Friday, May 10, 2019
Sustainable Development
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/1-million-species-under-threat-humans-speed-extinction?tgt=nr
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2019/05/nature-decline-unprecedented-report/
This article reports the findings of a new analysis of 15,000 studies conducted within the last 50 years that states about 1,000,000 of the world’s species are in danger of becoming extinct; some within the next few decades. This rate is increasing and is 10’s to 100’s times faster than 10,000,000 years ago and the rates will continue to climb if humans do not modify their behavior. The article outlines the top 5 ways humans are contributing to the problem.
The top threat is habitat loss. 75% of the earth has been altered by humans. Urban areas have grown by over 100% and agriculture is taking over formerly diverse habitats like forests, wetlands, and grasslands.
Overfishing is top threat in our oceans. 66% of the ocean surface has been altered. Industrial fishing takes up about 55% of the ocean surface and 33% of ocean fish stocks are being harvested at levels that are unsustainable.
The world’s average temperature has increased by 1C since industrial times, and climate change is linked to extreme weather that can shift species distribution and warmer oceans that are stressing fish populations. Land clearing, crop production, and use of fertilizers are increasing greenhouse gas emissions and the decreasing diversity in tropical forests are resulting in these forests contributing more CO2 than they are absorbing.
Pollution is a contributing factor. There is ten times as much marine plastic pollution as there was in 1980 and untreated waste, mining, agricultural waste, and oil spills are affecting many different species.
The introduction of invasive species is contributing to the extinction of native species in some areas. Global trade and travel introduces these invasive species that compete for resources with the native species and, in vulnerable areas, this competition resulted in the extinction of native species.
The article concludes by stating that “transformative changes” are needed, including the way we consume energy and natural resources, and how we use land and technology.