If ecosystems deteriorate to an unstable level, the resulting problems can … Pollution, habitat loss and man made climate change are issues we have to tackle head on now, on a government level. Find out facts and figures about endangered species in Europe. Evidence shows that some species have been disproportionately affected and their population levels have reached critically low numbers; so targeted action is needed. Take the Great Barrier Reef for example. It’s important we look at every aspect of how we affect the environment going forward, because every human action we do has major consequences to the world around us. Loss of biodiversity has a poor impact on the ecosystem. We see this often with commercial fishing, pollution, deforestation and our own contribution to climate change. First, plant and animal species are becoming extinct at an unprecedented rate that far exceeds the natural historical rate (although there is some uncertainty because only 1.75 million out of an estimated 14 million species have been scientifically described). There is growing concern about the health consequences of biodiversity loss. Humans rely on biodiversity for food, water, medicine and a million other things. Since living organisms interact in dynamic ecosystems, the disappearance of one species can have a far-reaching impact on the food chain. Widespread extirpation obviously leads to threatened or endangered status, but absence of species, even at a local scale, can affect ecosystem function. Dive Deeper with more Science News Reviews on WeeklyReviewer! Biodiversity is being lost due to the loss of habitat, over-exploitation of resources, climatic changes, pollution, invasive exotic species, diseases, hunting, etc. Plants convert energy from the sun making it available to other life forms. A decimation of their habit from human non biodegradable waste, and an industrialized mindset, has far greater consequences when you remove species that may never come back. Biodiversity – A Solution to Climate Change. The normal standard in... Current And Future Use Of Nuclear Energy It is time to talk about the use of nuclear energy. Measures include legislative provisions that prohibit the persecution of … If we wait a while, we might be able to spot a garter snake, a bullfrog, or maybe a red-winged blackbird. Biodiversity, or the variety of all living things on our planet, has been declining at an alarming rate in recent years, mainly due to human activities, such as land use changes, pollution and climate change. In order to guarantee sufficient financing, Parliament proposes that 10% of the EU’s next long-term budget is devoted to conservation of biodiversity. Biodiversity loss also means that we are losing, before discovery, many of nature's chemicals and genes, of the kind that have already provided humankind with enormous health benefits. Slowing down biodiversity loss, understood as the reduction or disappearance of the variety of living beings that inhabit the planet, is one of humanity's great challenges. Economic Cost of Lost Biodiversity. With global carbon emissions sharply rising since... What is Biodiversity Loss? Loss of biodiversity directly impacts the ecosystem and food chains in it. What are the causes and why does biodiversity matter? In the 1970s, governments began to regulate, and every democratic bureaucracy had to have a variant of the Environmental Protection Agency. In December 2019, MEPs criticised the EU pollinators’ initiative presented by the European Commission as insufficient to tackle the root causes of the declines. I also focus on industry reviews and product reviews. Stand Up. On 16 January MEPs called for legally binding targets to stop biodiversity loss to be agreed at a UN biodiversity conference (COP15) in China in October. It is impossible to know exactly what the consequences of mass extinctions would be for humans, but we do know that for now the diversity of nature allows us to thrive. According to World Wildlife Fund (WWF), biodiversity is all the different kinds of life you’ll find in one area—the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and even micro-organisms like bacteria that make up our natural world. Over Exploitation : ADVERTISEMENTS: Over exploitation is a serious threat to wildlife. Our Global Ecosystem, the biodiversity and the habitats they live in, is facing a rapid loss of life(biodiversity loss), mainly because of human activity. Animals like the Burmese Python was introduced into the US, but now decimates small animal ecosystems in Florida. For example, fish stocks are dwindling, forest loss is resulting in the loss of many species, land and other resources are being misused, leading to various long terms costs. Since 1995, the Great Barrier Reef has lost half, yes 50%, of it’s coral reefs through a phenomena called Coral Bleaching. The conference brings together parties to the 1993 UN Biodiversity Convention to decide on its post-2020 strategy. Clicking on links in WeeklyReviewer may or may not provide us commission through any qualifying purchases. More and more animals and plants are facing an uncertain future. Plant and animal species are disappearing at an ever faster rate due to human activity. Biodiversity Loss Is Endangering Food Security, UN Warns Global loss of biodiversity is threatening the security of the world’s food supplies and the livelihoods of millions of people, according to a new report by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Biodiversity in cities; biodiversity