Humans causing shrinking of nature as larger animals die off

Posted on May 23, 2019 by Admin

Average size of wild animals predicted to fall by a quarter in 100 years through extinctions

Humanity’s ongoing destruction of wildlife will lead to a shrinking of nature, with the average body size of animals falling by a quarter, a study predicts.

The researchers estimate that more than 1,000 larger species of mammals and birds will go extinct in the next century, from rhinos to eagles. They say this could lead to the collapse of ecosystems that humans rely on for food and clean water.

Australia’s biodiversity at breaking point – a picture essay

Posted on May 14, 2019 by Admin

Land clearing, deforestation, emissions, drought and warming oceans are all worsening the attack on Australia’s threatened species

Read more of our coverage of the issues in Our wide brown land series

Australia’s biodiversity is in trouble. The UN global assessment report painted a stark picture: the decline of the world’s natural support systems means that human society is in danger. According to the report, nature is being destroyed at a rate tens to hundreds of times higher than the average over the past 10 million years. More than a million species are at risk of extinction, natural ecosystems have declined by about 47% and the biomass of wild mammals has fallen by 82%. All of this is largely because of human activity. And the resulting impacts are likely to worsen unless we take action immediately.

As Guardian Australia has reported, Australia’s natural support systems are at breaking point. Increased land-clearing, warming oceans and a drought exacerbated by climate change are taking their toll on our biodiversity. The country is already experiencing rising oceans, marine heatwaves, longer fire seasons and extreme heat patterns. These are consistent with a changing climate.

Raise taxes on firms that harm nature, OECD tells G7 countries

Posted on May 7, 2019 by Admin

Report calls for change of priorities and culture to avert catastrophic biodiversity loss

Governments need to ramp up investment in nature restoration and raise the tax burden on companies that degrade wildlife, according to recommendations made to the G7 group of rich nations.

The proposals are part of a growing debate on how to radically change humanity’s relationship with nature in the wake of a new UN mega-report that showed an alarming decline in the Earth’s life-support systems.

‘The future of life on Earth lies in the balance’ – a picture essay

Posted on May 6, 2019 by Admin

Almost 600 conservation experts have signed a letter by the wildlife charity WWF, published to coincide with UN report into loss of biodiversity

Almost 600 conservation experts have signed the Call4Nature open letter written by wildlife charity WWF, which is being published to coincide with the IPBES report (see letter below).

Human society under urgent threat from loss of Earth’s natural life

Posted on May 6, 2019 by Admin

Scientists reveal 1 million species at risk of extinction in damning UN report

Human society is in jeopardy from the accelerating decline of the Earth’s natural life-support systems, the world’s leading scientists have warned, as they announced the results of the most thorough planetary health check ever undertaken.

From coral reefs flickering out beneath the oceans to rainforests desiccating into savannahs, nature is being destroyed at a rate tens to hundreds of times higher than the average over the past 10m years, according to the UN global assessment report.

Climate crisis is about to put humanity at risk, UN scientists warn

Posted on May 3, 2019 by Admin

‘We are in trouble if we don’t act,’ say experts, with up to 1m species at risk of annihilation

The world’s leading scientists will warn the planet’s life-support systems are approaching a danger zone for humanity when they release the results of the most comprehensive study of life on Earth ever undertaken.

Up to 1m species are at risk of annihilation, many within decades, according to a leaked draft of the global assessment report, which has been compiled over three years by the UN’s leading research body on nature.

‘Death by a thousand cuts’: vast expanse of rainforest lost in 2018

Posted on April 25, 2019 by Admin

Pristine forests are vital for climate and wildlife but trend of losses is rising, data shows

Millions of hectares of pristine tropical rainforest were destroyed in 2018, according to satellite analysis, with beef, chocolate and palm oil among the main causes.

The forests store huge amounts of carbon and are teeming with wildlife, making their protection critical to stopping runaway climate change and halting a sixth mass extinction. But deforestation is still on an upward trend, the researchers said. Although 2018 losses were lower than in 2016 and 2017, when dry conditions led to large fires, last year was the next worst since 2002, when such records began.

