Population growth among the humans is leading to over exploitation of the eco system in trying to provide food, shelter and clothing. Santa in her publication World Is Undergoing Mass Extinction shows how over exploitation of the environment is causing imbalance in the eco system.
The imbalance in ecosystem is eventually leading to extinction of some species from the earth surface. In equatorial Africa, over exploitation of the equatorial forest to provide trees for timber and medicinal herbs is leading to desertification. The Equatorial forest together with the Amazon forest used to boast of the widest varieties of birds and animals which most of them no longer exist. The extinction and endangerment of animals in these forests are caused by human being activities.
Sheldon, in the article Endangered Species/Species Extinction – Causes, Statistics, and Trends, suggests that human beings should develop a way to exploit the environment without affecting other species living within the same surrounding. Natural extinction can be slowed down even if it is caused by forces of nature. The natural extinction within the Amazon forest is being brought about by climate change.
The climate change is brought by human activities which include industrialization and farming. Using of environmentally friendly sources of power to run the industries might reduce the global warming by 25%. The Greater Horseshoe Bat a bird found in Britain is endangered because of human activities of lumbering and use of pesticides within its eco system. The bird left without a natural habitat and food making is hard to survive in the new polluted environment.
Laws developed to protect the endangered animals are not enough to protect the rare species. Governments need to involve the local communities in trying to protect the animals which would be an effective process. Kurpis, in her article Ways You Can Help Endangered Species, suggests that communities should be involved in forming game reserves or parks where the endangered animals will be reared.
The need to protect endangered animals is a necessity because of the technological advancement among the humans. Human beings have come up with weapons that can kill some of these animals in thousands within a short period. Poachers use these weapons to hunt the endangered animals eventually contributing to eradication of certain species of animals like the white rhino. The anti poaching laws and willingness of people have proved pivotal in increasing the white rhino’s population within the Earth’s surface.
Research by Bishop, in his publication Biodiversity loss from species extinctions may rival pollution and climate change impacts, has shown areas with massive extinction are facing decrease in biodiversity. The extinction is leading to such things as global warming, low production, and air pollution.
These changes are some of the contributors to global warming a major problem in the current century. Environments that harbor a wide variety of species have a large production of food. The massive production is brought about by ability of nature to control all factors of production using natural means.
Human beings will be the greatest losers because of the extinction of certain species. Extinction of herbivores within some eco system is leading to conflict between human beings and carnivores like lions. Such conflict would not take place if humans did not over hunt the herbivores for meat leaving carnivores with nothing to feed.
Myers, in the article 10 Recently Extinct Animals – Top 10 Lists | List verse, shows that human beings are the main contributors to the extinction of species in the current century. These leaves human beings with a moral obligation of ensuring the endangered species do not get extinct by protecting their habitat. Protection of their habitats will ensure they get safe bleeding places, and enough food to survive.
Works Cited
Bishop, Adrian. ‘Biodiversity loss from species extinctions may rival pollution and climate change impacts.’ Earth Times. 2012. Web.
Kurpis, Lauren. ‘Ways You Can Help Endangered Species.’ Endangered Species. 2007. Web.
Myers, Stephanie. ’10 Recently Extinct Animals – Top 10 Lists | List verse.’ Top 10 Lists – List verse. 2009. Web.
Santa, Barbara. ‘World Is Undergoing Mass Extinction.’ Science News. 2008. Web.
Sheldon, Joseph. ‘Endangered Species/Species Extinction – Causes, Statistics, and Trends.’ Clean Funny Cartoons / Environmental Issues on Grinning Planet. n.d. Web.