in rainforests, mountain tops, the ocean floor. WeeklyReviewer earns commissions through affiliates of qualifying products through Amazon Associates, Fiverr Affiliates, Hostgator Affiliates, Namecheap Affiliates, NordVPN Affiliates, Semrush Affiliates, Alibaba Affiliates, Clickfunnels Affiliate, Leadpages Affiliates, Cryptohopper Affiliates, Binance Affiliates and more. Our Global Ecosystem, the biodiversity and the habitats they live in, is facing a rapid loss of life (biodiversity loss), mainly because of human activity. Over fishing is … The main cause of the loss of biodiversity can be attributed to the influence of human beings on the world’s ecosystem, In fact human beings have deeply altered the environment, and have modified the territory, exploiting the species directly, for example by fishing and hunting, changing the biogeochemical cycles and transferring species from one area to another of the Planet. Overall biodiversity loss can speed up extinction. A subsequent United Nations report, published in July of this year, warned that biodiversity loss, and humans' destruction of nature, would … Mahim Gupta - Head Editor | Author - WeeklyReviewer. Invasive Species: Invasive species are ‘alien’ or ‘exotic’ species which are introduced accidentally or … – Major Causes, Effects and Solutions, over 200 million feral rabbits roam Australia, https://weeklyreviewer.com/author/weeklyreviewer/, /R E M I N D E R — Media Advisory – Prime Minister's itinerary for Friday, January 15, 2021/, Yext Kicks Off 2021 with Best Workplace Awards from Fortune and Built In, Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines Through Community Providers NOW, Keto Advanced Review: An Effectual Weight Loss Diet Pill, Convicted Felon Voting Rights – Pros and Cons, Meet The Team – WeeklyReviewer Authors and Editors Staff. Biodiversity describes the variety of all living life-forms including plants, animals and micro-organisms, the genes they all contain and the ecosystems of which they form a part. It takes millions of years for ecosystems to recover from such an event. A fundamental part of sustaining life on Earth is figuring out how we affect the environment, how we can minimize our damage to the environment, and how we should clean up the damage we cause to the environment. Creation of natural reserves and wildlife sanctuaries were the beginning of conservation on a government scale. But how much biodiversity do we need, and does the loss of biodiversity effect us in the long run? You have not even scratched the surface of the biodiversity wi… The Earth is facing a dual crisis of rapid climate change and unprecedented biodiversity loss. We don’t encourage anyone to click on ads for any other purpose but your own. Loss of biodiversity is very harmful to the ecosystem as it indicates either loss of species, or reduction of species in a natural habitat, or both of them on a global level. Habitat loss and overexploitation, driven by our rapid population growth and unsustainable consumption patterns, are the primary causes of biodiversity loss which is now happening up to ten thousand times faster than for millions of years before. deforestation, intensive mono-culture, urbanisation), Direct exploitation such as hunting and over-fishing, Preparing the post-2020 biodiversity framework, legally binding targets to stop biodiversity loss. It comprises the number of species, their genetic variation and the interaction of these lifeforms within complex ecosystems. Biodiversity changes affect ecosystem functioning and significant disruptions of ecosystems can result in life sustaining ecosystem goods and services. Big companies are starting to get the picture, but there are still plenty that will exploit … Parliament wants the EU to take the lead by ensuring that 30% of EU territory consists of natural areas by 2030 and considering biodiversity in all EU policies. Healthy ecosystems provide us with many essentials we take for granted. Biodiversity provides various goods - such as plants and animals - that individuals need in order to earn an income and secure sustainable livelihoods. Global extinction has so far been proven to be irreversible. Each of these species and organisms work together in ecosystems, like an intricate web, to maintain balance and support life. I've recently been getting into reporting on Politics, but my focus is Business, Science and Technology. Habitat loss is something often out of our control, or so we think. The underlying causes of biodiversity loss, such as a growing human population and overconsumption are often complex and stem from many interrelated factors. Biodiversity loss is occurring on two levels. Convicted Felon Voting Rights - Pros and Cons From the need to reanalyze the state of the US Prison and Justice System. The loss of genes and individuals threatens the long-term survival of a species, as mates become scarce and risks from inbreeding rise when closely related survivors mate. WeeklyReviewer earns primarily through affiliates and ads. However, many species are threatened by extinction due to habitat loss and degradation, pollution, poaching, habitat fragmentation, and overexploitation. Pollution. Be it water, air, or land pollution, all forms of pollution appear to be a threat to all life forms … This is due to the destruction of ecosystems and natural habitats. Well, this article talks about what are the major causes of biodiversity loss, the lasting and current effects of biodiversity loss and what are some of the