Reflections on Unprecedented Decline and Accelerating Extinction

I read a summary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Global Assessment and noted three key findings which were surprising in terms of magnitude and extent.

"More than a third of the world’s land surface and nearly 75% of freshwater resources are now devoted to crop or livestock production."

This statistic was startling to me given the ubiquity of housing instability in both developed and developing countries, and droughts and water scarcity affecting more than 3.8 billion people worldwide. The significant proportion of land and water employed in the service of animal and plant agriculture could be used to enhance housing stability and access to water. Cattle farming also contributes to air and water pollution with the emission of methane and solid waste by millions of livestock. In US farms alone, there were 89 million cattle and calves as of January 2023.

"Urban areas have more than doubled since 1992."

Rural-urban migration has been ongoing since the development of urban settlements. Dense populations create the demand for more goods and services, which in turn generate more employment opportunities. Rural populations, being more reliant on nature for subsistence and livelihoods, also tend to be more susceptible to environmental changes and disasters, adding to the potential allure of city living. It was shocking to consider the pervasive degree of urban sprawl, especially since this would have entailed the destruction of adjacent natural environments (and therefore habitats) for the the construction of buildings and infrastructure.

">85%: of wetlands present in 1700 had been lost by 2000 – loss of wetlands is currently three times faster, in percentage terms, than forest loss."

Wetlands are integral in the fight against climate change both in terms of mitigation, in their role as carbon sinks, and adaptation, as they protect against sea level rise. They are also homes to a fascinatingly diverse array of land and sea organisms, including endangered species. It's possible that the continued demand for coastal properties with an ocean view and sea breeze, and/or the desire to escape urban heat islands, add to the disappearance of wetlands and ecosystems. In Ireland, which I visited recently, the government sought to preserve peatlands by banning the sale of turf used as fuel. This was a controversial topic given the historical heritage surrounding this practice and the concerns of fuel poverty in rural regions.