State of wildlife around the world

The celebration of the beautiful biodiversity that exists on our planet

World Wildlife Day is observed annually on March 3 to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s flora and fauna. The day is about raising awareness about wildlife and educating yourself and others about the diversity and importance of flora and fauna across the world.

In other words, it’s the celebration of the beautiful biodiversity that exists on our planet. This year’s theme for World Wildlife Day is “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet.”

---

Fast extinction of species

Relentless pursuit of economic growth coupled with climate change has brought an unprecedented one million species at doorstep of extinction. This is the finding of a landmark report on the damage done by modern civilisation to the natural world.

The report compiled by 145 expert authors from 50 countries is based on the review of about 15,000 scientific and government sources. Their conclusion is that only a wide-ranging transformation of the global economic and financial system can pull ecosystems that are vital to the future of human communities worldwide back from the brink of collapse.

The report has been endorsed by 130 countries, including the U.S., Russia and China. It is also the first comprehensive global report in 15 years at the state of the planet’s biodiversity. The authors say they found overwhelming evidence that human activities are behind nature’s decline.

UN Report on Biodiversity:

• The average abundance of native species in most major land-based habitats has fallen by at least 20%, mostly since 1900. More than 40% of amphibian species, almost 33% of reef-forming corals and more than a third of all marine mammals are threatened.

• The picture is less clear for insect species, but available evidence supports a tentative estimate of 10% being threatened. At least 680 vertebrate species had been driven to extinction since the 16th century and more than 9% of all domesticated breeds of mammals used for food and agriculture had become extinct by 2016, with at least 1,000 more breeds still threatened.

• Three-quarters of the land-based environment and about 66% of the marine environment have been significantly altered by human actions. On average these trends have been less severe or avoided in areas held or managed by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

• More than a third of the world’s land surface and nearly 75% of freshwater resources are now devoted to crop or livestock production.

• The value of agricultural crop production has increased by about 300% since 1970, raw timber harvest has risen by 45% and approximately 60 billion tons of renewable and nonrenewable resources are now extracted globally every year – having nearly doubled since 1980

• In 2015, 33% of marine fish stocks were being harvested at unsustainable levels; 60% were maximally sustainably fished, with just 7% harvested at levels lower than what can be sustainably fished.

• Since 1970 the global human population has more than doubled (from 3.7 to 7.6 billion), rising unevenly across countries and regions; and per capital gross domestic product is four times higher – with ever-more distant consumers shifting the environmental burden of consumption and production across regions.

Single use plastics:

• The problems caused by plastic were recognized in 2007.
• It has been found everywhere i.e right from depth of the oceans to the peaks of Himalayas.
• Single used plastics are used once and thrown away.
• They accumulate in the water bodies and choke the drains which lead to floods.

Environmental crisis:

• Ozone Depletion
• Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming
• Desertification
• Deforestation
• Loss of Biodiversity
• Disposal of Wastes.

What can I do?

The UN has asked individuals to the following to help in wildlife conservation:

• Set a goal: Live life with the smallest negative impact on the environment
• Mobilize: Encourage schools, clubs, governments and business to discuss wildlife conservation
• Consume responsibly: Consume responsibly by not purchasing illegally sourced products.
• Reach out: Inform authorities if you have information on illegal logging, fishing and wildlife trafficking.

---

Now you can get handpicked stories from Telangana Today on Telegram everyday. Click the link to subscribe.
Click to follow Telangana Today Facebook page and Twitter .

---