There are various threats to biodiversity around the world. The following list provides a rundown of some of the main causes of biodiversity loss.
- Human population growth at a high level without balancing natural resource consumption and human living space with nature's requirements
- Habitat encroachment, loss, destruction, deforestation, salinisation, desertification, etc.
- Pollution and climate change
- Overuse/overexpolitation of natural resources through such activities as over-fishing, agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, hunting, etc.
- Unsustainable exploitation promoted by legal, economic and corporate systems
- A lack of economic and political will to value biodiversity, the natural environment and natural resources
- Lack of knowledge, assumption of ability to "manage" the environment based on limited human understanding
- Ownership and management inequities with respect to use and benefits of natural resources and biodiversity
- Lack of acceptance of the value of life, nature and biodiversity for its own sake
- Impact of invasive species, both plant and animal; favouring of some species over others for sake of agriculture, tourism, etc.
- Excess pumping of underground water resources (reduces wetlands, water availability, replenishment capacity, etc.)
- Recreational and leisure pursuits of human beings (such as hunting, golf courses, ATV use on fragile lands, not treading softly on the land, unleashed pets, etc.)
- Disease and epidemics in animal and plant communities, often exacerbated by human caused pressures
- Eutrophication
- Unsustainable lifestyle choices of human beings
See further
- http://www.biodiv.be/biodiversity/threats - Convention on Biological Diversity, Major Threats