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Mass Extinction

10 causes of biodiversity loss and its effect on the environment

April 21, 2023
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Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, including the diversity of species, genes and ecosystems. It is the result of billions of years of evolution and is essential for the stability of ecosystems and environmental regulation, such as air purification, carbon sequestration and population control.

However, destructive human activities and the worsening climate crisis are resulting in the loss of this biodiversity through the extinction and endangerment of species , which results in far-reaching consequences for the environment, as well as for human beings.

The Top 10 Causes of Biodiversity Loss

Habitat loss and fragmentation : The conversion of natural habitats into agricultural land, urban areas and infrastructure development leads to the destruction and fragmentation of habitats, which is the primary cause of biodiversity loss. As humans take over previously wild lands, we reduce the available space for native species to live, feed and reproduce, and also disrupt the connections between different ecosystems.
Climate change : Global warming and the resulting changes in climate patterns have altered habitats, making it challenging for organisms to perform their natural functions or adapt to new conditions. Changes in temperatures or rain patterns, for example, make it different for certain plants to grow or survive, which also affects the species that depend on them.
Overhunting : Overhunting of a species to meet high demand for meat or animal byproducts, for sport, or due to pest control is one of the main drivers of species extinction. Industrialised hunting does not take into account the effects of species deterioration on the rest of the ecosystem and quickly depletes populations. For example, the sharp commercialisation of otter fur in the 18th and 19th centuries in the United States and Russia nearly drove the species extinct, which catalysed the secondary effects of losing kelp forests and depleting fish populations.
Overfishing : Industrialised fishing has led to the depletion of highly-demanded species like tuna , whales and salmon to meet the world’s demand. Unsustainable methods of fishing, like bottom trawling, have also destroyed sea-floor habitats, which are important nursery areas for many species. This has had the knock-off effect of changing marine ecosystem structures by increasing the populations of predators at the expense of their prey.
Invasive species : As ecosystems have evolved to maintain a relative stability of species populations, non-native species introduced to new environments can outcompete native species for resources, prey on them, or transmit diseases. When invasive species are at higher levels of the food chain, they can deplete populations of the prey they feed on. Conversely, when invasive species are in the middle or bottom of the food chain, the native species that feed on them may spike in population as they have an abundance of food, which could have repercussions on the rest of the ecosystem.
Pollution : Air, soil and water pollution can harm species by degrading their habitats, physically harming them, or increasing their vulnerability to diseases or predation. Some pollutants, such as pesticides and heavy metals, can be passed up the food chain , therefore contaminating many levels of the ecosystem.
Disease : The spread of infectious diseases , often facilitated by human activities, can devastate wildlife populations. Organisms have developed natural defences against disease-inducing microbes native to their region. However, when human activity contaminates ecosystems with non-native microbes, indigenous species are not equipped to combat them.
Genetic pollution : The release of genetically modified organisms or the hybridization of closely related species can lead to the loss of genetic diversity , which is crucial for species' adaptability and resilience.
Ocean acidification : Increases in carbon dioxide levels are responsible for the acidification of oceans, which makes it difficult for marine organisms, like corals , plankton or shellfish, to maintain their protective coating . The result is a decline in these species’ populations, as well as those of species that rely on them for food and shelter.
Ecosystem simplification : The conversion of complex, diverse ecosystems into simplified ones, such as monocultures or urban areas, reduces the number of niches available for species and decreases ecosystem resilience.

The risks and dangers of bee extinction

The Effects of Biodiversity Loss on the Environment

Biodiversity loss has a cascading effect on ecosystems and the environment, leading to a decline in ecosystem services and reduced resilience to disturbances. Some of the consequences include:

Loss of ecosystem stability : Biodiverse ecosystems are more stable and resilient to disruptions such as climate change, disease outbreaks or invasive species. Loss of biodiversity can reduce an ecosystem's ability to recover from these disturbances and increase the risk of ecosystem collapse.
Decline in ecosystem services : Healthy, diverse ecosystems provide essential services, such as water and air purification, soil formation pollination , carbon sequestration and climate regulation. Biodiversity loss can impair these services, leading to a decline in environmental quality.
Loss of genetic resources : Biodiversity is a reservoir of genetic resources that can be used for the development of new crops , medicines and for cultural expression.
Altered biogeochemical cycles : Biodiversity loss can affect the cycling of nutrients , such as carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, in ecosystems. This can lead to changes in ecosystem productivity, water quality, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Increased risk of species extinction : The loss of individual species can have cascading effects on other species within the same ecosystem, leading to further declines in biodiversity and increasing the risk of extinction for multiple species.

The blue whale is critically endangered. How many are left?

How Biodiversity Loss Affects Humans

The loss of biodiversity has significant implications for human health, well-being and economic development. Some of the ways in which biodiversity loss affects humans include:

Reduced food security : Biodiversity is essential for food production , as it provides genetic resources for crop and livestock improvement, pollination services and natural pest control. Declining biodiversity can reduce agricultural productivity and increase the vulnerability of food systems to pests, diseases and climate change.
Decline in human health : Biodiversity plays a critical role in the development of new medicines, as many pharmaceuticals and homoeopathic remedies are derived from plants or animals . Losing species could mean losing potential sources of new treatments for diseases. Additionally, the decline in ecosystem services, such as water and air purification, can lead to increased exposure to pollutants and pathogens, negatively affecting human health.
Economic losses : Biodiversity supports many industries, including agriculture, forestry, fisheries and tourism. Loss of biodiversity can reduce the productivity and sustainability of these industries, leading to economic losses and reduced employment opportunities.
Loss of cultural values : Biodiversity has cultural and spiritual significance for many people, particularly indigenous communities. The loss of species and ecosystems can result in the loss of cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and spiritual connections to nature.
Increased vulnerability to natural disasters : Healthy, diverse ecosystems can help protect human communities from natural disasters, such as floods, storms and landslides. Biodiversity loss can reduce the ability of ecosystems to buffer these events, increasing the vulnerability of human settlements to natural disasters.
Reduced resilience to climate change : Biodiversity is crucial for ecosystem resilience to climate change . Loss of biodiversity can reduce the capacity of ecosystems to adapt to changing climate conditions, potentially exacerbating the impacts of climate change on human societies.

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LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY: THE BURGEONING THREAT TO HUMAN HEALTH

"We are losing biodiversity globally at an alarming rate, and we need a cornucopia of different plants and animals, for the planet's health and our own." 1 Daine Ackerman American poet (1948- )

INTRODUCTION

One of the greatest attributes of the Earth is the biodiversity of her ecosystem. The Convention on Biological Diversity (Article 2) defined biological diversity or biodiversity" as the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems" . 2 This is a reflection of the more than 9 million types of living thing which include fungi, bacteria, plants, animals, protists that co-inhabit the Earth with human beings and serves as the bases of the diverse array of organismal, genetic and ecological diversity obtainable on Earth. 3 The complex interplay between this rich array of Earth's inhabitants underpins the proper functioning of the Earth's ecosystem. However, the last few decades, have witnessed a rapid disruption and loss of this rich biodiversity in terms of numbers and variability. Human beings are relentless than ever in eliminating genes, species, and biological traits that constitute the biodiversity via her disruptive activities on the Earth ecosystem.

Effects of biodiversity loss

The pressure from agriculture requirement for crop & animal husbandry has made humanity to convert wetlands, forest, and grassland into farmlands and grazing land, among others. Furthermore, the increasing world human population, which has doubled between 1970 and now to more than 7 billion is the other edge of the sword aggravating the global loss of biodiversity. On the other side are factors are exploitation of mineral resources, pollution, the introduction of exotic species & genetically modified organisms, climate changes and alteration and loss habitats which are all connected with human efforts to care for the growing habitats of the Earth.

Every year, at least a species goes into extinction while many species of plants and animals face extinction across the world according to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Report (2019). 4

Sadly, most of the global loss of biodiversity occurs in the Developing World, Nigeria inclusive. 5 Furthermore, the critical 25 hotspots of the global loss of biodiversity include areas spanning the rain forest belt of southern Nigeria although the enormous swathe of territory includes the Tropical Andes in South America and Indo-Burma areas in South East Asia. These hotspots are home to a considerable proportion of Earth's species of plants and animals. The Amazon in the Tropical Andes alone harbours 50,000 species or one-sixth of the Earth's total. 6 Generally, known species are going extinct, 1000 times more than newly discovered ones. 7

The history of medicine and the development of the rich armament of pharmacopoeia to combat diseases are traceable to a great deal to derivatives from flora and fauna whether aquatic or terrestrial in origin that are available across the world from ancient time to the present time. This product includes the ubiquitous aspirin derived from the bark of the willow tree Salix alba , which is no more a mere analgesic rather a useful drug in cardiovascular and haematologic disorders treatment. 8 Digoxin, a great drug in managing heart failure is derived from Foxglove Digitalis purpurea L . 8 Drugs such as quinine derived from Cinchona succirubra , and Artemisin based compounds are made from Artemisia annua and have help combat malaria at various times are derived from plant products. 8 While penicillin derived from Penicillium notatum may not be prominent antibiotics in the last 20 years, the subsequent and related products such as Erythromycin are derived from a microorganism. 8 Other great products that have saved many lives include antimitotic agents such as Doxorubicin from Torreya taxifolia and paclitaxel derived from Pacific Yew Taxus brevifolia . The list of products that have been derived from flora and fauna to help combat human disease is endless.

