforestation, overfishing, development, and other human activities. This was allegedly reported by a landmark United Nations report. Thanks to human pressures, one million species may be pushed to extinction in the next few years, with serious consequences for human beings as well as the rest of life on Earth. 

Species at risk of extinction 

The critically endangered South China tiger lives at the Suzhou Zoo in China. This is a species that may be gone from the wild now. As of 2015, there were only 100 in captivity. The Bornean orangutan numbers have been more than halved in the past 60 years, mainly due to humans encroaching on its habitat. Hawksbill sea turtles are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. The tortoiseshell trade, collection of their eggs for food, and destruction of coral reefs have all contributed to their declining numbers. Asian elephants are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, threatened by habitat loss and poaching. However, giant panda numbers increased enough for the IUCN Red List to down list it from endangered to vulnerable in 2016. (1)

Global report on the biodiversity

 A review of a global report about 15,000 scientific and government sources and compiled by 145 expert authors from 50 countries at the state of the planet’s biodiversity was held in 15 years. This report includes indigenous, local knowledge and scientific studies. The overwhelming evidence is that human activities are the main reason behind nature’s decline. They ranked the major drivers of species decline as land conversion, including deforestation; overfishing; bushmeat hunting and poaching; climate change; pollution; and invasive alien species. The colossal variety of living species at least 8.7 million, possibly more, makes up the life-supporting safety net which provides us food, clean water, air, energy, and more. The safety net has now become threadbare and even holes are appearing. (2)

Human activities & their results 

Human activity has resulted in the severe alteration of more than 75 per cent of Earth’s land areas, the Global Assessment found. And 66 per cent as the oceans, which cover most of our blue planet, has suffered significant human impacts. This includes more than 400 dead zones where scant life can survive that collectively would cover the state of Oregon or Wyoming.

We, humans, are literally eroding the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health, and quality of life worldwide. Now, the biggest concern is the ocean’s state. We’re really screwing up the oceans in a big way in means of Plastics, dead zones, overfishing, acidification….. Forests, oceans, and other parts of nature soak up 60 per cent of global fossil fuel emissions every year. (3)

Coral reefs and mangroves protect coastal areas from storms such as hurricanes. Wetlands reduce flooding by absorbing heavy rainfall. Yet each of these ecosystems has declined dramatically, with wetlands down to less than 15 per cent of what they were 300 years ago and coral reefs facing a global bleaching crisis. (4)

A step to protect species including humans

To safeguard a healthy planet, it is better if our society shifts from a sole focus on economic growth. That would be a little difficult but it could get easier if countries begin to base their economies on an understanding that nature is the foundation for development. Shifting to nature-based planning can help provide a better quality of life with far less impact. Instead of driving additional exploitation of the world’s natural resources, those monies should be shifted to incentivize protection and restoration of nature, such as underwriting new reserves or reforestation programs. (5)

To know more about Environmental Degradation Read, The Threats Of humans Have Spread Wide And Now Targeting Antarctica