Humanity's extinction coincides with that of the species.
In the intricate web of nature, each plant, animal, and fungus plays an essential role. The disappearance of a species can lead to far-reaching consequences, even impacting humans. A recent investigation has raised concerns: More species are at risk of extinction than previously thought.
Human life is intertwined with nature. "From the air we breathe, clean drinking water, food, clothing, fuel materials, building materials, and medicines - our health, nutrition, and well-being rely on the vast array of resources nature provides," explains the Leibniz Research Network Biodiversity in a report. yet, Earth's biodiversity is under threat. Over two million plant and animal species globally are at risk of extinction, with Europe even losing one in five of its species, according to a study.
A research team, including Axel Hochkirch from the Luxembourg National Museum of Natural History and the University of Trier, analyzed Europe's vertebrate species, including amphibians, birds, fish, reptiles, mammals, invertebrates like butterflies and bees, and various plant species. They found that 19% of the 14,669 species examined are threatened with extinction in Europe, with 27% of native plants at risk and 24% of invertebrates and 18% of vertebrates affected.
The study, published in November 2023 in the journal "PLoS One", reveals that the number of threatened species does not significantly differ across different species groups.
Using new data, the team also found that the global number of threatened species is double what the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) estimated in 2019. At that time, IPBES estimated that one million of the eight million species are threatened.
An irreversible loss
Nature's systems are complex, with no species existing in isolation. Every species plays a role in its ecosystem, from trees and fungi to insects. The stability of ecosystems depends on their diversity. Scientists agree that the extinction of a species increases the risk of major ecosystem collapses and puts human survival at stake.
"The extinction of species ultimately determines whether the human race will survive on Earth," biologist Katrin Böhning-Gaese told the "Mirror". Carl Beierkuhnlein, head of the chair of biogeography at the University of Bayreuth, shares this view. Biodiversity is crucial for protecting against floods, clean groundwater, slope stability, pollination of crops, and many other existentially relevant ecosystem services. "No society can afford to replace these natural services with technological solutions," says Beierkuhnlein.
More than two-thirds of global field crops, including many fruits and vegetables, coffee, and cocoa, depend on natural predators like insects. Without these, the human food supply could become significantly scarce. Currently, a third of all insect species worldwide are at risk of extinction. For medicine, a further loss of biological diversity would be a catastrophe, as many medicines come from nature - around 70% in cancer treatment alone.
"In biological diversity lies the knowledge of 3.5 billion years of natural evolution," says Klement Tockner, professor of ecosystem sciences and director-general of the Senckenberg Society, to the German Wave. "The ongoing loss of our natural capital poses the greatest threat to humanity - once lost, it's gone forever."
"What we lack are actions"
The causes of species extinction are numerous, with intensive economic use of land and seas being the greatest threat, according to the study. "While it has been recognized before that agricultural land-use changes pose a significant threat, our analysis is the most comprehensive and clear to date in confirming the extent of this threat at the continental scale," the authors write. Overuse of biological resources and extreme weather conditions caused by climate change also pose a significant threat to biodiversity.
However, the researchers also see reasons for hope: reintroductions of animal species and special protection could help preserve biodiversity. "It's important to initiate measures to protect endangered species. These have already shown success in vertebrates, as evidenced by the spread of previously endangered species such as the black stork, white-tailed eagle, peregrine falcon, and beaver," says Hochkirch. "It's important to implement the necessary conservation measures in time. We already have sufficient evidence to act - what we lack are actions."
This article was originally published on ntv.de on November 8, 2023. It has been revised for the sustainability week.
The importance of preserving biodiversity is highlighted in this context, as education about the critical role of each species in ecosystems can inspire actions to protect them. For instance, students learning about the relationship between bees and crops might become advocates for bee conservation, thereby contributing to food security.
In the quest to reverse the current biodiversity crisis, education plays a pivotal role in raising awareness and fostering a sense of responsibility among individuals to preserve Earth's fragile ecosystems and the invaluable creatures that inhabit them.