It is interesting to note that only an estimated 10% of the diverse species on Earth have been exploited to combat diseases while a little over 12.5% of the approximately 250 000 species of higher plants have been exploited in the same line. 9 On the other side, only about 1 % of microbial species on Earth are known. 9 , 10

No doubt, the loss of biodiversity does not only threaten new drug discovery especially in the light of emerging and reemerging diseases, but it also threatens the ability to discover a more effective therapy for the burgeoning non-communicable diseases, hence man's quest to stem the tide of this increasing global burden.

Equally threatened is the accessibility to clean fresh water and good quality air. 8 The air and water are greatly more polluted than ever due to human industrial activities, while the purifying capacity of the ecosystem is being lost. 2

Food production is being affected, thereby endangering the nutritional status of the world population, especially in regions where the poorest habit. The economic activities of natural pollinators, e.g. bees which aids our plants to fruits are estimated at approximately $550billion. 11 The aquatic species are being depleted. Fisheries currently provide 16% of the global protein source. The wild flora and fauna could mean alternative access to the nutritious source to the aforementioned is being wiped out.

While the biodiversity is contracting, there is a great danger of emerging and reemerging of infectious agents which threatens global health. The incidence of Lyme disease or West Nile virus (WNV) in humans have been linked to the loss of biodiversity among the animal host. 12

While the loss of biological biodiversity appears to affect significantly human health, it has also been opined to be a significant threat to the attainment of sustainable development goals which is the blueprint for achieving a better and more sustainable future for all. 13 Currently it threatens the goal 1; to reduce poverty, Goal 2; zero hunger, Goal 3; good health & well-being and goal 6; clean water and sanitation, Goal 11; sustainable cities and communities, Goal 13; Climate Action, Goal 14; Life Below Water and Goal 15; life on land. 14

RECOMMENDATIONS

While it may be easier to pass the attempt at the reversal of this loss to the tuft of core conservationists it is necessary to point out that biomedical scientists or researchers and even clinicians who will prescribe the yet undiscovered drugs from flora or fauna have an enormous role to play. In the same vein, the temptation to isolate this discussion to only the conservationist circle, may not be optimal to achieve broad-spectrum coalition for advocacy. Now is the time biomedical scientists join the advocacy to stem the tide of biodiversity loss by joining the luxurious pool necessary for such advocacy.

Conservative efforts should be in the mainstream of discourse in scientific fora of biomedical scientists since this loss threatens the whole capability of modern medicine to keep confronting the burgeoning disease burden.

Furthermore, the least maybe in our local environment we do is to promote and join conservation efforts such as serving as an advocate for the protection of endangered species, increase in protected areas of flora and fauna and exercise high ethics in animal researches involving endangered species.

Indeed, a little there, little here approach may help save the world. A tree or other exotic nurtured in an enforced green space in a rural clinic may be in a right direction and commendable effort at mitigating this ensuing disaster.

There is a need for more interdisciplinary research on the interrelationship of biodiversity loss with medical and medical-related themes. There is also a greater need for inquiries into the usefulness of the numerous natural products in solving human disease miseries. It may be the molecule to cure some of the vast arrays of presently incurable diseases are in some species in the Niger Delta area or Amazon.

Finally, there is a need for the national governments to enact and implement laws to protect the endangered species like the United States Endangered Species Act (1973). It would also be necessary to advocate for domestication locally the Aichi Biodiversity Targets proposed at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Nagoya, Japan, in October 2010, which target 1 explicitly state "By 2020, at the latest, people are aware of the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve and use it sustainably" . 4 , 15

Although we may not be able to save the extinct species with their lockup potentials, we may at least be able to wrestle the endangered & threatened species from similar extinction. Humanity needs to live a life accommodative of other species to promote healthy and robust dynamism among species, thereby sustaining healthy lives for ourselves and healthy interactions with the ecosystems. The ultimate goal, therefore, will be to halt the rate of biodiversity loss and ensure a stable ecosystem as soon as possible.

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Explainer: What Is Biodiversity Loss?

Species are going extinct faster than at any time in history, and this worrying trend is projected to accelerate. According to a 2021 United Nations report , approximately one million animal and plant species are at risk of extinction and many of them could be completely wiped out within the next few years. This dire situation could potentially lead to an ecological crisis, threatening the survival of species and ecosystems. So, what is the definition of biodiversity loss, what are some biodiversity loss examples, and the biggest causes of it today?

What Is Biodiversity Loss?

The definition of biodiversity loss is described as the loss of life on Earth at various levels, ranging from reductions in the genetic diversity to the collapse of entire ecosystems. In addition to its intrinsic value, biodiversity underpins ecosystem services, providing the backbone of the global economy.

The rate of loss has rapidly increased in recent years, to the point where many scientists believe that the world is currently experiencing a sixth mass extinction . Previous mass extinction events saw the existence of dinosaurs wiped out completely as well as the disappearance of more than 95% of all species living at the time.

Biodiversity loss not only results in species extinction, but it also affects humans by depriving humanity from accessing services that natural ecosystems provide, whether it be the wealth of oxygen that we breathe or the benefits of pollination provided by animals in ensuring global food security.

4 Causes of Biodiversity Loss

While biodiversity loss can occur naturally from more permanent ecological changes in ecosystems, landscapes, and the global biosphere, the current rapid rate of loss is a direct result of rampant human activity since the Industrial Revolution.

1. Habitat Loss

The single biggest contributor of global biodiversity loss is undoubtedly land and forest clearing to make way for urban and agricultural development. The latter of which has caused the loss of millions of hectares of trees to support the growing cattle and livestock industries, as well as mining activities. These ever-expanding industries are driven by global meat consumption, demand for commodities like paper and wood, and resources such as gold and other valuable minerals.

Decades of persistent land clearing means that we have lost significant amounts of natural habitats. Since forests especially are home to more than 80% of all terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects on the planet, millions of species have lost critical habitats to find shelter from prey and for reproduction, as well as increased food competition, causing population decline for many animals (and plants).

2. Wildlife Trading

Animal poaching, wildlife and exotic pet trading have cost the lives of millions of animals from thousands of species across the world, causing nearly 30,000 species to become extinct every single year. Rare and vulnerable animal species are frequently targeted, caught and killed for food, as trophies, status symbols – for instance, elephant ivories and rhino horns, tourist ornaments, as well as allegedly medicinal purposes – many bears and tigers are killed for parts believed to be medicinal cures and even aphrodisiacs.

3. Overfishing

Aside from habitat loss from deforestation, another contributing factor in biodiversity loss is overfishing prompted by the commercial fishing industry. Today, we fish at a much higher and faster rate than fish stocks are able to replenish, pushing many fish species to the brink of extinction. While there are a number of regulations and fishing quotas in place to reduce the risk of overfishing – a few commercially-fished tuna species have recently been reported to show signs of population recovery – many other marine species including sharks and manta rays are in decline. This partly can be attributed to bycatching, where unwanted sea animals are captured during commercial fishing. About 38.5 million tonnes of bycatch result from unsustainable fishing practises every year.

4. Climate Change

Our dependence on fossil fuels and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions from it have created the phenomenon that is climate change. But today’s climate is changing faster than species can move or adapt, and rising global temperatures are driving many animals to habitats they are not suited for. According to a 2004 study , scientists estimated that millions of species worldwide could face extinction as a result of climate changes predicted to occur in the next 50 years.

Aside from biodiversity loss definition, you might also like: How Does Habitat Fragmentation Affect Biodiversity?

Some Examples

1. mountain pygmy-possum.

As global temperatures continue to rise, one particular species has already keenly experienced its effects : the Mountain Pygmy-Possum. Native to Australia and found only in the snowy mountain tops in Victoria and New South Wales, this tiny mammal goes through a prolonged hibernation – under two to four metres of snow – of up to seven months during winters. Because of global warming, there is less available snow, forcing the marsupial to come out of hibernation earlier, resulting in greater food competition and higher risk of exposure to prey. Today’s estimates place about 2,000 individuals left in the wild for this already vulnerable species.

2. Orangutan

Both the Bornean and the Sumatran orangutan that are native to Indonesia have been severely impacted by deforestation in the country. The latter are reported to have lost approximately 60% of their key habitat between 1985 and 2007 , largely due to logging, mining, agriculture, and infrastructure, and in support of the palm oil industry – Indonesia is now home to over 60,000 square kilometres of palm plantations . As these majestic forest dwellers are arboreal creatures, meaning that they spend most of their lives in trees, the loss of forest land causes irreversible damage to the species’ survival. A century ago, there were probably more than 230,000 orangutans in total, but the Bornean orangutan is now estimated at about 104,700 while the Sumatran at about 7,500.

