Mass Extinction is Already Here

Not since the loss of the dinosaurs have so many species been killed off. Extinction isn't a distant threat; it's here, and now.

SCIENTISTS ESTIMATE THAT 150-200 SPECIES OF PLANT, INSECT, BIRD AND MAMMAL BECOME EXTINCT EVERY 24 HOURS

Around 1 million species—plant and animal—are now threatened with extinction, many within decades. This is unprecedented in human history. That's 1 in 8 species of living things. The inherent value of all life aside, this loss is of dire importance to humankind: biodiversity creates healthy conditions for agriculture, tempers the effects of extreme weather, and provides us with clean air and water.

Logging brings extreme disruption to forest ecosystems. Habitat destruction is the main threat facing 85% of threatened and endangered species. Habitat loss is caused by prioritizing short-term profit over life itself. The expansion of industrial agriculture, especially the meat industry, is mostly to blame. Overgrazing is a huge issue, especially in South America. And irresponsible logging devastates the biodiversity of forests, the lungs of the earth.

There are clear success stories when it comes to saving certain species. The one thing they all have in common?— public consciousness. The West Indian manatee, the grizzly bear—both were saved from the brink of extinction by public pressure to legislate protections for their habitats. But smaller, less "iconic" plants and animals go unnoticed. We can help our smaller friends by eating less meat, using less plastic, supporting sustainable agriculture, and applying political pressure to protect habitats.

What set off the current mass extinction? The industrial revolution and mass consumer culture.