Trendevents: Countdown to Extinction

Clyde Wilson

1996

Published in:

Social Trends Newsletters, May. 1996, No. 147

Humans are destroying animal and plant species at an "alarming rate", according to the United Nation's first comprehensive report on the world's fading biodiversity.

More than 30,000 species are threatened with extinction, it said. The assessment puts the minimum number of species threatened with extinction at 5,400 animals and 26,100 plants, but the estimate only covers species that are known and have been classified by scientists.

In addition to the increase of endangered species, the 1,140 page Global Biodiversity Assessment chronicles the loss of genes, habitat and ecosystems.

Biodiversity represents the very foundation of human existence (all life). Yet by our heedless actions we are eroding this biological resource of the world at a dangerous rate.

The report cites several reasons for the rapid decline in species, including:

Increased population and economic deveropment that deplete biological and natural habitats.
Human failure to consider the long-term consequences of actions that destroy habitat, exploit natural resources and introduce non-native species.
Failure of economic markets to recognize the real value and purpose od maintaining the variety of species.
Increased human migration, travel and international trade.
The ever increasing spread of land, water and air polution

(Source: Associated Press)

The life of everything is in some way intertwined and dependent on each other, and Homo sapiens are a part of this biodiversity of species. The existence of all life is dependent on maintaining a balance in the environmental and ecological systems. Any disruption in these systems and habitat can have a precarious effect and impact on our existence. But human kind is bringing about its own demise and eventual extinction. Given an economic system that is merely based on development and growth, investments to merely maximize profits through the exploitation of this earth's finite resource base have only accelerated the demise and extinction of the species. Unless there is a comprehensive and fundamental change in the operation of the economic system in a way that is compatible with the natural environment, eventual destruction becomes inevitable and any sustainability becomes impossible.