Species extinction: a natural phenomenon?

Résumé du document

Since 1992, the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature enlisted that three hundred and forty-nine new species had been discovered. Of this huge number, about 51% of them were expected to reach extinction. It was only 5% of all the recognized species that had a stable rise or increase in population growth. Since the evolution of life on planet Earth, various species have disappeared due to natural or, more recently one might coin it as human causes. The questions that would now plague one's mind would focus around the causes for extinction, whether the human race is capable of playing a predominant role in preserving these species. If these queries are summarized, and if asked to condense these questions in a nutshell, one would be keen to understand the circumstances for these species and its unique disappearance and further, can the human race strive to prevent and protect these mass extinctions. First of all, a simple question on the definition of extinction is answered as - the dying or the fading out of a species. It is a Herculean task to participate in the determination of its frequency of its occurrence. However, it is generally considered to be at the death of the last individual of the species. It is estimated that 99,9% of all species that have ever lived have now reached extinction. So, let's discuss, if extinction is a natural phenomenon?

Extraits

[...] It's important to remember that deforestation is particularly serious in tropical regions as clearly shown on the following map. Deforestation in the world. Rainforests covered 14% of the world land surface 50 years ago, they now cover only 6%. By 2030, there will be only 10% of rainforests remaining with another 10% in a degraded condition will have been lost and with them the irreversible loss of hundreds of thousands of species. Over-fishing At first, what's over-fishing? It occurs when fishing activities reduce fish stocks below an acceptable level. [...]

[...] The reintroduction is however ongoing. - The European beaver Its reintroduction has been successful: the European beaver is now being reintroduced in many places throughout Europe (Mainland Europe, Scandinavia and Britain). Quotas To regulate fishing and so to preserve species, governments have begun to control fish catching. This regulation of fishing is called quotas. The Common Fisheries Policy is applying in European Union, the CFP has currently four goals: - to regulate production, quality, grading, packaging and labelling - to encourage producers organizations to protect fishermen from sudden market changes - to set minimum fish prices and to finance buying up of unsold fish - to set rules for trade with non-EU countries The CFP set quotas for each species, this regulation is called Total Allowable Catch (TAC). [...]

[...] For example, over-fishing of sharks has led to the upset of entire marine ecosystems. According to a 2006 international study (published in the journal Science), about 33% of all fishing stocks worldwide have collapsed decline to less than 10% of their maximum observed abundance), and if current trends continue, all fishing stocks will collapse in 50 years. From 1950 to 1969, sea products consumption grew by about each year (from 18 million tons to 56 million tons), and it is expected that this demand will continue to rise (according to Mary Culture Systems estimations, in 2010 the production of sea products would have to increase by over 15,5 million tons to satisfy the desire of the growing number of human population on Earth). [...]

[...] The current extinction is the result of an intrusive species, endowed with sense. And this exceptional faculty could enable Man to find solutions and to apply them. But we will have to do it quickly.” Species preservation and re-introduction Species preservation and re-introduction are nowadays very numerous, thanks to agencies, like the well-known Wild Wide Fund for Nature. In 2005, thanks to WWF, the European sturgeons became a priority of re- introduction. The organisation explained in what it consisted in. [...]

[...] The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has predicted an average global rise in temperature of to between 1990 and 2100. The ultimate objective of the protocol is consequently to reduce of greenhouse gases emissions (the reference is the level of 1990) for MDCs (Most Developed Countries) from 2008 to 2012. United-States accepted however a reduce of Japan and the European Union 8%. Efforts can also be made on a smaller scale; man can daily contribute to the defence of the environment. [...]