Education for Sustainable Living, Environmental Respect, and Celebrating the Quality of Life.

Species Extinction

A most unfortunate impact of population growth and climate change is the impact on species diversity on the Earth.  Habitat loss, competition from introduced species, and human-derived pollution are the primary forces responsible for this loss.  

Rate Estimates

As reported by Thomas et al., 2004 (Nature 427:145-148), we may lose as many as 1/3rd of the planet's species diversity by 2050.  This represents more than one million species that may be lost.  Edward Wilson, noted scholar and naturalist, has said that the variety of organisms once lost cannot be regained … with diversity, the biosphere can be recovered … if lost, humanity will be poorer for generations to come.  He estimates that some 27,000 species are lost every year.  This is a graph from Dr. Wilson.

What can we do?

    *  Contribute time, energy, and financial resources to wildlife and forest protection efforts worldwide.

    *  Be mindful of what you purchase and its source

    *  Do what we can to slow sprawl

    *  Support development that protects wildlife corridors

    *  Reduce your personal impact - Rainforest action network items:  

            -  cut paper and wood use and consumption

            -  reduce oil consumption

            -  reduce beef consumption

            -  hold businesses accountable 

            -  support grassroots efforts to make change  

Additional Resources:  

    http://www.whole-systems.org/extinctions.html

    http://www.iucn.org/

    http://www.iucnredlist.org/

    http://www.rainforestweb.org/

    http://www.wri.org/

    http://www.ran.org/

Putting knowledge to work with the people of Maine

A Member of the University of Maine System
Last Modified: 09/13/2006
These pages are currently being maintained from the
Water Quality Office, University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
Send comments, suggestions or inquiries to John Jemison

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