Important ecosystems could be destroyed by pollution, invasive species, overuse of resources, and the climate catastrophe. We asked experts to outline the risks and suggest some remedies. They warned that by the middle of this century, the continued destruction of nature on Earth will cause significant disruptions to food supplies and clean water sources, as well as the extinction of rare species and the loss of landscapes essential to human culture and leisure.
If humans don’t fulfill their promises to address the five primary causes of nature loss by 2050, vital natural systems may collapse at the same time as the population is expected to reach its peak.
Prominent scientists, Indigenous leaders, and conservationists from across the globe were questioned by The Guardian regarding the effects of inaction on the loss of biodiversity.
Experts from every continent have warned that if action is not taken by the middle of the century, there may be extinctions, a rapid spread of invasive species (which frequently bring new diseases), widespread plastic pollution, collapsing fish populations, and disappearing forests.
The IUCN red list indicates that over 25% of all plant and animal species that have undergone thorough conservation assessments are in danger of going extinct.
The constant devastation of natural ecosystems in Brazil, where I am originally from, pained me, said Alexandre Antonelli, director of science at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. “From the Cerrado shrublands to the Amazonian and Atlantic rainforests, trees that support a wide variety of insects and orchids, and soils rich in fungi and microorganisms,
According to research, in order to offset the possible loss, humans need to drastically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, stop the spread of invasive species, restore nature to the entire planet, and reduce our consumption of meat.
Governments came to an agreement on 23 targets at the Cop15 biodiversity summit in December of last year, which included the restoration of 30% of the planet’s degraded terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine ecosystems. Governments have failed to meet any of their own self-imposed targets on the loss of nature thus far, and experts say this has to change immediately.