‘Decades of denial’: major report finds New Zealand’s environment is in serious trouble

Posted on April 17, 2019 by Admin

Nation known for its natural beauty is under pressure with extinctions, polluted rivers and blighted lakes

A report on the state of New Zealand’s environment has painted a bleak picture of catastrophic biodiversity loss, polluted waterways and the destructive rise of the dairy industry and urban sprawl.

Environment Aotearoa is the first major environmental report in four years, and was compiled using data from Statistics New Zealand and the environment ministry.

Let nature heal climate and biodiversity crises, say campaigners

Posted on April 3, 2019 by Admin

Restoration of forests and coasts can tackle ‘existential crises’ but is being overlooked

• Read the letter from campaigners
• George Monbiot: the natural world can help save us from climate catastrophe

The restoration of natural forests and coasts can simultaneously tackle climate change and the annihilation of wildlife but is being worryingly overlooked, an international group of campaigners have said.

Animal populations have fallen by 60% since 1970, suggesting a sixth mass extinction of life on Earth is under way, and it is very likely that carbon dioxide will have to be removed from the atmosphere to avoid the worst impacts of global warming. Trees and plants suck carbon dioxide from the air as they grow and also provide vital habitat for animals.

Resource extraction responsible for half world’s carbon emissions

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Admin

Extraction also causes 80% of biodiversity loss, according to comprehensive UN study

Extraction industries are responsible for half of the world’s carbon emissions and more than 80% of biodiversity loss, according to the most comprehensive environmental tally undertaken of mining and farming.

While this is crucial for food, fuel and minerals, the study by UN Environment warns the increasing material weight of the world’s economies is putting a more dangerous level of stress on the climate and natural life-support systems than previously thought.

World’s food supply under ‘severe threat’ from loss of biodiversity

Posted on February 21, 2019 by Admin

Plants, insects and organisms crucial to food production in steep decline, says UN

The world’s capacity to produce food is being undermined by humanity’s failure to protect biodiversity, according to the first UN study of the plants, animals and micro-organisms that help to put meals on our plates.

The stark warning was issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation after scientists found evidence the natural support systems that underpin the human diet are deteriorating around the world as farms, cities and factories gobble up land and pump out chemicals.

Jellyfish sting more than 5,000 holidaymakers on Queensland’s coast

Posted on January 7, 2019 by Admin

An invasion of bluebottles on Queensland’s Gold and Sunshine coasts led to thousands being treated

More than 5,000 people were stung by bluebottles on Queensland’s Gold and Sunshine coasts over the weekend as weather drove a wall of jellyfish onto the shore.

Conditions eased on Monday but remnants of the bluebottle armada (the correct term for a bunch of bluebottles) still dot the beaches and more than 200 people were treated for stings, mostly at the Sunshine Coast.

Green-feathered immigrant surge prompts Greek parakeet count

Posted on December 27, 2018 by Admin

Fears for native biodiversity as climate ideal for propagation

The raucous squawking comes first. Then they are seen, banking and diving before they crash-land on trees.

If Greeks had been told, not long ago, that their skies would become the preserve of ring-necked parakeets, the response would have been one of incredulity.

Roundup Newswires

Editor Brian Harrod Provides Comprehensive up-to-date news coverage, with aggregated news from sources all over the world from the Roundup Newswires Network

Category Archives: Biodiversity

Humans causing shrinking of nature as larger animals die off

Australia’s biodiversity at breaking point – a picture essay

Raise taxes on firms that harm nature, OECD tells G7 countries

‘The future of life on Earth lies in the balance’ – a picture essay

Human society under urgent threat from loss of Earth’s natural life

Climate crisis is about to put humanity at risk, UN scientists warn

‘Death by a thousand cuts’: vast expanse of rainforest lost in 2018

‘Decades of denial’: major report finds New Zealand’s environment is in serious trouble

Let nature heal climate and biodiversity crises, say campaigners

Resource extraction responsible for half world’s carbon emissions

World’s food supply under ‘severe threat’ from loss of biodiversity

Jellyfish sting more than 5,000 holidaymakers on Queensland’s coast

Green-feathered immigrant surge prompts Greek parakeet count