Flora and fauna extinction: Alarming disasters for humans

Every 20 minutes a certain animal or plant is extinct and in the last 50 years, the rate of extinction has increased 40 times faster than the industrial revolution. Our planet is entering its sixth mass extinction stage.

Past records

Pandas, endangered animals (photo: worldalmanacforkids) Earth's geological history once recorded five mass extinctions (TCHL), which must include the largest extinction phase ending in the century. Permi, 250 million years ago. It annihilated 90% of marine species and 75% of terrestrial plants and animals, leaving Europe almost . lifeless.

Other mass extinctions occurred in the prehistoric Cambrian, Triat, Creta, Tertiary . periods of "wiping out" many animals that today they are known only by names and fossils like Super set dinosaurs, winged dinosaurs, mammoths, snake neck turtles, fish lizards .

For the first time, humans contributed to the creation of a global extinction event of about 15,000 - 25,000 years ago. Through hunting, humans have extinguished nearly 86% of mammals larger than 44kg on three continents: North America, South America and Australia.

In 1600, worldwide, the extinction of 700 vertebrates, invertebrates and vascular plants was recorded.

From 1600 to now, about 21% of the animals and 1.3% of the world's birds have become extinct.

It should be noted that the figures for extinction are much smaller than they are and are much smaller than expected in the coming decades.

According to the statistics of international organizations studying the environment, the species existing on Earth only accounts for 2% compared to when life appears, ie 98% of species have been extinct through periods.

Human impact

The cause of globalization problems is still controversial. But it is clear that thousands of years ago, humans have caused important habitat changes, greatly affecting plants and animals.

From at least 50,000 years ago, intentional fires occurred in the African steppe. 5,000 years ago in Europe and about 4,000 years in North America, deforestation and the conversion of natural lands into pastures became popular, enabling weeds and herbivores. extend the range of residence, causing extinction of a series of native species.

As a rule of nature, this species disappears, there will be other species formed and the speed of species formation is often equal to or greater than the extinction rate so that the natural world is always balanced and evolved. So why are there TCHL sessions?

CITES (Photos: cites.org)

In prehistoric times, mainly natural disasters caused extinction. Today, researchers believe that more than 99% of extinctions are due to humanity - a species that always wants to assert its dominance over all species. The indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources such as innocent hunting, deforestation, excessive use of cultivated land, polluting the water surface, drying up ponds and lakes and wars cruel . destroying the environment. Tourism activities are unsustainable, construction, exploration and exploitation lack of planning, industrial activities have created toxic sources of emissions that make the climate heat up, creating holes in the ozone layer. . direct threat to life on earth.

To cope with the risk of ecological imbalance on the earth and to prevent the risk of globalization of species, the great effort of every human being, each country is required. Many countries around the world have enacted laws to protect species and ecological environments. Currently, the International Convention on the Endangered Species Trade (CITES) has been issued to control and monitor the trade in endangered animals.

A few warnings

Researchers believe that our planet is entering the 6th phase of globalization.

Species are now extinct at a rate that far exceeds the speed of species formation, the fastest ever and without any rules. Every 20 minutes a certain animal or plant is extinct and in the last 50 years, the rate of extinction has increased 40 times faster than the industrial revolution.

The World Conservation Organization (IUCN) on May 2, 2006 warned: More than 16,000 plant and animal species are at risk of extinction globally and at the rate of destruction of their habitat as today. In the next 10 years, about 25,000 species of animals and plants will be extinct each year. The disappearance of plants and animals will lead to the collapse of other species dependent on them, including humans.

The 2006 Red Book also states that 25% of reptiles and mammals, 20% of amphibians, 12% of birds, 10% of existing plants on Earth will face extinction. within the next 30 years.

New Scientist magazine published in May 2006 published a study that suggested that about 200 of the world's largest rivers will change the flow over the next 300 years as the earth warms, affecting 80% of life. aquatic creatures.

Achim Steiner - General Director of World Conservation Organization (Photo: iisd.ca) According to the authors of a study published in Conservation biology, climate changes will cause tens of thousands of animals animals and plants are extinct in the coming decades. This extinction is particularly serious in the richest areas of life such as the tropical or Caribbean regions and the Caribbean. The authors estimate that 39-43% of species in these regions - 56,000 plant species and 3,700 vertebrate animals - will disappear with a doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide compared to money industry.

Mr. Achim Steiner - General Director of the World Conservation Organization has repeatedly voiced warnings about the rapid disappearance of species, causing biodiversity to decline.'This affects the lives and livelihoods of billions of people who depend on them. The consequences in the future are incalculable and hard to save. '

Recently, people continuously suffer natural disasters and natural disasters from natural disasters such as storms, floods, tsunamis, earthquakes . causing tens of thousands of people to die. That is only part of the price that people pay for the way people treat nature. It is clear that people need to be aware that their destruction and unsustainable development are increasingly affecting the lives and future of humanity itself. If you only look at the immediate benefits, in the long run, humanity will have to take huge and unintended losses.