Biodiversity means the variety of life on earth. Our planet is enriched with all essential resources. Due to human activities, our world is in danger. We are damaging the environment. Biodiversity provides clean water, fertile soil, and all the nutrients we need.
There are many causes of biodiversity loss, but major of them are:
Habitat destruction:
Habitat is the place of an organism in which a species lives. Habitat destruction is a growing threat to wildlife around the globe. Every forest, grassland, and wetland is destroyed by humans, disrupting the home of countless species. As this habitat disappears, animals, birds, and other creatures are pushed toward extinction. The IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) Red list highlights habitat destruction as a primary threat to the extinction of many species.
Climate change:
Climate change is another threat to biodiversity’s extinction. The earth’s temperature is increasing due to human activities like vehicle emissions, pollution, and deforestation. The glaciers are melting. Therefore, many animals, like snow leopards, bears, and other creatures, are in danger of extinction.
- Pakistan ranked 5th in the world affected by climate change.
Deforestation:
The cutting down of trees is called deforestation. The plants produce oxygen and purify the environment for ourselves. We are cutting trees for our benefit to make roads, buildings, plazas, factories, agricultural use, and urban development. Plants are the home of many species. For example, the Amazon rainforest loses thousands of square kilometers annually, displacing countless species. Â
Read More: 23 simple ways to protect wildlife
Wildlife poaching
The illegal trade, or killing, hunting is the biggest threat to the extinction of biodiversity. Wildlife animals are caught legally or illegally and sold for money. Many people killed the animals for trophies, ornaments, status, skin, fur, tusks, oil, and medicinal purposes. Elephants, Rhinos, and snow leopards are some of the biggest victims of wildlife poaching. The elephants are killed because of ivory and rhinos for horns. Many birds are towards extinction due to their beauty, melodious voice, and intelligence. Many animals are caught alive for public shows in circuses.
- In Asia, the population of many animals and birds is declining due to illegal trade and human-wildlife conflicts.
Overpopulation:
The population is increasing over time. We need more resources, more food, and shelter to live. We killed the animals for meat and other necessities of life. This is also the cause of the extinction of biodiversity.
Lack of administration:
We have to respect the rights of animals, birds, and other species. The administration has failed to deliver awareness to the citizens. Millions of tons of waste are produced because of human activities. Many animals and birds leave their nests due to noise pollution. Many eggs are not hatching due to the noise of vehicles and boats in the oceans. The administration must think about this and take strict action.
The population of animals is declining over time. Many animals are today extinct due to our activities. We must learn the habitat of animals and respect them.
Related Links:
| List of activities prohibited in national parks | What are the effects of smog on wildlife? |
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