Earth has entered the sixth "mass extinction" and threatens a million species

Scientists around the world warn that Earth has entered the sixth "mbad extinction", the first caused by man, and that the consequences would be devastating for the planet's ecosystems. Researchers anticipate "a rapid and imminent acceleration of extinction levels of species, between tens and hundreds of times above the average of the last 10 million years".

In the last 500 years, at least 680 vertebrate species have disappeared. However, in the "coming decades", the threat would reach 500,000 and one million animal and plant species, which would be in danger of extinction.

The data comes from a report of international scientists for the United Nations (UN) on biodiversity obtained exclusively by the AFP agency.

In this sense, the report states that "the first global badessment of ecosystems in nearly 15 years is as worrying as global warming forecasts".

"Several independent tests indicate a rapid and imminent acceleration of extinction levels of species, between tens and hundreds of times above the average of the last 10 million years," according to the latest project summary obtained by AFP, dated from January.

In total, there are an estimated 8 million species on the planet, including 5.5 million insects. "Between one million and one million species will be at risk of extinction, many of them over the next decades," warned the document.

In this sense, the report relies on the badysis of highly studied species, such as vertebrates. This is why scientists warn that they weigh "uncertainties" on lesser known uncertainties, such as insects.

In the worst case, the disappearance of this biodiversity will not only affect nature and the environment as we know them. All the benefits that men "derive from nature", food, energy, medicines, among others, "are fundamental to the existence and richness of human life on Earth and the world. most of them are not completely replaceable, "the specialists badyzed.

For example, more than two billion people depend on wood for energy, four billion use natural medicines, and 75 percent of the world's crops require pollination by insects, according to Perfil.

Principal responsible

The use of land and oceans – such as agriculture, forestry and mining – and the direct exploitation of resources – such as fishing and hunting – are the main culprits for this alarming situation. The same is true for climate change, pollution and invasive species, whose impact is "relatively less important today" but "accelerates".

"If we want a sustainable planet that benefits communities around the world, we must change course in the next decade, as is the climate," said Rebecca Shaw, Chief Scientist for the Fund. world for nature.

Climate change