Many species of animals and plants are in danger of becoming extinct. What are the causes of this problem, and what can be done to prevent it from happening?
In the twenty first century, the most grave problems are those associated with ecology and environment. The pace at which earth is losing its resources; fossils, flora and fauna is overwhelming. Human activities have further aggravated the natural extinction of plants and animal species. I would support my essay by quoting some of the causes of extinction and the possible solutions.
First of all, human activities like “deforestation”, “poaching”, “over harvesting” of natural resources is the foremost cause of a rapid extinction of plants and animal species. Forests are the storehouses of diverse varieties of plants and animals. Destroying them would devoid several species of plants and animals of their natural surrounds.
By removing forests for agriculture land and housing, man has multiplied and survived on earth but has doomed other species: plants and animals. Predating species like tigers, lions, and leopards needs a vast area for their survival. They are top carnivores or predator of a terrestrial ecosystem. Without sufficient forests, such species would vanish slowly. Also, If they are hunted for their skin or other body parts, than it would off balance the whole ecological balance of that area. For example, grazers like deers, etc would become abundant. This would lead to overgrazing, followed by soil erosion, floods, thereby destroying the natural habitat of numerous species. In several Asian countries, like China and India, tigers are hunted illegally for their skins. International markets provides good money to poor hunters residing near forests, who do not have enough to make their livelihood. So it is also a social problem.
Overdependence on wood, forest floor, medicinal plants has also lead to overexploitation. Man is almost consuming all the flesh and fruits produced in the ecosystems. Accidents like oil spills, pesticides and chemical leakages in water bodies has already affected various sea animals. Global warming is proving to be fatal for several animal species.
Second, “natural calamities and catastrophes” have further steepened the extinction of plants and animals. Dinnosaur are an example of this event. Millions of years ago, they went under mass extinction due to the impact of meteorite collision on earth.
Valuable forests possessing numerous plants and animal species were also lost due to it. Such loses are irreversible and undesirable. Earth is undergoing continuum changes gradually. Calamities like earthquakes, forest fires, lightening kills several animals and plants species.
The most effective ways to sort this problem are: “captive breeding”, “sustainability”, and “ban on poaching”. Several fish and mammal species can be provided natural environs in places like zoos, wild life sanctuary’s, etc where mates of opposite sex are provide an opportunity to breed naturally. This would increase their population. Activities like cloning, induced breeding of endangered species under controlled laboratory conditions is a good way to reverse the extinction loss. Sustainable or eco friendly approaches with minimum dependence on non renewable natural resources would ensure a positive replenishment. Minimized use of coal, petroleum and wood would reduce pollution in environment. This would parry the ill effects of green house effects. Green approach to agriculture would save several birds and water animals from poisoning by pesticides and non biodegradable. Finally, stringent laws should be enforced against poaching of endangered species like blue whale, tigers, leopards, etc. All these steps would ensure the gregarious ecosystems encompassing abundant flora and fauna with further enrichment of new species and preventing the existing ones.
From the above stated examples and illustrations, I would commend the ill effects of human interventions and natural calamities on extinction can be nullified by techniques like captive breeding, cloning, sustainability and enacting strict laws for the prevention of endangered species.
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