A new study shows that the global loss of wildlife is “significantly more worrisome” than scientists thought. nearly half of the species on the planet are experiencing rapid population decline.

People are already responsible for it. the extinction of a large number of species, but also brought to the brink of extinction many otherswith some scientists claiming that we are entering a “sixth mass extinction event”, this time humans are to blame.

The main driver of the phenomenon is the destruction of wild landscapes for the construction of farms, cities and roads, as well as climate change.

The scientists analyzed more than 70,000 samples of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects from around the world to determine whether their populations are increasing, decreasing or remaining stable over time.

In accordance with the study was published yesterday, Monday, in the scientific journal Biological Reviewsthe population of 48% of these species is declining, while less than 3% of the creatures are increasing.

These conclusionssharply anxious” noted among others one of the authors of the study, biologist Daniel Pincheira-Danozzo from the Faculty of Biological Sciences of the University of Belfast.

“Another study, based on a much smaller sample of species, found that the ongoing ‘extinction crisis’ is much more serious than is commonly believed. Our findings provide strong evidence on a global scale,” he stresses, noting that the study provides a “clearer picture” of the extent of global biodiversity loss.

Red List of Species and Threat Assessment

For decades, the extinction crisis has been defined by “conservation categories” — designations that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a United Nations commission, assigns from time to time to every species it rates, Pinceira-Danozo explains. . . .

Based on this method IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classifies about 28% of species as endangered.

“Our study shows not whether species are classified as endangered, but whether whether their population size will decrease rapidly and gradually or nothe says, explaining that the trend of population decline over time are a harbinger of extinction.

According to this estimate, 33% of the species currently classified as “non-threatened” on the IUCN Red List are in fact heading towards extinction.

Mammals, birds, and insects are registering declines in their populations, but those that amphibians suffer the most.

It is believed that fish and reptiles are in the best condition, and their population shows numerical stability over time.

Decreased geographically.IAccording to the study, populations tend to be concentrated in the tropics, and this is because “animals in the planet’s tropical zones are more vulnerable to rapid changes in environmental temperature,” explains Danozzo.

Source: CNN