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Red list categories of the IUCN Demonstrator against biodiversity loss, at Extinction Rebellion (2018).. The current rate of global biodiversity loss is estimated to be 100 to 1000 times higher than the (naturally occurring) background extinction rate, faster than at any other time in human history, [25] [26] and is expected to grow in the upcoming years.
The authors have coined the expression "dead species walking" for the more than 500,000 species that are not yet extinct but, due to changes in, or reduction of, their habitats, have no chance of long-term survival. [18] A 2002 satellite image showing deforestation due to palm oil farming in Malaysian Borneo.
Loss of biodiversity: This is the decline in the number and variety of plant and animal species. Loss of biodiversity can have a number of negative impacts, including the disruption of food chains and the loss of ecosystem services. Land conversion can also have a number of negative economic impacts, [27] including:
Deforestation in the DRC leads to biodiversity loss, soil erosion and contributes to climate change. The DRC is one of 17 megadiverse countries, with a significant wildlife that is harmed by habitat loss. For example, 60% of the forest elephant population drop is due to the loss of shelter caused by illegal logging. [6]
Per capita CO 2 emissions from deforestation for food production Illegal "slash-and-burn" practice in Madagascar, 2010 Mean annual carbon loss from tropical deforestation. [149] Deforestation is a major contributor to climate change. [150] [151] [152] It is often cited as one of the major causes of the enhanced greenhouse effect.
Habitat loss, which can occur through the process of habitat fragmentation, is considered to be the greatest threat to species. [14] But, the effect of the configuration of habitat patches within the landscape, independent of the effect of the amount of habitat within the landscape (referred to as fragmentation per se [ 5 ] ), has been ...
Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) occurs when a natural habitat is no longer able to support its native species. The organisms once living there have either moved elsewhere, or are dead, leading to a decrease in biodiversity and species numbers .
Deforestation and biodiversity loss in the Amazon rainforest have resulted in significant risks of irreversible changes. Modeling studies have suggested that deforestation may be approaching a critical "tipping point" where large-scale "savannization" or desertification could occur, [71] leading to catastrophic consequences for the global climate.