Humanity has wiped out 60% of animal populations since 1970, report finds
Carrington, D., 2018. Humanity has wiped out 60% of animal populations since 1970, report finds. The Guardian, 30, pp.10-18.
PCB contamination – polychlorinated biphenyls, are industrial chemicals
Invasive species – a creature that causes environmental or economic harm in an unfamiliar habitat
Pet trade – Animals are treated as funds commodities that can be manufactured and sold for profit.
Living Planet Index – Based on population patterns of vertebrate species, a gauge of the condition of the world’s species diversity.
Intactness of ecosystems – ecosystem integrity
Colossal losses – loss in large quantity or amount
Crunch meeting – important time or an event
Main idea:
The main idea of the article portrays the idea of the reason for the extinction of flora and fauna at twice the rate compared to decades ago. Destruction of fora as well as fauna’s underlying main cause has been caused solely by humans, with the destruction of their habitats, with almost three-quarters of it. Chemical pollution has also significantly created contamination of water, leading to the extinction of species. Humans, in general, do not consider nature as a part of the living system anymore which has caused this large extinction and destruction of nature. UN has been considering and making several programs to conserve the wildlife and preserve the remaining wildlife, in the hope to sustain the cycle of life.
Details supporting the main idea:
- “Between 1970 and 2014, the latest data available, populations fell by an average of 60%”.
- “The habitats suffering the greatest damage are rivers and lakes, where wildlife populations have fallen”
- “83%, due to the enormous thirst of agriculture and the large number of dams.”
- “The biggest cause of wildlife losses is the destruction of natural habitats, much of it to create farmland.”, (Carrington, 2018)
The three arguments: Human has almost destroyed 83% of the mammal’s species, with conservation efforts wildlife could be saved as in India, with 20% rise in the Tiger population, and UK ranking 189th in wildlife biodiversity.
The purpose of the article is depicting the loss in wildlife to general population, who without anu concern for the nature has been destroying it.
The author ends the articles by: “We are the first generation to know we are destroying our planet and the last one that can do anything about it.” (Carrington, 2018).
Reading the article by highlighting, pointing the concerned area which unfamiliar and critically thinking about the article helped with interacting with the article.
References:
Carrington, D., 2018. Humanity has wiped out 60% of animal populations since 1970, report finds. The Guardian, 30, pp.10-18.