Endangered Species in Asia; Sumatran Orangutan

The endangered Sumatran Orangutan

3. Stellar’s Sea Cow

This marine mammal became extinct within 27 years of their discovery in 1741 by naturalist Georg W Steller. Reaching a length of over 30 feet and weighing between eight-10 metric tons, the sea cow was larger than today’s manatees with a broad, horizontal forked tail fluke. Its weight is largely attributed to three to four inches of blubber to help them conserve heat in its natural habitats – found primarily in the North Pacific Ocean – and one-inch thick outer skin. But because of these attractive features, the slow-moving animal was hunted extensively for its skin, fat, and meat to the point of extinction.

You might also like: 10 of the World’s Most Endangered Animals in 2023

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Causes and Consequences of Biodiversity Declines

Biodiversity is the diversity of life on Earth. This includes the richness (number), evenness (equity of relative abundance), and composition (types) of species, alleles, functional groups, or ecosystems. Biodiversity is rapidly declining worldwide, and there is considerable evidence that ecosystem functioning (e.g., productivity, nutrient cycling) and ecosystem stability (i.e., temporal invariability of productivity) depend on biodiversity (Naeem et al . 2009). Thus, biodiversity declines may diminish human wellbeing by decreasing the services that ecosystems can provide for people (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005).

Although the causes and consequences of contemporary biodiversity declines have been extensively explored in ecology, several questions deserve further consideration. For example, what natural processes influence biodiversity; what anthropogenic processes influence biodiversity; what are the consequences of biodiversity declines? Thus far, these questions have been considered separately within several ecological fields. Here, I briefly describe previous progress in each of these fields and then offer a conceptual and mechanistic synthesis across these fields. I conclude by suggesting novel questions and hypotheses that could be considered in future studies to increase our ability to understand, conserve, and restore ecosystems.

What Natural Processes Influence Biodiversity?

What anthropogenic processes influence biodiversity.

Human actions have resulted in multiple changes on a global scale that often drive contemporary biodiversity declines. In particular, land use changes, exotic species invasions, nutrient enrichment, and climate change are often considered some of the most ubiquitous and influential global ecosystem changes (Vitousek et al . 1997, Chapin et al . 2000, Benayas et al . 2009, Butchart et al . 2010). Unfortunately, the mechanisms by which global ecosystem changes influence biodiversity and ecosystem processes, and the combined effects of multiple changes, are often unclear. This greatly reduces the ability to predict future changes in biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Therefore, further investigation is needed to predict the consequences of global ecosystem changes.

In some cases, human actions have promoted biodiversity. Conservation strategies, such as creating parks to protect biodiversity hotspots, have been effective but insufficient (Bruner et al . 2001). For example, although biodiversity is often greater inside than outside parks, species extinctions continue. Similarly, restoration strategies, such as reinstating fire as a natural disturbance, have been effective but insufficient. Specifically, biodiversity and ecosystem services are greater in restored than in degraded ecosystems but lower in restored than in intact remnant ecosystems (Benayas et al . 2009). Despite the positive effects of conservation and restoration efforts, biodiversity declines have not slowed (Butchart et al . 2010). Thus, further investigation is needed to determine new conservation and restoration strategies.

What are the Consequences of Biodiversity Declines?

Synthesizing biodiversity research, what natural processes promote biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and stability, do global ecosystem changes influence ecosystems by altering these natural processes, references and recommended reading.

Benayas, J. M. R. et al . Enhancement of biodiversity and ecosystem services by ecological restoration: A meta-analysis. Science 325 , 1121–1124 (2009).

Brooker, R. W. et al . Facilitation in plant communities: The past, the present, and the future. Journal of Ecology 96 , 18–34 (2008).

Bruner, A. G. et al . Effectiveness of parks in protecting tropical biodiversity. Science 291 , 125–128 (2001).

Butchart, S. H. M. et al . Global biodiversity: Indicators of recent declines. Science 328 , 1164–1168 (2010).

Cardinale, B. J., Palmer, M. A., & Collins, S. L. Species diversity enhances ecosystem functioning through interspecific facilitation. Nature 415 , 426–429 (2002).

Chapin, F. S. et al . Consequences of changing biodiversity. Nature 405 , 234–242 (2000).

Chesson, P. & Kuang, J. J. The interaction between predation and competition. Nature 456 , 235–238 (2008).

Collins, S. L. et al . Modulation of diversity by grazing and mowing in native tallgrass prairie. Science 280 , 745–747 (1998).

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report . Geneva, 2007.

Isbell, F. I., Polley, H. W., & Wilsey, B. J. Biodiversity, productivity, and the temporal stability of productivity: Patterns and processes. Ecology Letters 12 , 443–451 (2009).

Loreau, M. From Populations to Ecosystems: Theoretical Foundations for a New Ecological Synthesis. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2010.

Marris, E. UN body will assess ecosystems and biodiversity. Nature 465 , 859 (2010).

McKane, R. B. et al . Resource-based niches provide a basis for plant species diversity and dominance in arctic tundra. Nature 415 , 68–71 (2002).

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Synthesis . Washington, DC: Island Press, 2005.

Naeem, S. et al . eds. Biodiversity, Ecosystem Functioning, and Human Wellbeing: An Ecological and Economic Perspective. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2009.

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To Tell the Story of Biodiversity Loss, Make It About Humans

The authors of a sweeping United Nations report on species in danger of extinction faced the same question I often do in reporting: Why should anyone care about the loss of nature?

By Brad Plumer

Times Insider explains who we are and what we do, and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.

On Monday, I wrote about a sweeping new United Nations report warning that humans were destroying Earth’s natural ecosystems at an “unprecedented” pace.

The findings were sobering: Millions of acres of wetlands and rain forests are being cleared away. As many as one million plant and animal species are now threatened with extinction because of farming, poaching, pollution, the transport of invasive species and, increasingly, global warming. Almost everywhere you look, nature is vanishing before our eyes.

But the report, which was written for world leaders and policymakers, also wrestled with some big questions: Why should anyone care about the loss of nature? Why should countries take drastic steps, as the report urges, to halt the decline in biodiversity?

These are questions I had been pondering in reporting the story. Climate change has become a major environmental issue, garnering quite a lot of media attention. But the decline in the diversity of plant and animal life around the world tends to get considerably less coverage , even though it is a major issue in its own right.

One possible reason for the disparity is that the effects of global warming are more apparent to many people. Record-breaking heat waves, deadly wildfires, rising sea levels — those are all tangible things that we can see fairly easily. But it is harder to notice if there are, say, fewer insects around than there were 30 years ago. And it is even harder to explain what that might mean for most people’s daily lives.

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Introduction
Natural biodiversity loss
Human-driven biodiversity loss

Ecological effects

Economic and societal effects, solutions to biodiversity loss.

What are the abiotic and biotic components of the biosphere?
What organizations determine which organisms are endangered species?

Portrait of a mountain gorilla at a short distance. gorilla close up portrait.The mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei)

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U.S. National Science Foundation - Loss of Biological Diversity: A Global crisis requiring international solutions
National Center for Biotechnology Information - The Loss of Diversity Causes and Consequences
The Guardian - The biodiversity crisis in numbers - a visual guide
Academia - Causes of Biodiversity Loss: a Human Ecological Analysis
Table Of Contents

The weight of biodiversity loss is most pronounced on species whose populations are decreasing. 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. The wholesale loss of populations also increases the risk that a particular species will become extinct.

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Biodiversity is critical for maintaining ecosystem health. Declining biodiversity lowers an ecosystem’s productivity (the amount of food energy that is converted into the biomass ) and lowers the quality of the ecosystem’s services (which often include maintaining the soil , purifying water that runs through it, and supplying food and shade, etc.).

Biodiversity loss also threatens the structure and proper functioning of the ecosystem. Although all ecosystems are able to adapt to the stresses associated with reductions in biodiversity to some degree, biodiversity loss reduces an ecosystem’s complexity , as roles once played by multiple interacting species or multiple interacting individuals are played by fewer or none. As parts are lost, the ecosystem loses its ability to recover from a disturbance ( see ecological resilience ). Beyond a critical point of species removal or diminishment, the ecosystem can become destabilized and collapse. That is, it ceases to be what it was (e.g., a tropical forest, a temperate swamp , an Arctic meadow, etc.) and undergoes a rapid restructuring, becoming something else (e.g., cropland, a residential subdivision or other urban ecosystem , barren wasteland, etc.).

Reduced biodiversity also creates a kind of “ecosystem homogenization” across regions as well as throughout the biosphere . Specialist species (i.e., those adapted to narrow habitats , limited food resources, or other specific environmental conditions) are often the most vulnerable to dramatic population declines and extinction when conditions change. On the other hand, generalist species (those adapted to a wide variety of habitats, food resources, and environmental conditions) and species favoured by human beings (i.e., livestock, pets, crops, and ornamental plants) become the major players in ecosystems vacated by specialist species. As specialist species and unique species (as well as their interactions with other species) are lost across a broad area, each of the ecosystems in the area loses some amount of complexity and distinctiveness, as the structure of their food chains and nutrient-cycling processes become increasingly similar.

