Land; sea use changes are drivers of biodiversity loss

Land; sea use changes are drivers of biodiversity loss

Subject : Environment

Context-

• A new analysis of studies published since 2005 concludes that land and sea use change has been the dominant anthropogenic driver of global biodiversity loss.
• Direct exploitation of natural resources is the second most dominant driver on land, but the most important one for the oceans.

The many factors-

• The Asia Pacific region lost 45 per cent of its vertebrate population in four-and-half decades, while the global average is 68 per cent.
• Five major reasons behind the biodiversity loss across the planet-

1. Changes in land and sea use (habitat loss and degradation),
2. Overexploitation of species,
3. Invasive species and disease,
4. Pollution and
5. Climate change.

• In the Asia Pacific region including India, habitat loss was the biggest trigger followed by species overexploitation and invasive species and disease.
• The WWF factsheet stated that almost a third of Indian wetlands have been affected by the combined pressure of urbanisation, agricultural activities and pollution.
• Habitat fragmentation and pollution, especially from pesticides and insecticides, are playing havoc with the biodiversity status of the country.
• It also put up data to highlight how forest land has been diverted and has been affecting biodiversity.
• About 43 per cent of forest land recommended for diversion in 2019 falls in ecologically sensitive wildlife habitats.