Failure To Protect Nature - Savannah S

Habitat Loss

 Habitat loss is primarily, though not always, human caused. The clearing of land for farming, grazing, mining, drilling, and urbanization impacts 80 percent of global species who call the forest home. Approximately 15 billion trees are cut down each year. The number of trees worldwide has decreased by 46 percent since the start of civilization. Habitat destruction is one of the biggest threats facing plants and animal species throughout the world. The Campaign for Nature calls upon world leaders to take action in helping to protect 30 percent of the Earth’s land and ocean by 2030, on the way to 50 percent of the planet in a natural state by 2050. This commitment represents our best opportunity to preserve the ecosystems necessary for our survival. 

The Global Impacts of Habitat Destruction (nationalgeographic.org) 

Animal Extinction

In 2005, heatwaves decimated a subspecies of lemuroid ringtail possum, a rare marsupial, in Queensland, Australia, according to the report. And rising seas and storm surges were likely behind the recent extinction of an Australian rodent called the Bramble Cay melomys. Climate scientists have an especially grim prognosis for coral reefs: Just 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming could destroy up to 90 percent of tropical coral reefs, which are home to an incredible diversity of organisms and form the basis of many fisheries. Scientists project that in tropical Africa, people will lose up to 41 percent of their fisheries’ yield by the end of the century “due to local extinctions of marine fish,” under 1.6 degrees Celsius of warming. “Declining fish harvests could leave millions of people vulnerable to malnutrition,” the authors wrote. The outlook becomes graver if temperatures rise even further; with 3 degrees of warming, for example, up to 29 percent of species on land could face extinction. 

IPCC: Climate change is driving a mass extinction - Vox 

Overuse of Natural Resources, and Pollution. 

This year, they estimate that humans are using natural resources 1.75 times faster than ecosystems can regenerate – or, put another way, consuming 1.75 Earths. Rising demand to meet the needs of more than 7.6 billion people has transformed land use and generated unprecedented levels of pollution, affecting biodiversity, forests, wetlands, water bodies, soils and air quality. Cement, a key input into concrete, the most widely used construction material in the world, is a major source of greenhouse gases, and accounts for about eight per cent of carbon dioxide emissions. Resource extraction has more than tripled since 1970, including a fivefold increase in the use of non-metallic minerals and a 45 per cent increase in fossil fuel use.

Resource depletion is a serious problem, but ‘footprint’ estimates don’t tell us much about it (theconversation.com) 

AI Generated Information

The failure to protect nature manifests in various ways, each posing significant threats to the delicate balance of ecosystems worldwide. From the destruction of biosystems and habitats to the extinction of species, overuse of natural resources, and pollution, human activities have contributed to a wide array of environmental crises. 

The destruction of biosystems and habitats is perhaps one of the most visible consequences of human impact on the environment. Deforestation, urbanization, and industrial development have resulted in the loss of critical habitats for countless plant and animal species. Wetlands, forests, coral reefs, and other vital ecosystems are being degraded or destroyed at alarming rates, leading to the fragmentation of habitats and the displacement of countless species. 

As habitats disappear, so too do the species that depend on them for survival. The extinction crisis is accelerating, with species disappearing at a rate that far exceeds natural background extinction rates. Human activities such as habitat destruction, overexploitation, pollution, and climate change have pushed countless species to the brink of extinction, threatening biodiversity and disrupting entire ecosystems. 

Overuse of natural resources exacerbates these issues, as human populations continue to grow and consume resources at unsustainable rates. Deforestation for agriculture, overfishing, excessive water extraction, and the extraction of fossil fuels contribute to environmental degradation and habitat loss, further compounding the pressures on biodiversity and ecosystems. 

Pollution further exacerbates the degradation of natural systems, with pollutants contaminating air, water, and soil, and disrupting ecosystems and endangering human health. From toxic chemicals and plastic waste in our oceans to air pollution from industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust, pollution poses significant risks to both wildlife and human populations. 

Addressing these challenges requires urgent action on multiple fronts. Conservation efforts must prioritize the protection and restoration of habitats and biodiversity, including the establishment of protected areas and the implementation of sustainable land and resource management practices. Additionally, efforts to reduce pollution and mitigate climate change are essential for safeguarding the health of ecosystems and the well-being of future generations. 

Ultimately, the failure to protect nature not only threatens the survival of countless species but also undermines the resilience of ecosystems and the services they provide to humanity. By recognizing the interconnectedness of all life on Earth and taking concerted action to address these challenges, we can work towards a more sustainable and harmonious relationship with the natural world. 

How I Used AI

I had used AI to see how it would use the terms I had used to see what it would say about it. ChatGPT had summed up the meaning of what i wanted to say about our natural ecosystems and addressing pollution and other negative events going on in the world that is harming out environment, nature, ecosystems, and animals.