Biodiversity loss affects economic systems and human society. Humans rely on various plants , animals , and other organisms for food , building materials, and medicines, and their availability as commodities is important to many cultures . The loss of biodiversity among these critical natural resources threatens global food security and the development of new pharmaceuticals to deal with future diseases . Simplified, homogenized ecosystems can also represent an aesthetic loss.

Economic scarcities among common food crops may be more noticeable than biodiversity losses of ecosystems and landscapes far from global markets. For example, Cavendish bananas are the most common variety imported to nontropical countries, but scientists note that the variety’s lack of genetic diversity makes it vulnerable to Tropical Race (TR) 4, a fusarium wilt fungus which blocks the flow of water and nutrients and kills the banana plant. Experts fear that TR4 may drive the Cavendish banana to extinction during future disease outbreaks. Some 75 percent of food crops have become extinct since 1900, largely because of an overreliance on a handful of high-producing crop varieties. This lack of biodiversity among crops threatens food security, because varieties may be vulnerable to disease and pests , invasive species , and climate change . Similar trends occur in livestock production , where high-producing breeds of cattle and poultry are favoured over lower-producing, wilder breeds.

Mainstream and traditional medicines can be derived from the chemicals in rare plants and animals, and thus lost species represent lost opportunities to treat and cure. For example, several species of fungi found on the hairs of three-toed sloths ( Bradypus variegatus ) produce medicines effective against the parasites that cause malaria ( Plasmodium falciparum ) and Chagas disease ( Trypanosoma cruzi ) as well as against human breast cancer .

Dealing with biodiversity loss is tied directly to the conservation challenges posed by the underlying drivers. Conservation biologists note that these problems could be solved using a mix of public policy and economic solutions assisted by continued monitoring and education. Governments, nongovernmental organizations, and the scientific community must work together to create incentives to conserve natural habitats and protect the species within them from unnecessary harvesting, while disincentivizing behaviour that contributes to habitat loss and degradation . Sustainable development (economic planning that seeks to foster growth while preserving environmental quality) must be considered when creating new farmland and human living spaces. Laws that prevent poaching and the indiscriminate trade in wildlife must be improved and enforced. Shipping materials at ports must be inspected for stowaway organisms.

Developing and implementing solutions for each of these causes of biodiversity loss will relieve the pressure on species and ecosystems in their own way, but conservation biologists agree that the most effective way to prevent continued biodiversity loss is to protect the remaining species from overhunting and overfishing and to keep their habitats and the ecosystems they rely on intact and secure from species invasions and land use conversion. Efforts that monitor the status of individual species, such as the Red List of Threatened Species from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the United States Endangered Species list remain critical tools that help decision makers prioritize conservation efforts. In addition, a number of areas rich in unique species that could serve as priorities for habitat protection have been identified. Such “ hot spots ” are regions of high endemism , meaning that the species found there are not found anywhere else on Earth. Ecological hot spots tend to occur in tropical environments where species richness and biodiversity are much higher than in ecosystems closer to the poles.

Concerted actions by the world’s governments are critical in protecting biodiversity. Numerous national governments have conserved portions of their territories under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). A list of 20 biodiversity goals, called the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, was unveiled at the CBD meeting held in Nagoya , Japan , in October 2010. The purpose of the list was to make issues of biodiversity mainstream in both economic markets and society at large and to increase biodiversity protection by 2020. Since 2010, 164 countries have developed plans to reach those targets. One of the more prominent targets on the list sought to protect 17 percent of terrestrial and inland waters or more and at least 10 percent of coastal and marine areas . By January 2019 some 7.5 percent of the world’s oceans (which included 17.3 percent of the marine environment in national waters) had been protected by various national governments in addition to 14.9 percent of land areas.

Royal Society essays explore threats to global biodiversity and case for urgent action

Leading figures in the fields of conservation, economics and sustainable development call for the urgent protection and restoration of global biodiversity in a series of essays ahead of the United Nations’ biodiversity summit, COP15, in Kunming, China next year.

Commissioned by the Royal Society from experts across the sciences and humanities, these essays are intended to strengthen the evidence base on biodiversity and guide international policymakers ahead of the summit.

Evolution has created millions of species of animals, plants, fungi and microbes which are threatened by human activity and the changes we are causing to Earth’s climate. Their loss jeopardises the systems that provide our food, regulate our climate and buffer against threats like flooding and disease.

The first tranche of essays explains why biodiversity loss is ‘evolutionary suicide’, and looks at how the impacts of human consumption and population growth on the natural world can be mitigated.

“These essays present the case for ambitious steps to reverse biodiversity decline,” said Professor Yadvinder Malhi CBE FRS, Professor of Ecosystem Science, University of Oxford and Chair of the Royal Society’s Biodiversity steering group.

“For society to flourish, the natural world must thrive. Biodiversity is the inherited biological wealth of the Earth, and has intrinsic value in its own terms. It is also essential for meeting the most basic of human needs - food, water, shelter, clothing, fuel and medicines. It also helps clean pollution from the environment, influences climate and cycles nutrients crucial to life. It is integral to our physical and mental wellbeing and society at large.

“The full suite of essays will explore the context and causes of biodiversity loss, and what needs to be done to reverse this decline. Through these essays and its ongoing policy work, the Royal Society aims to stimulate discussion and a system-wide response to biodiversity loss.”

The first three essays are summarised below:

Emergent and vanishing biodiversity, and evolutionary suicide – Simon A. Levin, James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, explores the importance of biodiversity to humanity, and warns us of an imminent ‘evolutionary suicide - in the same way as the spread of cancer cells kills the host and the cancer cells. To prevent this, he emphasises the importance of preserving the variety and robustness of natural ecosystems, within which species co-exist, relate and evolve, and which are at the core of the services we enjoy from nature. As players in a global coordination game, recognising and valuing the priorities of other groups will be vital for effective collective action on biodiversity

Consumption patterns and biodiversity – Jianguo Liu, Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, urges us to rethink our consumption habits to ensure these are less harmful to biodiversity. He offers a new approach which takes into consideration global consumption patterns and associated conservation challenges which arise when the production of goods and services is separated geographically from consumption – dubbed “telecoupling”. Using this approach to trace flows along supply chains and coordinate efforts across systems would make it possible to account for the biodiversity impacts of goods and services - and make those who damage nature liable for the cost.

Demographic trends and policy options – John Bongaarts, Distinguished Scholar, Population Council, states that the effect of population growth on biodiversity is often ignored by policymakers - in part because of its sensitivity and opposition to family planning from different demographics. He outlines two main avenues to address rising global population – through stimulating socio-economic change (for example, through the education of women) or by investing in family planning programmes. In particular, he shows how reproductive health programmes could enable governments in less developed countries (LDCs) to help women avoid unplanned pregnancies.

The remaining essays are expected to be published early in 2021.

All the Royal Society’s biodiversity work is available at - royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/biodiversity

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Biodiversity - our strongest natural defense against climate change

Photocomposition: a butterfly on the tip of a branch, representing biodiversity

Biological diversity — or biodiversity — is the variety of life on Earth, in all its forms, from genes and bacteria to entire ecosystems such as forests or coral reefs. The biodiversity we see today is the result of 4.5 billion years of evolution, increasingly influenced by humans.

Biodiversity forms the web of life that we depend on for so many things – food, water, medicine, a stable climate, economic growth, among others. Over half of global GDP is dependent on nature. More than 1 billion people rely on forests for their livelihoods. And land and the ocean absorb more than half of all carbon emissions.

But nature is in crisis. Up to one million species are threatened with extinction, many within decades. Irreplaceable ecosystems like parts of the Amazon rainforest are turning from carbon sinks into carbon sources due to deforestation. And 85 per cent of wetlands , such as salt marshes and mangrove swamps which absorb large amounts of carbon, have disappeared.

How is climate change affecting biodiversity?

The main driver of biodiversity loss remains humans’ use of land – primarily for food production . Human activity has already altered over 70 per cent of all ice-free land. When land is converted for agriculture, some animal and plant species may lose their habitat and face extinction.

But climate change is playing an increasingly important role in the decline of biodiversity. Climate change has altered marine, terrestrial, and freshwater ecosystems around the world. It has caused the loss of local species, increased diseases, and driven mass mortality of plants and animals, resulting in the first climate-driven extinctions.

On land, higher temperatures have forced animals and plants to move to higher elevations or higher latitudes, many moving towards the Earth’s poles, with far-reaching consequences for ecosystems. The risk of species extinction increases with every degree of warming.

In the ocean, rising temperatures increase the risk of irreversible loss of marine and coastal ecosystems . Live coral reefs , for instance, have nearly halved in the past 150 years, and further warming threatens to destroy almost all remaining reefs.

photocomposition: a turtle swimming in the ocean

Overall, climate change affects the health of ecosystems , influencing shifts in the distribution of plants, viruses, animals, and even human settlements. This can create increased opportunities for animals to spread diseases and for viruses to spill over to humans. Human health can also be affected by reduced ecosystem services, such as the loss of food, medicine and livelihoods provided by nature.

