Habitat loss poses arguably the greatest threat to the world’s biodiversity. Our impact on the planet has never been greater, and human activity has become the dominant influence on our environment and climate. We are inflicting unprecedented changes on the natural habitats on which wildlife depends, through deforestation and destructive fishing, the burning of fossil fuels, industrial-scale mining activities, and land-use changes for agricultural expansion. The statistics speak for themselves: in Indonesia alone, over six million hectares of primary forest – an area twice the size of Belgium – were lost between 2000 and 2012. Globally, a third of all forest cover has now been cleared and another 20% has been degraded.
As wetlands are drained, limestone hills are quarried, forests are felled and coral reefs razed, ever-growing numbers of plants and animals are running out of suitable habitat; being rendered homeless, in effect. The most recent IUCN Red List of Threatened Species categorizes almost 8,000 species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds as globally threatened, with habitat loss a recurring theme.
The conversion and degradation of natural habitat adversely affect biodiversity in a number of ways, some dramatic and obvious, others more insidious. Habitat loss not only jeopardizes the survival of individual species but also destabilizes the complex interactions between organisms and undermines the ability of ecosystems to function effectively as a whole. These impacts are likely to be exacerbated by climate change, especially in species-rich areas.
Habitat destruction is an assault on the very fabric of our natural world. We urgently need to find ways to slow down and reverse this process before the intricate tapestry of life on Earth begins to unravel and species are irretrievably lost. Historically, the designation of protected areas has proved effective in safeguarding pockets of threatened habitat, but it is only one piece of the jigsaw. The complexity of the bigger picture calls for a multifaceted approach.
