THE GREAT MASS EXTINCTION OF SPECIES
Alongside the climate crisis, biodiversity loss is the greatest threat to our planet. It is estimated that 130 to 150 species disappear irreversibly every day. The rate of biodiversity loss is at least one hundred to one thousand times higher than the average of the last ten million years. We are experiencing the largest mass extinction since the disappearance of the dinosaurs.¹
The extinction of individual species can throw entire ecosystems out of balance. In weakened systems with low biodiversity, the consequences are particularly severe. It is clear that the loss of species threatens our food supply and our health. The main causes are habitat destruction, overfishing, environmental pollution, climate change, and invasive species.
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BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
There are many ways to protect and promote biodiversity on our planet. The goal is not to separate humans from nature, but to maintain a sustainable relationship with it. For example, proper mowing can preserve flowering meadows and enhance their biodiversity.⁵ The reintroduction of keystone species can have a strong impact on ecosystems. Beavers create new habitats through their dams and can reduce flooding by up to 60%. Wetlands retain water for longer periods. Bison change vegetation patterns, and the depressions created by their trampling can form ponds that serve as drinking sources during droughts.⁶
Biodiversity loss affects people worldwide, for example in …
Quellen:
(1) Greenpeace: Artensterben (24.09.2024)
(2) WWF International. (2022). Living Planet Report 2022. WWF International.
(3) ökolandbau.de: Mehrjährige Blühflächen: starker Hebel für mehr Biodiversität (02.03.2025)
(4) World Wildlife Fund and Zoological Society of London (2024)