Living in a modern society, it is undeniably true that the world continuously changes to be fully industrialized. In our desire to have a better quality of life humans have been exhausting natural resources. From wiping out the trees in the forests and mountains to poisoning waters flowing in river and the sea, we could say that humans have been doing an awful job in being a steward of our planet.
To make us feel even more bad about ourselves for simply being human, it appears that we are not only good in destroying our habitat. We are also doing a ‘great’ job in extinguishing all kinds of life in the wild.
According to Our Living Planet Report 2018 from the World Wildlife Federation released in The Guardian, the human race is responsible for the 60% of declining animal populations in the whole world. This includes mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish, and even insects!
A number of scientists who religiously studied the impact of the human race in our nature since 1970 blames the alarming trend due to our tremendous population. Due to our vast number of population, our consumption of natural resources are wreaking havoc in the balance of our ecosystem.
“We are sleepwalking towards the edge of a cliff,” The executive director of science and conservation at the World Wildlife Federation, Mike Barrett, painted a picture of the immense effect of our irresponsible consumption of the world’s natural resources.
“If there was a 60 percent decline in the human population, that would be equivalent to emptying North America, South America, Africa, Europe, China and Oceania. That is the scale of what we have done.” He added.
The report shows that one of the reason behind the alarming declining population of wildlife is due to the destruction of their natural habitats. Together with the destruction of their home, life in the wild is exterminated as well.
“We can no longer ignore the impact of current unsustainable production models and wasteful lifestyles.” Marco Lambertini, the director general of World Wildlife Federation International said, raising concern over the destruction caused by human consumption of nature.
In an effort to stop, or at least slow down, the declining rate of wildlife population, nations all over the world aim to discuss this over the UN’S Convention on Biological Diversity this 2020.
“We need a new global deal for nature and people and we have this narrow window of less than two years to get it,” Mike Barrett said, stressing the urgency of the situation. “This really is the last chance. We have to get it right this time.”
The people behind the World Wildlife Federation calls for an urgent action from all nations across the world. Issues such as deforestation, climate change, plastic pollution brought by our abusive consumption call for a concrete action not only from the leaders of the world but from the entire human race as well.
“We are the first generation to know we are destroying our planet and the last one that can do anything about it.” Tanya Steele, chief executive of World Wildlife Federation said.
Scientists and environmentalists believe that it will take worldwide commitment to resort to a sustainable and environmental friendly consumption methods. It is believed that it is the only cure to our dying wildlife.
Just because it seems that we can do everything we want does not mean we should do it. Everything that is taken too much holds an even greater consequences.
A great person one said:
“Only after the last tree has been cut down; Only after the last river has been poisoned; Only after the last fish has been caught; Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.”
May we not forget that we LIVE here on Earth, it is our only home. And if we will not turn our backs toward the direction we are heading to, we are setting ourselves on fire. Please watch the video below:
This severely upsets me.