Why is biodiversity essential for limiting climate change?

When human activities produce greenhouse gases, around half of the emissions remain in the atmosphere, while the other half is absorbed by the land and ocean . These ecosystems – and the biodiversity they contain – are natural carbon sinks, providing so-called nature-based solutions to climate change.

Protecting, managing, and restoring forests , for example, offers roughly two-thirds of the total mitigation potential of all nature-based solutions. Despite massive and ongoing losses, forests still cover more than 30 per cent of the planet’s land.

Peatlands – wetlands such as marshes and swamps – cover only 3 per cent of the world’s land, but they store twice as much carbon as all the forests. Preserving and restoring peatlands means keeping them wet so the carbon doesn’t oxidize and float off into the atmosphere.

Ocean habitats such as seagrasses and mangroves can also sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at rates up to four times higher than terrestrial forests can. Their ability to capture and store carbon make mangroves highly valuable in the fight against climate change.

Conserving and restoring natural spaces , both on land and in the water, is essential for limiting carbon emissions and adapting to an already changing climate. About one-third of the greenhouse gas emissions reductions needed in the next decade could be achieved by improving nature’s ability to absorb emissions.

Is the UN tackling climate and biodiversity together?

Climate change and biodiversity loss (as well as pollution) are part of an interlinked triple planetary crisis the world is facing today. They need to be tackled together if we are to advance the Sustainable Development Goals and secure a viable future on this planet.

Governments deal with climate change and biodiversity through two different international agreements – the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), both established at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.

Similar to the historic Paris Agreement made in 2015 under the UNFCCC, parties to the Biodiversity Convention in December 2022 adopted an agreement for nature, known as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework , which succeeds the Aichi Biodiversity Targets adopted in 2010.

The framework includes wide-ranging steps to tackle the causes of biodiversity loss worldwide, including climate change and pollution.

“An ambitious and effective post-2020 global biodiversity framework, with clear targets and benchmarks, can put nature and people back on track,” the UN Secretary-General said , adding that, “this framework should work in synergy with the Paris Agreement on climate change and other multilateral agreements on forests, desertification and oceans.”

In December 2022, governments met in Montreal, Canada to agree on the new framework to secure an ambitious and transformative global plan to set humanity on a path to living in harmony with nature.

“Delivering on the framework will contribute to the climate agenda, while full delivery of the Paris Agreement is needed to allow the framework to succeed,” said Inger Andersen , the head of the UN Environment Programme. “We can’t work in isolation if we are to end the triple planetary crises.”

Watch our interview with Elizabeth Mrema , the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

Read the UN Secretary-General’s speech at the Countdown to COP15: Leaders Event for a Nature-Positive World in September 2022, and his remarks at the December 2022 Biodiversity Conference and Press Conference.

Learn more about…

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Climate issues

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Elizabeth Mrema: Protecting the world’s biodiversity

The Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, Elizabeth Mrema, speaks about the interlinkages between climate change and biodiversity loss.

Hindou Ibrahim: Living in harmony with nature

“Indigenous peoples are a solution, we are not only a victim of the climate change,” says SDG Advocate and Indigenous rights activists Hindou Ibrahim.

Elliott Harris: Measure the value of nature – before it’s too late

UN Chief Economist Elliott Harris introduces a ground-breaking shift in valuing nature as a way of making more informed decisions about economies, climate action and the protection of biodiversity.

The Ocean – the world’s greatest ally against climate change

The ocean is central to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. Here are a few reasons we need to safeguard the ocean as our best ally for climate solutions.

Renewable energy – powering a safer future

Derived from natural resources that are abundant and continuously replenished, renewable energy is key to a safer, cleaner, and sustainable world. Explore common sources of renewable energy here.

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Biodiversity loss: what is causing it and why is it a concern?

Plant and animal species are disappearing at an ever faster rate due to human activity. What are the causes and why does biodiversity matter?

Beautiful woodland bluebell forest in spring.

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 .

The European Commission presented the new 2030 Biodiversity Strategy in May 2020, following calls from the Parliament in January 2020 to address the main drivers of biodiversity loss and set legally binding targets .

During the June 2021 plenary session, Parliament adopted its position on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives to ensure that by 2050 the world’s ecosystems are restored, resilient and adequately protected.

In February 2024, MEPs backed a new law on nature restoration , which is part of the EU’s efforts to preserve biodiversity in Europe. This law binds all EU countries to work towards restoring natural habitats.

What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity is traditionally defined as the variety of life on Earth in all its forms. It comprises the number of species, their genetic variation and the interaction of these lifeforms within complex ecosystems.

In a UN report published in 2019, scientists warned that one million species - out of an estimated total of 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. It takes millions of years for ecosystems to recover from such an event.

Find out facts and figures about endangered species in Europe

Why is biodiversity important?

Healthy ecosystems provide us with many essentials 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 .

In short, 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 living organisms interact in dynamic ecosystems, the disappearance of one species can have a far-reaching impact on the food chain. 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.

Main reasons for biodiversity loss

Changes in land use (e.g. deforestation, intensive mono-culture, urbanisation)
Direct exploitation such as hunting and over-fishing
Climate change
Invasive alien species

What measures does the Parliament propose?

MEPs strongly supported the EU targets of protecting at least 30% of the EU’s marine and terrestrial areas (forests, wetlands, peatlands, grasslands and coastal ecosystems) and that 10% of the EU’s oceans and land, including all remaining primary and old-growth forests and other carbon-rich ecosystems, should be left essentially undisturbed.

They want the targets to be binding and implemented by EU countries at national level, in cooperation with regional and local authorities.

Concerned by the decline of pollinators, MEPs also called for an urgent revision of the EU Pollinators Initiative .

More information about what the EU does to preserve biodiversity

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Preparing the post-2020 biodiversity framework

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Essay On Loss of Biodiversity | Loss of Biodiversity Essay for Students and Children in English

February 13, 2024 by Prasanna

Essay On Loss of Biodiversity: Biodiversity is important because it is what the planet earth is made of. Whether we are talking about the earth’s Landor all the hydrosphere, it is filled with microorganisms, animals, and plants.

In the name of development, kilometres worth of forests is cut down reducing by tens of thousands and the biodiversity on our planet with every ecosystem being destroyed.

You can also find more Essay Writing articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more.

Long And Short Essays On Loss of Biodiversity for Students and Kids In English

We provide students with essay samples on Loss of Biodiversity essays of 500 words and a short piece of 150 words on the same topic for reference.

Long Essay On Loss of Biodiversity 500 Words In English

Long Essay On Loss of Biodiversity is helpful to students of classes 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.

Biodiversity is actually present in all around us, in the potted mosquitoes and plants in our homes, to the millions of various species of plants and animals that exist in the deepest jungles and forests in the world. In simple words, biodiversity actually refers to the plentitude of fauna and flora around us in the world, on our planet earth. In the world around us, it plays an incredibly necessary role as each organism, whether animal or plant, has a relevant role to play-in in the ecological system.

So why is biodiversity actually important? The biodiversity is important because it is what the planet earth is made of. Whether we are talking about the earth’s Landor all the hydrosphere, it is filled with micro-organisms, animals, and plants. Thus, if these organisms which are also known the planet earth biodiversity, keep constantly decreasing or depleting, there will be actually nothing left of our planet.

There are almost thousands of species today that are actually endemic to specific regions or places in the world, which means in those places or regions if the ecosystems cease to exist, these species of fauna and flora will, too. For example, the Madagascar lemurs are endemic to its place Madagascar. Due to circumstances created by humans, ecosystems are actually being destroyed, resulting in endemic of these species and being put under the endangered category. Endangered species are those which are on the verge of extinction, due to unnecessary human activities and more often than not. The Bengal tiger is endangered in West Bengal, and dodo birds have been found to be extinct for centuries now. Another word for caring for the environment is Conservation of Biodiversity.

In today’s world of new advancements, world leaders find it necessary to cut down a lot of trees in forests every day for infrastructure technology. This process is extremely harmful to the environment and is also called deforestation. The harm to nature is due to the loss of trees on which a multitude of organisms depend on and provide us with oxygen to the ecosystem that these jungles provide for them. In the name of development, kilometres worth of forests is cut down reducing by tens of thousands and the biodiversity on our planet with every ecosystem being destroyed.

Even though biodiversity is actually decreasing, there are ways even if not completely to restore to its full extent. The best humanly possible way to do this is replanting trees or reforestation, allowing the forest to grow its lost trees back. To battle the loss of biodiversity, another solution is to spread awareness about the repercussions or consequences of the same. Governments have planned and gone to the extent of setting up forest conservatories and reserves to protect the flora and wildlife of specific forest regions of the world. This shows responsibility and concern on the part of these ruling governments.

It is most essential to restore biodiversity in the world. For this to happen, humans must take control of our questionable actions against ecosystems around the world. It is time to take care of and protect the earth’s flora and fauna much better than we have been in the past.