solutions in our grasp and realm of possibility. Some researchers even consider we are in the middle of the sixth mass extinction event in Earth’s history. At first glance, we can identify different plants, including cattails and water lilies. Since it provides us with several economic and ethical benefits and adds aesthetic value, it is very important to conserve biodiversity. Biological diversity, the variety of life on earth, also known as biodiversity, depends on the thriving of the habitats they live in. There is massive extinction from human activity. In short, biodiversity provides us with clean air, fresh water, good quality soil and crop pollination. A recent UN report on biodiversity estimates the global rate of species extinction is currently tens to hundreds of times higher than it has averaged over the past 10 million years.. With a closer look, we can see invertebratesand worms under leaves, on grasses and in the pond water. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! The loss of biodiversity is increasing. Biodiversity, the diversity of life on Earth, is essential to the healthy functioning of ecosystems. Facebook Twitter Pinterest. Pollution, habitat loss and climate change are the main causes of biodiversity loss. Since environmental protection became government mandated, the practicalities of conservation have been tried and tested. Biodiversity is traditionally defined as the variety of life on Earth in all its forms. But what happens when humans accidentally or intentionally cause the direct harm of an ecosystem. Topping the list, of course, is the monetary value of biodiversity … To understand why its loss is important, you must first know what biodiversity is. It keeps a Red List of endangered species, an important indicator of the health of the world's biodiversity. Biodiversity refers to the different life forms on earth, including plants, animals, insects and bacteria. Biodiversity loss, also called loss of biodiversity, a decrease in biodiversity within a species, an ecosystem, a given geographic area, or Earth as a whole. We recommend products and services often for our readers, and through many we will earn commissions through affiliate programs. A major factor leading to a loss of biodiversity is the destruction and fragmentation of habitats, as land is cleared for lumber or to make room for agriculture, settlement, and other human activities. Biodiversity, or the variety of all living things on our planet, has been declining at an alarming rate in recent years, mainly due to human activities, such as land use changes, pollution and climate change. Protecting biodiversity plays a crucial part in achieving … Pollinators are essential in plant reproduction, guaranteeing our food production. But another way we contribute to biodiversity loss is through the introduction of invasive and devastating species to ecosystems ill prepared for them. Coral Bleaching is when warm waters move in, mostly through this man made climate change, and kills off algae supporting the coral life. Climate change, the biggest threat to biodiversity, is a huge source of biodiversity loss through habitat loss, lack of livable and thrivable environments. The weight of biodiversity loss is most pronounced on species whose populations are decreasing. Biodiversity loss is one of the world's many on growing problems. Biodiversity loss: what is causing it and why is it a concern? In such cases, governments can take species-specific measures to conserve remaining populations; the nature of these measures will largely depend on what are the causes of species decline. The loss of biodiversity is all too easy to find. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the global authority on the status of the natural world. It also includes the decrease in the number of a species in a certain habitat. Earlier known mass extinctions wiped out between 60% and 95% of all species. Often times we forget that humans have been industrialized for only a short period of time, and in that period have cultivated an unnatural amount of deforestation. Think you’re done? Of the nine considered, just biodiversity loss and nitrogen pollution are estimated to have been crossed, unlike CO2 levels, freshwater used and ozone losses. Other factors include global warming, pollution, overfishing and overhunting, … Though, it has been noticed that global extinction so far is irreversible. Natural areas should cover 30% of the EU territory by 2030 and degraded ecosystems should be restored. Biodiversity loss includes the extinction of species worldwide, as well as the local reduction or loss of species in a certain habitat, resulting in a loss of biological diversity. More information about what the EU does to preserve biodiversity, Direct access to language menu (press "Enter"), Direct access to search menu (press "Enter"). Even though permanent global species l Clean air, water and land; restoring habitats and ecosystems; slowing down and reversing the effects of climate change are just the start. Fifty years ago, we started taking conservation seriously. Changes in land use (e.g. The latter phenomenon can be temporary or permanent, depending on whether the environmental degradation that leads to the loss is reversible through ecological restoration/ecological resilience or effectively permanent. Loss of biodiversity has many long term effects. The planet's biodiversity is under threat and the main culprit is the one who, paradoxically, depend on it most: human being.