Ecosystems and species driven ever closer to collapse
World governments, or World Government to be precise, have failed to meet a 2010 target to stop loss of biodiversity, and its NOT interested to do what is needed to preserve the species and ecosystems without which humans and other animals cannot survive, a UN report said [the wording is that of Fire-Earth.]
The mounting pressures on biodiversity risks pushing some ecosystems into new states, with severe ramifications for human wellbeing as tipping points are crossed. While the precise location of tipping points is difficult to determine, once an ecosystem moves into a new state it can be very difficult, if not impossible, to return it to its former state. Source: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
The following are excerpts and extracts from the UN report:
Extinction Risk
Species which have been assessed for extinction risk are on average moving closer to extinction. Amphibians face the greatest risk and coral species are deteriorating most rapidly in status. Nearly a quarter of plant species are estimated to be threatened with extinction.
Abundance of Vertebrate Species
The abundance of vertebrate species, based on assessed populations, fell by nearly a third on average between 1970 and 2006, and continues to fall globally, with especially severe declines in the tropics and among freshwater species.
Extensive Fragmentation and Degradation
Extensive fragmentation and degradation of forests, rivers and other ecosystems have also led to loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Crop and Livestock Genetic Diversity
Crop and livestock genetic diversity continues to decline in agricultural systems.
The Five Principal Pressures
The five principal pressures directly driving biodiversity loss (habitat change, overexploitation, pollution, invasive alien species and climate change) are either constant or increasing in intensity.
Humans’ Ecological Footprint
The ecological footprint of humanity exceeds the biological capacity of the Earth by a wider margin than at the time the 2010 target was agreed.
Human Impact Visuals [Click images to enlarge.]
The following images were sourced from the UN report:
Kennecott Utah Copper’s Bingham Canyon Mine is the world’s largest man-made excavation. It is almost 4.5km across and more than 1km deep. [Like Mountaintop Removal] TR Open pit mining has been an important cause of habitat destruction in some regions. It is the type of activity increasingly subjected to environmental impact assessment. The Convention on Biological Diversity recently agreed voluntary guidelines on the inclusion of biodiversity factors in such assessments. Click images to enlarge.
Coastal Wetlands – Before and After.
Glaciers – Before and After
Tropical Coral Reef – Before and After
Water Eutrophication – Before and After
Related Links:
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