Short Essay On Loss of 150 Words Biodiversity In English

Short Essay On Loss of Biodiversity is helpful to students of classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Whether we are talking about the earth’s Landor all the hydrosphere, it is filled with microorganisms, animals, and plants. Thus, if these organisms which are also known the planet earth biodiversity, keep constantly decreasing or depleting, there will be actually nothing left of our planet.

The harm to nature is due to the loss of trees on which a multitude of organisms depend on and provide us with oxygen to the ecosystem that these jungles provide for them.

10 Lines On Loss Of Biodiversity Essay

Biodiversity on planet earth makes up all the living beings, including all microorganisms, animals, and plants.
Biodiversity, as it maintains the ecological balance, is essential of our planet
There are many harm-causing factors the biodiversity and environment in today’s world of capitalism and development.
The risk of extinction status or endangered species faces many endemic species due to the destruction of their homes.
Many species are on the verge of extinction which means and called endangered,
There are several forest reserves and protected conservatories of certain regions world over, to help preserve the biodiversity
By reforestation, it is vital to make efforts to restore biodiversity.
There should be a desire and need to spread awareness to let people and make them know the dire consequences or repercussions of biodiversity loss.
In the depletion of biodiversity, the role we have played, and humans must realize.
It is time to start protecting and taking care of and the earth’s flora and fauna much better than before.

FAQ’s on Loss of Biodiversity Essay

Question 1. What does biodiversity actually mean?

Answer: Biodiversity refers and defined to the collection of every species of micro-organisms plants and animals all over the planet.

Question 2. Why are forests so important?

Answer: Forests house millions and millions of trees, which are actually the living beings that provide us with the oxygen that humans and animals breathe. Different fauna and flora species that are essentially dependent have millions of houses in the forest and each other to survive the earth and themselves.

Question 3. What can we do to help the earth?

Answer: The best humanly possible way to do this is replanting trees or reforestation, allowing the forest to grow its lost trees back. To battle the loss of biodiversity, another solution is to spread awareness about the repercussions or consequences of the same.

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Facts about the nature crisis

What you need to know about the nature crisis

We are experiencing a dangerous decline in nature and humans are causing it:

We are using the equivalent of 1.6 Earths to maintain our current way of life and ecosystems cannot keep up with our demands. (Becoming Generation Restoration, UNEP)
One million of the world’s estimated 8 million species of plants and animals are threatened with extinction. (IPBES)
75 percent of the Earth’s land surface has been significantly altered by human actions, including 85 percent of wetland areas. (IPBES)
66 percent of ocean area is impacted by human activities, including from fisheries and pollution. (IPBES)
Close to 90% of the world’s marine fish stocks are fully exploited, overexploited or depleted. (UNCTAD)
Our global food system is the primary driver of biodiversity loss with agriculture alone being the identified threat 24,000 of the 28,000 species at risk of extinction. (Chatham House and UNEP)
Agricultural expansion is said to account for 70% of the projected loss of terrestrial biodiversity. (CBD)

From 7-19 December 2022, countries met in Montreal for COP15 to strike a landmark agreement to guide global actions on biodiversity. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework lays out an ambitious plan that addresses the key drivers of biodiversity loss and puts us on the path to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. See UNEP’s COP-15 page for more information and the latest updates.

What are the impacts of nature loss and degradation

Nature loss has far-reaching consequences. Damaged ecosystems exacerbate climate change, undermine food security and put people and communities at risk.

Around 3.2 billion people, or 40 percent of the global population, are adversely affected by land degradation.
Up to $577 billion in annual global crop production is at risk from pollinator loss.
25 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are generated by land clearing, crop production and fertilization.
Development is putting animals and humans in closer contact increasing the risk of diseases like COVID-19 to spread. About 60 percent of human infections are estimated to have an animal origin.
100-300 million people are at increased risk of floods and hurricanes because of coastal habitat loss.
Declines in nature and biodiversity at current trajectories will undermine progress toward 35 out of 44 of the targets of SDGs related to poverty, hunger, health, water cities, climate, oceans and land.

What do we need to do to halt and reverse nature loss?

We only have until the end of the decade to bend the curve on nature and biodiversity loss. Transformational change is possible if we start now at every level from local to global. Actions that should be taken include:

The UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) in Montreal later this year must culminate in a clearly defined, ambitious Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework that is matched by finances and accountability mechanisms to achieve the framework’s targets. Read more about COP 15 .
Investments in nature-based solutions will need to at least triple by 2030 if the world is to meet its climate change, biodiversity and land degradation targets. Explore UNEP’s State of Finance for Nature report and watch the video.
Preventing the large-scale collapse of nature will require effective conservation of more of our land, inland waters and oceans, as well as the world delivering on its current commitment to restore at least one billion hectares of degraded land in the next decade. Learn about the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
Agriculture has altered the face of the planet more than any other human activity. We need to transform our food systems to become more sustainable and resilient in order to reverse environmental degradation, restore ecosystems and ensure food and nutritional security. Read about food system impacts on nature and biodiversity.
Governments must assign a financial value on the services that nature provides to people so that environmental action can be prioritized in policy and investment decisions. Read the IPBES new report for how assigning values to nature can help address biodiversity loss.
Tax structures and subsidies should be reformed to incentivize sustainable production and ensure that environmental degradation no longer pays. This joint FAO-UNDP-UNEP report calls for governments to rethink the way agriculture is subsidized and supported.
Corporations should put sustainability at the heart of decision making and focus on new sustainable business models to meet society’s needs in ways less impactful on the environment. UNEP’s Global Environment Outlook for Business briefs provide roadmaps that business can follow to address our environmental challenges.
All financial players should align their business strategies with global and national sustainability goals including the SDGs, the Paris Agreement and the upcoming Biodiversity Framework. Read more about how to catalyze action across the financial system .

Related Sustainable Development Goals

133 Biodiversity Topics & Examples

🔝 top-10 biodiversity topics for presentation, 🏆 best biodiversity project topics, 💡 most interesting biodiversity assignment topics, 📌 simple & easy biodiversity related topics, 👍 good biodiversity title ideas, ❓ biodiversity research topics.

