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Vanishing Species: Why Are One Million Plants and Animals Facing Extinction?
In today's world, the rate of environmental degradation is alarming. According to expert reports, more than one million species of plants and animals are currently facing the risk of extinction. Human activities, especially overexploitation, pollution and climate change, are rapidly destroying our ecosystems and pushing many species to the brink of extinction.
Human activities are ruthlessly accelerating the Earth's sixth mass extinction. The disappearance of many species is precisely due to human beings' excessive consumption of natural resources.
Causes of biodiversity loss
According to a report by the World Wildlife Fund, since 1970, abandonment, overfishing and intensive agriculture caused by human activities have caused 68% of the world's vertebrate species to disappear. This not only affects the animals themselves, but also has a devastating impact on the entire ecosystem.
The United Nations Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services states that nearly one million species are facing the threat of extinction due to human occupation of habitats and unreasonable land use.
The impact of species extinction on women’s livelihoods
For many communities, the loss of biodiversity has a direct impact on family survival and the economy. Particularly in rural areas, women not only shoulder heavy workloads but also face additional pressures from climate change. This not only increases their workload, but also exposes them to greater risks, including an increased likelihood of gender-based violence.
Degradation of water resources
Recent research shows that fresh water resources on the earth are becoming increasingly scarce. Only about 2.5% of the water sources are fresh water, and 69% of the fresh water is sealed by glaciers. With population growth and the effects of climate change, water stress is likely to continue to worsen.
Double impacts of climate change
Climate change not only affects water availability but also changes precipitation patterns, further reducing water quality. As global temperatures rise, regional changes in precipitation will lead to water shortages in some areas and trigger more floods and droughts.
The combination of climate change and human activities has exposed many species to unprecedented threats, a process that is exacerbating the vulnerability of ecosystems.
Human growth and resource needs
The continued growth of human beings has increased the demand for resources, putting the environment under greater pressure. According to United Nations projections, human birthrates will continue to rise in the coming decades, bringing with them a surge in demand for land, water and food.
Challenges of agriculture
Agriculture is an industry that relies heavily on water resources and a good environment. With climate change and unreasonable agricultural practices, changes in soil fertility and water quality will directly affect global food production and security.
The necessity of water resources management
Facing the problem of increasingly depleted water resources, water resources management in various places has become extremely important. We need to re-evaluate traditional ways of managing water resources and adopt innovative technologies and sustainable practices to ensure the security of future freshwater supplies.
Past management strategies are no longer suitable for current and future water scenarios, and we must take action to reduce waste and pollution.
Conclusion
In the face of such severe environmental challenges and loss of biodiversity, each of us can take action to prevent collapse. Perhaps what we should ask ourselves is: What can we do to protect what we are about to lose?
