Our planet is now in the midst of its
sixth mass extinction of plants and animals –
the sixth wave of extinctions in the past half-billion years. The Extinction Crisis –
Center for Biological Diversity We’re currently experiencing
the worst spate of species die-offs
since the loss of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. The Extinction Crisis –
Center for Biological Diversity Half of the world’s wildlife has been lost
in the past 40 years. (From 1970 to 2010) Living Planet Report -
World Wildlife Fund 85% of all species biggest threat
is habitat loss. IUCN’s Red List It is estimated that only 22% of the world’s original
(old-growth) forests remain intact. Bryant, Nielsen & Tangles, 1997.
Abramovitz, 1998. If the current rate of destruction continues,
half of all plant and animal species will be extinct
by the end of the twenty-first century. Rensberger, 1999; Tuxill, 1999. In order to stave off the mass extinction of species,
including our own, we must move swiftly
to preserve the biodiversity of our planet. Edward O. Wilson, Half-Earth Solution: Dedicate fully half the surface
of the Earth to nature. Solution: Dedicate fully half the surface
of the Earth to nature. Edward O. Wilson’s, Half-Earth