Biodiversity loss.
Global biodiversity conservation.
The Amazon rainforest.
Animal ecology research.
Sub Saharan Africa.
Marine biodiversity.
Threats to ecosystems.
Plant ecology.
Importance of environmental conservation.
Evolution of animal species.
Habitat Destruction and Biodiversity Extinctions The instance of extinction is by and large regarded as the demise of the very last character of the genus. Habitat obliteration has played a major part in wiping out of species, and it is […]
Biology Lab Report: Biodiversity Study of Lichens As a consequence of these results, the variety of foods found in forest flora that include lichens may be linked to varying optimum conditions for establishment and development.
Biodiversity Benefits for Ecology This variation of species in the ecosystem is a very important concept and factor that indeed is the basis for sustaining life on our planet. Moreover, the most important supporter of life, which is soil […]
Biodiversity Hotspots: The Philippines The International Conservation has classified the Philippines as one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world. Additionally, the country is said to be one of the areas that are endangered in the world.
How Biodiversity Is Threatened by Human Activity Most of the marine biodiversity is found in the tropics, especially coral reefs that support the growth of organisms. Overexploitation in the oceans is caused by overfishing and fishing practices that cause destruction of biodiversity.
Biodiversity Conservation: Tropical Rainforest The forest is not a threat to many species and that, therefore, helps in showing that conserving this forest will be of great benefit to many species. The disadvantage of conserving the Mangrove Forest is […]
Conserving Biodiversity: The Loggerhead Turtle The loggerhead sea turtle is the species of oceanic turtle which is spread all over the world and belongs to the Cheloniidae family.
Biodiversity Hotspots and Environmental Ethics The magnitude of the problem of losing biodiversity hotspots is too great, to the extend of extinction of various species from the face of the earth.
Marine Biodiversity Conservation and Impure Public Goods The fact that the issue concerning the global marine biodiversity and the effects that impure public goods may possibly have on these rates can lead to the development of a range of externalities that should […]
The Importance of Biodiversity in Ecosystem The most urgent problem right now is to maintain the level of biodiversity in this world but it has to begin with a more in-depth understanding of how different species of flora and fauna can […]
Aspects, Importance and Issues of Biodiversity Genetic diversity is a term used to refer to the dissimilitude of organisms of the same species. Species diversity is used to refer to dissimilitude of organisms in a given region.
Introduced Species and Biodiversity Rhymer and Simberloff explain that the seriousness of the phenomenon may not be very evident from direct observation of the morphological traits of the species.
Loss of Biodiversity and Extinctions It is estimated that the number of species that have become extinct is greater than the number of species that are currently found on earth.
Climate Change’s Negative Impact on Biodiversity This essay’s primary objective is to trace and evaluate the impact of climate change on biological diversity through the lens of transformations in the marine and forest ecosystems and evaluation of the agricultural sector both […]
Essentials of Biodiversity At the same time, the knowledge and a more informed understanding of the whole concept of biodiversity gives us the power to intervene in the event that we are faced by the loss of biodiversity, […]
Biodiversity: Aspects Within the Sphere of Biology Finally, living objects consist of cells, which are the basic units of their function and structure. The viruses’ structure depends on which nucleic acid is included, which denotes that there are DNA and RNA viruses.
Coral Reef and Biodiversity in Ecosystems Coral reefs are formed only in the tropical zone of the ocean; the temperature limits their life – are from +18 to +29oS, and at the slightest deviation from the boundaries of the coral die.
Biodiversity and the Health of Ecosystems Various opinions are revealed concerning biodiversity, including the human impact, reversal of biodiversity loss, the impact of overpopulation, the future of biodiversity, and the rate of extinction.
Wild Crops and Biodiversity Threats However, out of millions of existing types of wild crop cultures, the vast majority have been abandoned and eradicated, as the agricultural companies placed major emphasis on the breeding of domesticated cultures that are easy […]
Biodiversity, Interdependency: Threatened and Endhangered Species In the above table, humans rely on bees to facilitate pollination among food crops and use their honey as food. Concurrently, lichens break down rocks to provide nutrient-rich soil in the relationship.
Invasive Processes’ Impact on Ecosystem’s Biodiversity If the invasive ones prove to be more adaptive, this will bring about the oppression of the native species and radical changes in the ecosystem.
Biodiversity and Dynamics of Mountainous Area Near the House It should be emphasized that the term ecosystem used in this paper is considered a natural community characterized by a constant cycle of energy and resources, the presence of consumers, producers, and decomposers, as well […]
National Biodiversity Strategy By this decision, the UN seeks to draw the attention of the world community and the leaders of all countries to the protection and rational use of natural resources.
Rewilding Our Cities: Beauty, Biodiversity and the Biophilic Cities Movement What is the source of your news item? The Guardian.
Biodiversity and Food Production This paper will analyze the importance of biodiversity in food production and the implications for human existence. Edible organisms are few as compared to the total number of organisms in the ecosystem.
Restoring the Everglades Wetlands: Biodiversity The Act lays out the functions and roles of the Department of Environmental Protection and the South Florida Water Management District in restoration of the Everglades.
Biodiversity: Importance and Benefits This is due to the fact that man is evolving from the tendency of valuing long term benefits to a tendency of valuing short terms benefits.
A Benchmarking Biodiversity Survey of the Inter-Tidal Zone at Goat Island Bay, Leigh Marine Laboratory Within each quadrant, the common species were counted or, in the case of seaweed and moss, proliferation estimated as a percentage of the quadrant occupied.
Natural Selection and Biodiversity These are featured by the ways in which the inhabiting organisms adapt to them and it is the existence of these organisms on which the ecosystems depend and therefore it is evident that this diversity […]
Loss of Biodiversity in the Amazon Ecosystem The growth of the human population and the expansion of global economies have contributed to the significant loss of biodiversity despite the initial belief that the increase of resources can halt the adverse consequences of […]
Urban Plants’ Role in Insects’ Biodiversity The plants provide food, shelter and promote the defensive mechanisms of the insects. The observation was also an instrumental method that was used to assess the behavior and the existence of insects in relation to […]
Brazilian Amazonia: Biodiversity and Deforestation Secondly, the mayor persuaded the people to stop deforestation to save the Amazon. Additionally, deforestation leads to displacement of indigenous people living in the Amazonia.
Defining and Measuring Biodiversity Biodiversity is measured in terms of attributes that explore the quality of nature; richness and evenness of the living organisms within an ecological niche.
Biodiversity, Its Importance and Benefits Apart from that, the paper is going to speculate on the most and least diverse species in the local area. The biodiversity can be measured in terms of the number of different species in the […]
Biodiversity, Its Evolutionary and Genetic Reasons The occurrence of natural selection is hinged on the hypothesis that offspring inherit their characteristics from their parents in the form of genes and that members of any particular population must have some inconsiderable disparity […]
Biodiversity Hotspots: Evaluation and Analysis The region also boasts with the endangered freshwater turtle species, which are under a threat of extinction due to over-harvesting and destroyed habitat.
Natural Sciences: Biodiversity and Human Civilisation The author in conjunction with a team of other researchers used a modelling study to illustrate the fact approximately 2 percent of global energy is currently being deployed in the generation of wind and solar […]
How Human Health Depends on Biodiversity The disturbance of the ecosystem has some effects on the dynamics of vectors and infectious diseases. Change of climate is a contributing factor in the emergence of new species and infectious diseases.
Biodiversity and Business Risk In conclusion, biodiversity risk affects businesses since the loss of biodiversity leads to: coastal flooding, desertification and food insecurity, all of which have impacts on business organizations.
Measurement of Biodiversity It is the “sum total of all biotic variation from the level of genes to ecosystems” according to Andy Purvus and Andy Hector in their article entitled “Getting the Measure of Diversity” which appeared in […]
Ecosystems: Biodiversity and Habitat Loss The review of the topic shows that the relationship between urban developmental patterns and the dynamics of ecosystem are concepts that are still not clearly understood in the scholarly world as well as in general.
When Human Diet Costs Too Much: Biodiversity as the Ultimate Answer to the Global Problems Because of the unreasonable use of the natural resources, environmental pollution and inadequate protection, people have led a number of species to extinction; moreover, due to the increasing rates of consumerist approach towards the food […]
The Impact of Burmese Pythons on Florida’s Native Biodiversity Scientists from the South Florida Natural Resource Center, the Smithsonian institute and the University of Florida have undertaken studies to assess the predation behavior of the Burmese pythons on birds in the area.
Threat to Biodiversity Is Just as Important as Climate Change This paper shall articulate the truth of this statement by demonstrating that threats to biodiversity pose significant threat to the sustainability of human life on earth and are therefore the protection of biodiversity is as […]
Cold Water Coral Ecosystems and Their Biodiversity: A Review of Their Economic and Social Value
Benchmarking DNA Metabarcoding for Biodiversity-Based Monitoring and Assessment
Prospects for Integrating Disturbances, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning Using Microbial Systems
Enterprising Nature: Economics, Markets, and Finance in Global Biodiversity Politics
Institutional Economics and the Behaviour of Conservation Organizations: Implications for Biodiversity Conservation
Fisheries, Fish Pollution and Biodiversity: Choice Experiments With Fishermen, Traders and Consumers
Last Stand: Protected Areas and the Defense of Tropical Biodiversity
Hardwiring Green: How Banks Account For Biodiversity Risks and Opportunities
Governance Criteria for Effective Transboundary Biodiversity Conservation
Marine Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas for Penguins in Antarctica: Targets for Conservation Action
Ecological and Economic Assessment of Forests Biodiversity: Formation of Theoretical and Methodological Instruments
Environment and Biodiversity Impacts of Organic and Conventional Agriculture
Food From the Water: How the Fish Production Revolution Affects Aquatic Biodiversity and Food Security
Biodiversity and World Food Security: Nourishing the Planet and Its People
Climate Change and Energy Economics: Key Indicators and Approaches to Measuring Biodiversity
Conflicts Between Biodiversity and Carbon Sequestration Programs: Economic and Legal Implications
Models for Sample Selection Bias in Contingent Valuation: Application to Forest Biodiversity
Optimal Land Conversion and Growth With Uncertain Biodiversity Costs
Internalizing Global Externalities From Biodiversity: Protected Areas and Multilateral Mechanisms of Transfer
Combining Internal and External Motivations in Multi-Actor Governance Arrangements for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
Balancing State and Volunteer Investment in Biodiversity Monitoring for the Implementation of CBD Indicators
Differences and Similarities Between Ecological and Economic Models for Biodiversity Conservation
Globalization and the Connection of Remote Communities: Household Effects and Their Biodiversity Implications
Shaded Coffee and Cocoa – Double Dividend for Biodiversity and Small-Scale Farmers
Spatial Priorities for Marine Biodiversity Conservation in the Coral Triangle
One World, One Experiment: Addressing the Biodiversity and Economics Conflict
Alternative Targets and Economic Efficiency of Selecting Protected Areas for Biodiversity Conservation in Boreal Forest
Analysing Multi Level Water and Biodiversity Governance in Their Context
Agricultural Biotechnology: Productivity, Biodiversity, and Intellectual Property Rights
Renewable Energy and Biodiversity: Implications for Transitioning to a Green Economy
Agricultural Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services of Major Farming Systems
Integrated Land Use Modelling of Agri-Environmental Measures to Maintain Biodiversity at Landscape Level
Changing Business Perceptions Regarding Biodiversity: From Impact Mitigation Towards New Strategies and Practices
Forest Biodiversity and Timber Extraction: An Analysis of the Interaction of Market and Non-market Mechanisms
Poverty and Biodiversity: Measuring the Overlap of Human Poverty and the Biodiversity Hotspots
Protecting Agro-Biodiversity by Promoting Rural Livelihoods
Maintaining Biodiversity and Environmental Sustainability
Landscape, Legal, and Biodiversity Threats That Windows Pose to Birds: A Review of an Important Conservation Issue
Variable Mating Behaviors and the Maintenance of Tropical Biodiversity
Species Preservation and Biodiversity Value: A Real Options Approach
What Is Being Done to Preserve Biodiversity and Its Hotspots?
How Are Argentina and Chile Facing Shared Biodiversity Loss?
Are Diverse Ecosystems More Valuable?
How Can Biodiversity Loss Be Prevented?
Can Payments for Watershed Services Help Save Biodiversity?
How Can Business Reduce Impacts on the World’s Biodiversity?
Are National Biodiversity Strategies Appropriate for Building Responsibilities for Mainstreaming Biodiversity Across Policy Sectors?
How Does Agriculture Effect Biodiversity?
Are There Income Effects on Global Willingness to Pay For Biodiversity Conservation?
How Does the Economic Risk Aversion Affect Biodiversity?
What Are the Threats of Biodiversity?
How Has the Increased Usage of Synthetic Pesticides Impacted Biodiversity?
What Does Drive Biodiversity Conservation Effort in the Developing World?
How Does the Plantation Affect Biodiversity?
What Does Drive Long-Run Biodiversity Change?
How Does the United Nations Deal With Biodiversity?
What Factors Affect Biodiversity?
How Are Timber Harvesting and Biodiversity Managed in Uneven-Aged Forests?
When Should Biodiversity Tenders Contract on Outcomes?
Who Cares About Biodiversity?
Why Can Financial Incentives Destroy Economically Valuable Biodiversity in Ethiopia?
What Factors Affect an Area’s Biodiversity?
In What Ways Is Biodiversity Economically Valuable?
Which Human Activities Threaten Biodiversity?
How Can Biodiversity Be Protected?
In What Ways Is Biodiversity Ecologically Value?
In Which Countries Is Biodiversity Economically Valuable?
Does Species Diversity Follow Any Patterns?
How Is Biodiversity Measured?
What Is a Biodiversity Hotspot?
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Causes of biodiversity loss Part 4 by K.Harshith
Name and describe any three causes of biodiversity losses
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Biodiversity in Life: A Simple Explanation
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COMMENTS

