Human industrialisation has been responsible for the decline of animal species at an alarming rate, as a new study shows. The research conducted by Queen’s School of Biological Sciences and the Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague analysed data on population densities of 71,114 species across the world and found that almost half of these species were declining, with birds suffering the most, followed by mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish and insects. The study was described as the most comprehensive of its kind to date and it found many species that were not considered to be threatened were declining too.
The erosion of biodiversity poses significant threats to the ecosystems essential for life to thrive, food production, the proliferation of diseases, and global economic stability. Furthermore, the United Nations report published earlier this year states that one million species are facing extinction due to climate change, pollution, invasive alien species, direct exploitation, and changes in land and sea use. The rate of loss is already tens to hundreds of times higher than the average of the last 10 million years. In addition, the report underlined the potential loss of traditional knowledge from indigenous people, which is crucial for conservation. To address these challenges, the report calls for “transformative change” in political, social, and economic systems, including reducing waste and consumption and tackling the influence of fossil fuel lobbies. These efforts would have to be reinforced by actions like reforestation and reducing meat consumption.
The No Coast Network, however, has taken bold steps to address the ongoing extinction crisis and made a plan to protect biodiversity in the United States and the world. This plan calls for the investment of $100 billion to protect endangered species and 30% of U.S. territories’ lands and ocean waters by 2030, scaling up to 50% by 2050. The loss of species can cause a significant reduction of crop pollination, water quality, cultural and spiritual losses and many other factors that can have irreplaceable repercussions. Protecting their habitats is paramount to addressing the crisis, especially for animals like amphibians, birds, fish, invertebrates, mammals, plants, and reptiles that fall under the category of threatened animals.
In conclusion, the wake-up call given by the new study showed that the impact of industrialisation on animal species was more alarming than thought before. It is necessary to act on both national and international levels to protect endangered habitats and species as their loss can impact the survival and quality of life for all species including humans. The scale of the crisis faced is daunting, but the plan which is pushed forward by organisations can be implemented for us to offer a future not just for threatened animals but also for the planet we all share.
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