The human activity in the extinction of living things have a big impact, since human overpopulation, the indiscriminate use of natural resources and pollution of ecosystems conducive to the disappearance of species.
The human being has modified, by human intervention, the physical, chemical and biological conditions of the planet. 50% of the land mass has been transformed for human use, which includes the production of food for consumption, and the conversion of natural spaces into industrialized areas.
In addition, humans absorb 42% of the earth's net products, through agriculture and mass ranching. In addition, they also consume 30% of the marine net primary productivity, and 50% of the planet's fresh water.
Among the human activities with the greatest impact on the extinction and danger of wild species, we have:
- Poaching and indiscriminate harvesting: these activities cause a considerable increase in the mortality rate of the species involved.
- Land use practices: felling and burning trees destroy entire ecosystems, eradicating the range of development of affected species.
The exacerbated growth of the world population has led to the construction of poorly planned cities, only to supply the housing requirement due to human overpopulation.
Therefore, deforestation for urban and suburban development also affects the extinction of species.
- Introduction, intentional or unintentional, of diseases, destructive parasites and predators and / or exotic animals.
- Excessive exploitation of forest and mineral resources: this type of practice induces the loss of the habitat of millions of species in the world annually.
- Contamination of water, air and soil: the ecological deterioration due to this type of action is immense.
The excessive emissions of carbon dioxide, the use of non-biodegradable elements, the pollution on the bodies of water, the air and the soil; all add up to environmental damage and habitat destruction for species.
- Global climate change: the increase in gas emissions due to the greenhouse effect and the increase in temperature induced by human activities, lead to the extinction of species.
In addition, these factors give rise to the demographic instability of wild flora and fauna, which results in the decline of populations and their gradual disappearance.
Human overpopulation makes animals and plants disappear 1000 times faster compared to the records of 65 million years ago, before the appearance of man.
Scientist Edward Wilson, a professor at Harvard University, established in 1993 that more than 30 thousand species are extinct on planet earth each year.
You may be at risk of extinction key species for the balance of ecosystems, due to their function and interaction with other species.
Likewise, living elements that constitute a source of raw material for activities and daily needs of direct and indirect use by man may be lost.
The solution to the problem lies in internalizing and raising awareness about the role of man in the balance of ecosystems, and working together to minimize the environmental impact of human activities today.
References
- Castañeda, G., and Valenzuela, S. (2014). Man and the extinction of species. EL Siglo del Torreón newspaper. Coahuila, Mexico. Recovered from: elsiglodetorreon.com.mx
- De la Torre, D. (2010). The New Extinction. Quo Magazine. Mexico DF, Mexico.
- Endangered Species - Human Causes Of Extinction And Endangerment - Wild, Caused, Water, and Populations (2012). JRank Articles. Recovered from: science.jrank.org
- Human Population Growth and Extinction (2009). Center for Biological Diversity. Recovered from: biologicaldiversity.org
- Natural and Human Impacts on Wildlife (2015). New Hampshire Public Television. Durham, England. Recovered from: nhptv.org.