The way we live our lives is sending biodiversity into decline. Thank you Sir David Attenborough for continuing to bring Biodiversity issues to our attention.
Biodiversity Loss Is A Serious Issue
Biodiversity loss is real, it's scary and it's all of our responsibilities. It is not good enough for us to talk about it and then just ignore it. We all need to change our living habits to ensure we reverse the animal threat of extinction and climate change, so that the human species may also stay protected.
The Disappearing Natural World
Plant and animal species are disappearing at an ever-faster rate due to human activity. Biodiversity, described as 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, for example deforestation, intensive monoculture, urbanisation, pollution, climate change, and direct exploitation such as hunting and over-fishing.
UN Report
In a UN report published in 2019, scientists warned that one million species, out of an estimated total of only eight million, are threatened with extinction, many within decades. Some researchers even consider we are in the middle of the sixth mass extinction event in Earth’s history. Earlier known mass extinctions wiped out between 60% and 95% of all species and it takes millions of years for ecosystems to recover from such an event.
How the Ecosystem Works
Healthy ecosystems provide us with the environment we take for granted. Plants convert energy from the sun making it available to other life forms. Bacteria and other living organisms break down organic matter into nutrients providing plants with healthy soil to grow in. Pollinators are essential in plant reproduction, guaranteeing our food production.
Plants and oceans act as major carbon sinks. Biodiversity provides us with clean air, fresh water, good quality soil and crop pollination. It helps us fight climate change and adapt to it as well reduce the impact of natural hazards.
Since all living organisms interact in ecosystems, the disappearance of one species will have a far-reaching impact. It is impossible to know exactly what the consequences of mass extinctions would be for humans, but we do know that it is the diversity of nature that allows us to thrive.
The 'Issues'
A number of world-renowned scientists now believe that it the destruction of habitat and loss of biodiversity have created the perfect conditions for new viruses like Covid-19 to emerge – with profound health and economic impacts for the entire globe.
Indeed, as habitat and biodiversity loss increase globally, scientists believe the coronavirus outbreak may be just the beginning of mass pandemics, in which case what we are currently experiencing may well be just the beginning.
Biodiversity is happening, it doesn't get any plainer than that – but it is now up to each and everyone of us to start changing our living habits so that we can reverse the trend, so that the human species and animals can live and to save our planet for future generations. At this point it's uncertain what they will be born into. (Source: ensiacom) (who.com) (enescocom)
I watched the documentary you refer to and it was harrowing seeing our impact on the planet, driven by blind greed. It is unimaginable to think that we are destroying our own environment.
I can only reiterate your final paragraph. There must be collective responsibility to halt this before we get beyond the point of no return.
The world is definitely on the edge which people don't get. I feel this pandemic could have been so much worse than it has been.
I'm sure we have seen enough horror movies to know how bad it could be. We can't ignore global warming that is happening now, we mustn't also wait until it's too late to work on fixing things.
Thanks Randy. There is enough information out there to know how 'real' climate change is.
Through documentaries we are informed in straight terms, what we're facing, and how we need to change things. People do get it. Now we must all change.
If we were to each change one thing, animals and human life would be saved. The pandemic has taken too many lives already. In America forests are burning, homes are being destroyed; all part of global warming. The stark realities are there.
Now governments must quit bickering amongst themselves and act.
Countries need to unite and come together, to help save the planet.
Yes, worryingly so. We must rely on ourselves to change, just one thing for now, but living better lives where we start to protect all living things.
I do agree with you there needs to be reinforcement through government funding and changing of the law, to help us beat this.
But we get to do our bit. We must care enough for ourselves for us to have an impact on our world and so that future generations can live.