On February 21, 2022, Russian president Vladimir Putin gave a bizarre and at times unhinged speech laying out a long list of grievances as justification for the “special military operation” announced the following day. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine constitutes the biggest threat to peace and security in Europe since the end of the Cold War. Responding to Egregious Human Rights Abuses.
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Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in bold people and transformative ideas, providing more than 15,000 grants for work across all seven continents, reaching 3 million students each year through education offerings, and engaging audiences around the globe through signature experiences, stories and content. About National Geographic Society The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. This commitment represents our best opportunity to preserve the ecosystems necessary for our survival. The Campaign for Nature calls upon world leaders to take action in helping to protect 30 percent of the Earth’s land and ocean by 2030, on the way to 50 percent of the planet in a natural state by 2050. Today, only 15 percent of the land and 7 percent of the ocean is protected, leaving us with a challenging yet attainable goal. Studies reveal that by protecting 50 percent of the land and ocean around the world, plant and animal species could thrive. Deforestation far from shore can cause erosion that enters the water and deposits silt into the shallow marine waters, blocking the sunlight that coral reefs need to survive.ĭespite the habitat loss that has occurred globally to date, there is still hope. Pollution and effluents from the land travel easily through streams and rivers to the ocean, where they impact the health of fish, birds, and marine plants. As they, along with inland wetlands, are dredged and filled, species are less able to birth and support their young. Coastal estuaries and marshes provide breeding grounds for the majority of marine species. The situation is even worse in waterways, coastal areas, and the ocean. In addition to the loss of habitat, deforestation reduces the ability of forests to provide the critical benefit of absorbing carbon, which helps to mitigate the effects of climate change. According to a study about tree density published in Nature, the number of trees worldwide has decreased by 46 percent since the start of civilization. Approximately 15 billion trees are cut down each year. The clearing of land for farming, grazing, mining, drilling, and urbanization impact the 80 percent of global species who call the forest home.
Habitat loss is primarily, though not always, human-caused. Habitat destruction, defined as the elimination or alteration of the conditions necessary for animals and plants to survive, not only impacts individual species but the health of the global ecosystem. The loss of habitat has far-reaching impacts on the planet’s ability to sustain life, but even with the challenges, there is hope for the future. Habitat destruction is one of the biggest threats facing plants and animal species throughout the world.
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