Biodiversity Loss

Biodiversity, encompassing genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity, is a cornerstone of life on Earth and critical to maintaining ecological balance. Defined by the variety of life across terrestrial, marine, and aquatic ecosystems, biodiversity underpins essential ecosystem services, food security, and global economic stability. However, it is under significant threat, with global wildlife populations declining by 69% since 1970 and 1 million species currently at risk of extinction. Primary drivers of biodiversity loss include habitat destruction, overexploitation, climate change, pollution, invasive species, and unsustainable consumption. Biodiversity loss disrupts ecological processes such as nutrient cycling and soil formation, creates non-linear impacts where small losses lead to large-scale consequences, and hampers long-term economic growth.