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Why are we losing nature?
For a long time, it was still possible to say “more science is needed” to understand how exactly human activities were harming the natural world. Not anymore.
In the last 50 years our world has been transformed by an explosion in global trade, consumption and human population growth, as well as an enormous move towards urbanisation. This puts a huge amount of pressure on the natural world around us, leading to impacts like habitat loss, overfishing and climate change to name just three.
Threats to nature and why they happen
From all of the drivers of nature loss, see the impact the food on your plate has in our interactive infographic below.
The true cost of our food system
Changing land use for food production is the biggest driver of nature loss. About 50% of the world’s habitable land area is already used for agriculture – for livestock such as cattle and pigs and for crops that feed both people and livestock.
Destroying diversity for food
The Cerrado region in South America has the richest diversity of life of any savannah in the world, is an important water source, and stores carbon that would otherwise accelerate climate change. Sadly, half of the region has already been lost to livestock rearing and soy production for consumption around the world.
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What can you do?
Humanity’s increasing destruction of nature is having catastrophic impacts not only on wildlife populations but also on human health and all aspects of our lives.
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Insects, Soil & Plants
Rhinos, polar bears and tigers may be the focus of most headlines about species loss, but did you know that many insects, plants and microscopic life forms are also facing extinction?
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Impact on Freshwater
We rely on freshwater for our survival but human activities are putting this vital resource under tremendous strain.
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Voices for a living planet
A wide variety of thinkers and practitioners from around the world to share their unique views on how, as a global community, we could build a resilient and healthy planet for people and nature in a post COVID-19 world.
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