Human activity is by far the biggest cause of habitat loss. The planet’s human population has doubled in the past 50 years and the pressure to house and feed more than seven billion people has seen incursions into previously pristine natural habitats increase dramatically. At
the same time, human impacts on the Earth’s climate are radically changing weather patterns and, as a result, the spread and nature of wild habitats.
The primary individual cause of loss of habitat is the clearing of
land for agriculture. An estimated 177,000 square kilometres of forests and woodlands are cleared annually to make space for farming or in order to harvest timber for fuel and wood products. Estimates suggest the Earth has lost about half of its forests in 8,000 years of human activity, with much of this occurring in recent decades. About 3%
of forests have been lost since the 1990s alone.
And its not just forest clearing that leads to habitat loss. The loss
of wetlands, plains, lakes, and other natural environments all destroy or degrade habitat, as do other human activities such as introducing invasive species, polluting, trading in wildlife, and engaging in wars. This destruction of habitat also involves marine zones and the ocean, with urbanisation, industrialisation and tourism all affecting habitats in coastal areas. Some 40% of the global population live within 100 kilometres of the coast, placing major strains on wetlands and oceans.
