What is interesting in Biodiversity? Write an essay
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The Earth is home to different species and communities of species. Biodiversity is unique in all parts of the Earth. As the environmental conditions change from what millions of species adapted to, many are under the threat of extinction. Every species is valuable and in need of protection. These 26 biodiversity facts point out interesting aspects of our Earth’s biosystem alongside the species threatened by extinction.
26 Biodiversity Facts
Biodiversity Extinction
Photo by Jesse Schoff on Unsplash
The Facts About Extinction and Biodiversity
#1 - About one million plant and animal species face the threat of extinction1
Extinction is a major part of the history of our Earth. Species have come and gone, while others have thrived regardless of the changes. Unfortunately, human activities speed up the extinction rate we observe. When we encroach on habitats, pollute water bodies, disrupt migration paths, and so on, we not only impact biodiversity but, at worst, we threaten the ongoing existence of the creatures with whom we share our planet.
#2 - At least 680 vertebrate species have gone extinct since the 16th century1
Local varieties, species, wild populations, and domesticated plants and animals’ breeds deteriorate, shrink, or vanish. Species diversity and living organisms are becoming extinct.
#3 - The majority of native species in land-based habitats have fallen by a minimum of 20% since the 1900s1
#4 - Extinction threatens more than 40% of amphibians1
#5 - Nearly 33% of reef-forming corals face the threat of extinction1
#6 - Extinction threatens more than a third of all marine mammals1
This negative trend may continue even till 2050 and beyond. It will reduce only when we make transformative changes that affect land-use, exploitation of animals, and climate crises. In our different regions of the world, we should see a significant difference only once we significantly reduce the harm we cause to the environment and its impact on biodiversity.
Rate of Biodiversity Loss
#7 - By 2016, more than 9% of all domesticated breeds of mammals used for food and agriculture had gone extinct, and at least 1,000 more species remain threatened1
#8 - There has been a 68% average decline in the population sizes of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish between 1970 and 20162
These biodiversity facts show that life around us, our earth’s biodiversity, is being destroyed at an unprecedented rate. Human activities and habits continue to degrade and destroy the earth, forest, wetlands and threaten our well-being. This WWF research initiative gives us some insight into how we can reverse the growth in biodiversity loss. They formed the resulting Bending the Curve Initiative to develop pioneering modeling that can halt and reverse terrestrial biodiversity loss.
The Impact of Humanity on Biodiversity
#9 - Human activities are overusing the earth’s bio-capacity by an estimated 56%2
Biodiversity facts show that the last 50 years transformed the world. And we can observe many of these changes without reading a report. The explosion in global trade, consumption, and human population growth, as well as ecosystem diversity, are changing everything around us. At this point, we are beyond the Earth’s bio-capacity. This will affect the Earth, its life forms, and its survival in the future.
#10 - Human activities have significantly altered three-quarters of land-based environments1
As humans continue to encroach on land resources, we send the Earth’s abundance downwards. We do this by expanding our cities into forest areas, cutting down trees, harvesting forests for food and medication, and so on.
This trend is less severe in regions where Indigenous Peoples and local communities reside. Many Indigenous tribes still manage the lands they live on with sustainable practices passed down for generations. Hence, there are fewer bush burnings, tree cutting, forest burning, or land degradation in these areas.