Biodiversity loss
Biodiversity loss, the reduction in an area's biodiversity (the number of genes, species, individual organisms, or ecosystems) expressed by species loss, population declines and reductions in the genetic diversity within a species, and the collapse of biological communities. ... (Read E.O. Wilson's Britannica essay on mass extinction.)
10 causes of biodiversity loss and its effect on the environment
The Top 10 Causes of Biodiversity Loss. Habitat loss and fragmentation: The conversion of natural habitats into agricultural land, urban areas and infrastructure development leads to the destruction and fragmentation of habitats, which is the primary cause of biodiversity loss. As humans take over previously wild lands, we reduce the available ...
Loss of Biodiversity: the Burgeoning Threat to Human Health
Furthermore, the increasing world human population, which has doubled between 1970 and now to more than 7 billion is the other edge of the sword aggravating the global loss of biodiversity. On the other side are factors are exploitation of mineral resources, pollution, the introduction of exotic species & genetically modified organisms, climate ...
Essay on Conservation of Biodiversity for Student
500+ Words Essay on Conservation of Biodiversity. Conservation of biodiversity is vital for maintaining the Earth's environment and sustaining life on the planet. ... Reduce Deforestation: Due to deforestation, there is the loss of habitat. Due to this reason, wild animals are unable to survive in the new environment and die. ...
Explainer: What Is Biodiversity Loss?
Biodiversity loss not only results in species extinction, but it also affects humans by depriving humanity from accessing services that natural ecosystems provide, whether it be the wealth of oxygen that we breathe or the benefits of pollination provided by animals in ensuring global food security.. 4 Causes of Biodiversity Loss. While biodiversity loss can occur naturally from more permanent ...
Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity
In this Review we ask how biodiversity per se—that is, the variety of genes, species, or functional traits in an ecosystem—has an impact on the functioning of that ecosystem and, in turn, the ...
The long shadow of biodiversity loss
These initiatives are crucial for stemming the loss of biodiversity and preserving ecosystem services, yet often sow divisions. Measurable, rigorous understanding of the impacts of biodiversity loss on human well-being, as in the study by Frank, could motivate further investment in conservation across political, social, and economic divides.
Causes and Consequences of Biodiversity Declines
Figure 1. There is considerable evidence that contemporary biodiversity declines will lead to subsequent declines in ecosystem functioning and ecosystem stability (Naeem et al. 2009). Biodiversity ...
Biodiversity loss—more than an environmental emergency
The UN declared 2010, as the International Year of Biodiversity. However, around that time, media outlets and other sources of information revealed that most people do not fully understand what biodiversity is. Public understanding has hopefully improved since 2010. The recent global assessment by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services attracted ...
Biodiversity Essay
500 Words Essay On Biodiversity. The biological diversity of many plants and animals is essential to everything. However, biodiversity is declining daily for a number of causes. Our planet could no longer be a place to live if it doesn't stop. Thus, several strategies help in boosting the earth's biodiversity.
(PDF) The Loss of Biodiversity and Ecosystems: A Threat to the
One of the biggest difficulties of the twenty-first century may be resolving the environmental issues of pollution, water shortages, global warming, and biodiversity loss (Elisha and Felix, 2020 ...
Reversing biodiversity loss
Acting against biodiversity loss. Today, however, the Earth is losing biodiversity at rates not seen in the modern era. Human responses to stop biodiversity decline have been woefully inadequate - with targets missed at both the international and national levels. The Royal Society has produced a range of resources to help stimulate debate ...
Animals Are Running Out of Places to Live
Delayed two years because of the pandemic, delegations are working to land a new, 10-year agreement to tackle biodiversity loss under a United Nations treaty called the Convention on Biological ...
Expert perspectives on global biodiversity loss and its drivers and
Recent global reports (Díaz et al. 2019; IPBES Secretariat 2019; CBD 2020) have rigorously synthesized the large scientific literature on biodiversity and have identified major knowledge gaps.These gaps include large uncertainties in how many species are threatened with extinction (Díaz et al. 2019; CBD 2020; IUCN 2020), a lack of estimates for the impacts of global biodiversity loss on ...
To Tell the Story of Biodiversity Loss, Make It About Humans
But it has been 27 years since the first global treaty to protect biodiversity, and the world's nations are still faltering in their efforts to halt the decline of natural ecosystems around the ...
Biodiversity loss
John P. Rafferty. Biodiversity loss - Habitat Destruction, Species Extinction, Ecosystems: The weight of biodiversity loss is most pronounced on species whose populations are decreasing. 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 ...
What is the human impact on biodiversity?
Key areas of human activity causing biodiversity loss include: Deforestation. Tropical rainforests are particularly rich in biodiversity and are being destroyed. Habitat loss through pervasive, incremental encroachment such as that caused by urban sprawl. Pollution such as that associated with widespread pesticide use and overuse of fertiliser ...
Royal Society essays explore threats to global biodiversity and case
Their loss jeopardises the systems that provide our food, regulate our climate and buffer against threats like flooding and disease. The first tranche of essays explains why biodiversity loss is 'evolutionary suicide', and looks at how the impacts of human consumption and population growth on the natural world can be mitigated.
Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity
100 papers for each ecosystem service (leadingto a review of . 1,700 titles. and abstracts). For papers with data, ... of biodiversity loss derives from the value of the affect ed services.
Biodiversity
The main driver of biodiversity loss remains humans' use of land - primarily for food production. Human activity has already altered over 70 per cent of all ice-free land.
Essay on Biodiversity for Students and Children
500+ Words Essay on Biodiversity. Essay on Biodiversity - Biodiversity is the presence of different species of plants and animals on the earth. Moreover, it is also called biological diversity as it is related to the variety of species of flora and fauna. Biodiversity plays a major role in maintaining the balance of the earth.
Biodiversity loss: what is causing it and why is it a concern?
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.. The European Commission presented the new 2030 Biodiversity Strategy in May 2020, following calls from the Parliament in January 2020 to address the main drivers of biodiversity loss and ...
Essay On Loss of Biodiversity
You can also find more Essay Writing articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more. Long And Short Essays On Loss of Biodiversity for Students and Kids In English. We provide students with essay samples on Loss of Biodiversity essays of 500 words and a short piece of 150 words on the same topic for reference.
Facts about the nature crisis
From 7-19 December 2022, countries met in Montreal for COP15 to strike a landmark agreement to guide global actions on biodiversity. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework lays out an ambitious plan that addresses the key drivers of biodiversity loss and puts us on the path to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030.See UNEP's COP-15 page for more information and the latest updates.
133 Biodiversity Essay Topics & Samples
Climate Change's Negative Impact on Biodiversity. This essay's primary objective is to trace and evaluate the impact of climate change on biological diversity through the lens of transformations in the marine and forest ecosystems and evaluation of the agricultural sector both […] Essentials of Biodiversity.
How does Biodiversity loss affect me and everyone else?
Biodiversity underpins the health of the planet and has a direct impact on all our lives. Put simply, reduced biodiversity means millions of people face a future where food supplies are more vulnerable to pests and disease, and where fresh water is in irregular or short supply. For humans that is worrying.