Biodiversity Loss Crisis White Paper

Humans share the planet with approximately 8.7 million other species in a delicate balance which provides the very foundation for life [1]. Biodiversity, or the variety of life on Earth, is crucial to sustaining life as it provides important ecosystem services. Biodiversity supports services such as climate regulation, food security, clean water, pollination, nutrient cycling, medicinal products, cultural services, economic value, and clean air. Without biodiversity, the global ecosystems that all living things rely upon, including humans, would collapse [2].

Natural climate change encompasses fluctuations in Earth’s climate that arise without human influence. These variations are caused by natural factors, including solar radiation, volcanic activity, and shifts in Earth’s orbit. Throughout history,
natural climate change has led to changes in temperatures, sea levels, and weather patterns. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that climate change today is predominantly driven by humaninduced (anthropogenic) activities [3]. Over the last century, human activities have degraded the conditions of our planet, which has accelerated the pace and magnitude of global warming, substantially diverted it from historical patterns of natural climate variability.

Anthropogenic activities are causing rapid ecosystem change and drastic loss of biodiversity across the globe, known as the biodiversity crisis [4]. This crisis is driven by a combination of climate change and anthropogenic pressures, stemming from human activities [5]. It causes rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events that disrupt ecosystems and challenge species survival [2].

This white paper is also featured on the British Ecological Society's website under their Applied Ecology Resources.