Sustainable Societies

Biodiversity

About a quarter of all mammal species and a third of all fish (mainly freshwater) are threatened with extinction today. A major cause of this global species extinction crisis is habitat loss, which is principally due to human undertakings such as agriculture, extraction activities and development. The threats facing animals and plants also include direct human exploitation (such as hunting and trade), natural disasters, atmospheric pollution (ozone depletion and greenhouse gases), and land and water pollution.