Biodiversity Loss
Biodiversity loss refers to the reduction in the variety of life on Earth at genetic, species, and ecosystem levels, currently occurring at rates estimated to be 100–1,000 times higher than natural background extinction rates due to human activities. The primary drivers include habitat destruction, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution, and climate change, collectively recognised as the "five drivers of biodiversity loss" by the IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services). The current mass extinction event, sometimes called the Sixth Mass Extinction, threatens the ecological stability and services upon which all human civilisation depends.
Status of Global Biodiversity Across Major Taxonomic Groups
| Taxonomic Group | Known Species | % Threatened (IUCN) | Primary Threat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mammals | 5,500+ | 26% | Habitat loss, hunting |
| Birds | 10,000+ | 14% | Habitat loss, invasive species |
| Amphibians | 8,000+ | 41% | Disease (chytrid), habitat loss |
| Corals | 800+ | 33% | Ocean warming, acidification |
| Vascular plants | 350,000+ | 28% | Deforestation, land use change |
| Marine fish | 30,000+ | 7% | Overfishing, pollution |
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Related Terms
Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem services are the direct and indirect benefits that humans derive from functioning natural ecosystems, encompassing provisioning services (food, fresh water, timber), regulating services (climate regulation, flood control, disease regulation), cultural services (recreation, spiritual value), and supporting services (nutrient cycling, soil formation). The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) estimated the total annual value of ecosystem services globally at over $33 trillion, exceeding global GDP at the time. Understanding and valuing ecosystem services is fundamental to environmental policy, conservation economics, and sustainable development planning.
Deforestation
Deforestation is the large-scale removal or clearing of forests, primarily by human activities such as agricultural expansion, logging, urbanisation, and infrastructure development, resulting in the permanent conversion of forested land to non-forest use. Global forests store approximately 861 billion tonnes of carbon, and their destruction releases vast quantities of CO₂, contributing around 10–15% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. Beyond carbon emissions, deforestation drives soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, disruption of water cycles, and the degradation of ecosystem services that support billions of people globally.
Ocean Acidification
Ocean acidification is the ongoing decrease in the pH of Earth's oceans caused by the absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂), which reacts with seawater to form carbonic acid. Since the Industrial Revolution, ocean surface pH has dropped from approximately 8.2 to 8.1, representing a 26% increase in hydrogen ion concentration. This process threatens marine organisms, especially those that build shells or skeletons from calcium carbonate, such as corals, mollusks, and certain plankton species.
From Greek "bios" (life) + Latin "diversitas" (variety, difference) and Latin "lossus/laedere" (to damage, from Old French "los"). The term "biodiversity" itself was coined by Walter G. Rosen in 1985 as a contraction of "biological diversity", and "biodiversity loss" became central to conservation discourse following the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity.