Although Earth's islands make up less than four per cent of the
planet's land mass, they are home to around a quarter of the world's
known plants - 70,000 of which do not exist anywhere else.
"Humanity doesn't need a moon-base or a manned trip to Mars. We need an
expedition to planet Earth, where probably fewer than 10 per cent of
species are known to science, and fewer than 1 per cent of those have
been studied beyond a simple anatomical description and a few notes on
natural history. At the same time, we are engaged in a genocide against
those species, known and unknown; the sixth mass extinction has begun."
E.O. Wilson, Harvard evolutionary biologist and author of "The Creation."
Experts say that at least
half of the world's current species will be completely gone by the end
of the century. Most biologists
say that we are in the midst of an anthropogenic mass extinction.
Numerous scientific studies confirm that this phenomenon is real and
happening right now. Should anyone really care? Will it impact
individuals on a personal level? Scientists say, "Yes!
Critics argue that species disappear and new ones emerge all the
time. That's true, if you're speaking in terms of millennia. Scientists
acknowledge that species disappear at an estimated rate of one species
per million per year, with new species replacing the lost ones at
around the same rate. Recently humans have accelerated the extinction
rate to where several entire species are annihilated every single day.
The death toll artificially caused by humans is mind-boggling. Nature
will take millions of years to repair what we destroy in just a few
decades.
One analysis, published in the journal Nature, shows that it takes
10 million years before biological diversity even begins to approach
what existed before a die-off. Over 10,000 scientists in the World Conservation Union
have compiled data showing that currently 51 per cent of known
reptiles, 52 per cent of known insects, and 73 per cent of known
flowering plants are in danger along with many mammals, birds and
amphibians. It is likely that some species will become extinct before
they are even discovered, before any medicinal use or other important
features can be assessed. The cliché movie plot where the cure for
cancer is about to be annihilated is more real than anyone would like
to imagine.
Research done by the American Museum of Natural History found that
the vast majority of biologists believe that mass extinction poses a
colossal threat to human existence, and is even more serious of an
environmental problem than one of its contributors- global warming. The
research also found that the average person woefully underestimates the
dangers of mass extinction. Powerful industrial lobbies would like
people to believe that we can survive while other species are quickly
and quietly dying off. Irresponsible governments and businesses would
have people believe that we don't need a healthy planet to survive-
even while human cancer rates are tripling every decade.
Although Earth's islands make up less than four per cent of the
planet's land mass, they are home to around a quarter of the world's
known plants - 70,000 of which do not exist anywhere else.
In a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy
of Sciences journal found that islands have more endemic and localized
species than continental areas, so any threats to those species could
put them at risk of extinction. With biocide occurring at an alarming
rate, islands will play an
increasingly important role in preserving the planet's ecological
balance.
A lot of us heard about the recent extinction of the Yangtze river
dolphin. It was publicized because dolphins are cute and smart, and we
like dolphins. We were sort of sad that we humans were single-handedly
responsible for destroying the entire millions-of-years-old species in
just a few years through rampant pollution. Unfortunately the real
death toll is so much higher than we hear on the news. Only a few
endangered "celebrity favorites" get any notice at all.
Since animals and plants exist in symbiotic relationships to one
another, extinction of one species is likely to cause "co-extinctions".
Some species directly affect the health of hundreds of other species.
There is always some kind of domino effect. This compounding process
occurs with frightening speed. That makes rampant extinction similar
too disease in the way that it spreads. Sooner or later- if gone
unchecked- humans may catch it too.
Amphibians are a prime example at how tinkering with the environment
can cause rapid animal death. For over 300 million years frogs,
salamanders, newts and toads were hardy enough to precede and outlive
the dinosaurs up until the present time. Now, within just two decades
many amphibians are disappearing. Scientists are alarmed at how one
seemingly robust species of amphibians will suddenly disappear within a
few months.
The causes of biocide are a hodge-podge of human environmental
"poisons" which often work synergistically, including a vast array of
pollutants, pesticides, a thinning ozone layer which increases
ultra-violet radiation, human induced climate change, habitat loss from
agriculture and urban sprawl, invasions of exotic species introduced by
humans, illegal and legal wildlife trade, light pollution, and man-made
borders among other many other causes.
Is there a way out? The answer is yes and no. We'll never regain the
lost biodiversity-at least not within a fathomable time period, but
there are ways to prevent a worldwide bio collapse, but they all
require immediate action. The eminent Harvard biologist Edward O
Wilson, and other scientists point out that the world needs
international cooperation in order to sustain ecosystems, since nature
is unaware of artificially drawn borders. Humans love to fence off
space they've claimed as their own. Sadly, a border fence often has
terrible ecological consequences. One fence between India and Pakistan
cuts off bears and leopards from their feeding habitats, which is
causing them to starve to death. Starvation leads to attacks on
villagers, and more slaughtering of the animals.
Some of the most endangered wildlife species live right in between
the borderland area of the US and Mexico. These indigenous animals
don't know that they now live between two countries. They were here
long before the people came and nations divided, but they will not
survive if we cut them off fromtheir habitat. The Sky Islands is one of
many areas smack in the middle of this boundary where some of North
America's most threatened wildlife is found. Jaguars, bison, and Wolves
have to cross through international terrain in the course of their
life's travels in order to survive. Unfortunately, illegal Mexican
workers cross here too. People who know nothing of the wildlife's
biological needs want to create a large fence to keep out Mexicans,
regardless of the fact that a fence would devastate these already
fragile animal populations.
Wilson says the time has come to start calling the "environmentalist
view" the "real-world view". We can't ignore reality simply because it
doesn't conform nicely within convenient boundaries and moneymaking
strategies. What good will all of our money and conveniences do for us,
if we collectively destroy the necessities of life?
There is hope, but it requires radical changes. Many organizations
are lobbying for that change. One group trying to salvage ecosystems is
called The Wildlands Project, a conservation group spearheading the
drive to reconnect the remaining wildernesses. The immediate goal is to
reconnect wild North America in four broad "mega-linkages". Within each
mega-linkage, mosaics of public and private lands, which would provide
safe migrations for wildlife, would connect core areas. Broad,
vegetated overpasses would link wilderness areas normally split by
roads. They will need cooperation from local landowners and government
agencies.
It is a radical vision to many people, and the Wildlands Project
expects that it will take at least 100 years to complete. Even so,
projects like this, on a worldwide basis, may be humanity's best chance
of saving what's left of the planets eco-system, and the human race
along with it.
Posted by Rebecca Sato with Casey Kazan.
Sources:
Islands are a Key Factor in Planet's Biiodiversity
http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article2494659.ece
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