The 6th Mass Extinction

In our planet's history, five chapters have been marked by five large extinctions that have wiped out entire species and reshaped life. But did you know we are in the midst of a 6th extinction right now? Unlike every other extinction that natural phenomena have caused, this one is being driven by humans. Due to our unsustainable energy usage, water, land, and climate change, we are depleting all our natural resources, ruining habitats, and changing the weather. 

Food production is one of the leading causes of extinction. We now use 40% of all land on earth for agriculture, causing the reality that agriculture is not just a means of sustenance but a formidable driver of environmental upheaval. Agriculture is also culpable for 90% of global deforestation and 70% of water use. Clearing these vast stretches of forests for farms and pastures has devastated the countless species that once thrived in these biodiverse havens. As we alter their habitats irrevocably, we push them closer to extinction.

However, agriculture is not the only driving force to this extinction. The climate crisis, partly driven by our food production, creates more droughts and storms. These weather extremes are making the habitats of species inhospitable. 

While we have had extinctions in the past, this human-driven one is causing species to go extinct 1000-10,000 times faster than ever before. Every species that goes extinct affects its entire ecosystem. That species may have been prey to another species, so if it dies, the predator will now have no food and die. While extinctions are a part of life and the evolutionary process, this extinction is moving so quickly that we threaten human life. This means we must spring into action before it is too late. While we have put ourselves on a slippery slope, we can make a difference if everyone puts forth a good effort. The sooner we start, the better.