Earth Day 2019-Protect Our Species
Earth Day 2019-Protect Our Species
Earth Day 2019-Protect Our Species
A new study has suggested that insect populations have decreased by more than
75% in Germany over the last 28 years. This is very alarming: 80% of wild plants
rely on bees and other insects for pollination, and 60% of bird species rely on
insects for food.
Habitat destruction, exploitation, and climate change are driving the loss of half of
the world’s wild animal population.
Primates, our closest animal relatives, are under extraordinary threat. Close to
60% of the world’s 504 primate species are threatened with extinction, and 75%
of our primate species are in severe population decline.
In the past 20 years, around 75% of all toothed whale species, such as dolphins,
and 65% of baleen whale species (humpback, blue), and 65% of other species
such as sea lions have been affected in fishing operations globally.
40% of the world’s bird species are in decline, and 1 in 8 is threatened with global
extinction.
Our big cats, including tigers, leopards, and cheetahs are in critical decline, and
many will become extinct in the next decade. The world’s cats are exploited for
their body parts and skins. China remains the world’s largest market for these
critically endangered species along with the black rhino and other species.
The American Bison once numbered in the millions and roamed from Alaska to
Mexico. They now occupy less than one percent of their original habitat. Their
existing habitat is so small and tightly controlled that surviving bison have been
compared to herded cattle.
The good news is that the rate of extinctions can still be slowed, and many of our
declining, threatened and endangered species can still recover if we work together
now to build a united global movement of consumers, voters, educators, political
leaders, and scientists to demand immediate action.