Did you know that between 1970 and 2018, wildlife populations have been reduced by 68% (World Economic Forum)? Preventing wildlife extinction comes hand in hand with protecting habitats and providing the conditions for those animals to thrive. Additionally, it means preventing poaching and trafficking of wild animals that can decimate populations and contribute to their extinction. With the human population boom in the last 100 years, the Earth now has a human population of over 8 billion people. One of the main factors that contributed to the population boom was the invention of industrialized agriculture and goods production which helped reduce food scarcity and provided incomes for huge numbers of the world’s population. However, these very things that made life more abundant also had side effects that have reached worrying proportions in the form of the decimation of wildlife habitats, rainforests, global warming and the pollution of the Earth’s freshwater and oceans. Today, wildlife extinction is a result of industrialization and human activities. In addition to large-scale agriculture and industrial pollutants and mining, many animals are brought to extinction due to poaching. Poachers are illegal wildlife traders who capture, maim or kill animals in order to sell them or their fur, horns or feathers on the black market. Elephants and rhinos have been poached to near extinction in Africa for their horns and tusks and many other animals are also poached or have had their habitats destroyed to the point of becoming endangered species (World Wildlife Organziation).
Today, over one million species are under threat of extinction due to a variety of reasons. First, the pollution of the world’s freshwater has led to the sharpest decline of freshwater species as compared to other species, having seen a reduction of 84% between 1970 and 2018 (World Economic Forum). Second, in the seas, large-scale fishing has resulted in reduced populations of marine life while giant fishing nets trawl the ocean floor, destroying the delicate ecosystem and polluting the ocean (Marin Conservation Institute). Third, tropical rainforests in Latin America and Southeast Asia have been reduced by over 100 million hectares, mostly due to cattle farming (World Economic Forum). Finally, pesticides, habitat destruction and climate change have put insects at risk of extinction, with the bumblebee, responsible for pollination of 250,000 species of plants and 87 percent of the plants that humans consume as food, plays a crucial role in the reproduction of plant life and has been reduced by 50 percent since the 1970s (Columbia Climate School).
Wildlife extinction matters because the Earth’s ecosystem has a delicate balance that supports life and encourages it to thrive. However, when out of balance, that ecosystem can transform from one that supports life to one that destroys it. (Geffroy 11) The rising temperatures and ocean levels and increasing desertification of the planet as well as the increasing risk of species extinction all contribute to a harsher climate that puts things like food and water security at risk. The current ecosystem disturbances also increase the risk of mutations in viruses and the spread of life-threatening diseases, making pandemics such as the recent, coronavirus pandemic more common and with more extensive damage. Reestablishing natural habitats, cleaning up polluted waters and allowing wildlife to thrive will greatly contribute to the health of the planet and provide greater food and water security for humans. Currently, we have only identified approximately 1.6 million species with an estimated 8.6 million in existence that have not been identified or categorized. At the rate of wildlife extinction that we are facing today, we may never get the chance to identify the majority of the Earth’s species before they go extinct (Bale 2).
Each citizen can take responsibility for supporting the planet’s wildlife in a variety of ways such as donating to organizations that support wildlife conservation, working for or volunteering for a conservation organization and educate themselves about conservation. Whether it’s taking a course or doing an outward bound program or watching nature programs and documentaries, there are many resources available to help understand the current state of wildlife on our planet. Additionally, reducing carbon footprint by traveling less, biking and walking more, using a less gas-guzzling car and conserving electricity can all contribute to the preservation of wildlife habitats. Another way to support wildlife is to switch to a plant-based, organic diet since cattle farming and industrialized agriculture pollute water and soil and destroy habitats for wildlife. Finally, plastic pollution is one of the most pressing issues of our time with microplastic being found in an alarmingly large percentage of wild-caught marine life. Therefore, reducing the use of plastic can greatly help preserve wildlife.
In conclusion, though wildlife extinction has been on the rise, with efforts from governments, activists and concerned citizens, there is still time to create thriving habitats for all of the planet’s plants and animals through a variety of conscious practices and policies aimed towards wildlife habitat preservation.
Works Cited
Animal Welfare Institute, Haaland, Deb: https://awionline.org/content/what-you-can-do-wildlife.
Cho, Renee. Why Endangered Species Matter, Columbia Climate School, 2019.
Geffroy, Benjamin. How Nature-Based Tourism Might Increase Prey Vulnerability to Predators, 2015.
Marine Conservation Institute, Help Us End Destructive Fishing: https://marine-conservation.org/end-destructive-fishing/.
Bale, Rachel How many species haven’t we found yet?, National Geographic, 2019.
World Wildlife Organization, Species Directory: https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/directory?direction=desc&sort=extinction_status.