Since the industrial revolution humans have increased in population and resource use, resulting in the un-natural collapse of biodiversity. The photo the left shows that in the distant past there was a very low number of extinctions over the millennia. Without humans destroying ecosystem (to today’s extent) it is fair to say these extinctions were a natural occurrence. Animals and ecosystems were the weakness link and eliminated through natural selection. But as humans develop the more modern forms of society, they began to wipe out species that were beneficial to the survival the ecosystems which in turn will affect the way people live as well. Recorded extinctions show a massive spike as humans became more modern and the future shows that over 1 million of all species will be lost over the next millennia. Without certain ecosystems a domino affect will cause the world’s biodiversity to shrivel and die. Who’s to say humans won’t be one of the million species lost? Personally I’ve looked at the human presents on Earth differently than others. It is said that humans are a parasite to this planet and it have been proven through observation. But unless we were sent here we are earthlings. Even as the dominate species this is the only world we’ve got so our existence here is technically natural. Since it seems there is no way back I say the solution to biodiversity is to look forward. Over the next say 150 years, I propose we take natural selection into our own hands and not let species go extinct because our direct impact. Instead we must create new ecosystem, and introduce species that are not invasive but helpful in sustaining the survival of animals and humans alike. It is the future.
I enjoyed reading your views on humanity and biodiversity, Efe! Sustainability is so important as time trudges on and as the "dominant species", humans need to take a leadership role in determining what is sustainable and what is. The irony is, we are the ones making the Earth unsustainable. We're consuming so much and replenishing so little. It's interesting to speculate about what the "new ecosystem" will be in a few hundred years...maybe you're right, and humans won't be a part of it.
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