Earlier this week the media reported that Earth’s sixth mass extinction event is underway (The Guardian). This is not news - we all know that wildlife populations have been plummeting across the world - but these latest findings suggest that we’re further into the extinction than we thought.
Earth has undergone five mass extinctions before, all triggered by natural calamities such as meteor strikes, chemical and climate change or volcanic eruptions. The worst one was 65m years ago, famously killing off the dinosaurs. Each time only a small percentage of species survived, going on to fill out the evolutionary nooks and crannies of the next epoch.
At last, I get to put a dinosaur on the Nature's Home blog...
This is the first time that one species has triggered a mass extinction. No meteor this time, just habitat destruction, pollution, invasive species, climate change, overhunting, human overpopulation and overconsumption. Forces that reach into almost every part of modern life.
Globalisation has removed us so far from the damage we do to Life on Earth, that we don’t see it. When we excitedly install our new TV, how many of us wonder whether its components have come from a vast open-cast mine that only a few decades ago was an Indonesian rainforest full of tigers? My family installed a new TV a few weeks ago, and this is honestly the first time I’ve thought about it. When we pick up our frozen burgers for the end-of-term barbecue, are we thinking about the vast tracts of habitat that were destroyed to feed them (not just for grazing - 75% of the world’s soya crop is exported around the world to feed livestock)?
I’m guessing that the majority of us do not - and how could we? There’s usually zero information at the point of sale about sustainability; nothing on the packaging to indicate how many wild animals might have died to produce this item. And anyway, these problems seem a world away from the supermarket in which we stand.
So it seems almost impossible to tread lightly upon the world these days. It can feel disempowering - we all want to protect wildlife, but how can we do so?
Governments across the world must get involved in land use and nature protection - but often this is pitched against short-term prosperity. It doesn't have to be. There are many, many ways to compromise, and work in ways that benefit both nature and economies. By looking into supply chains, we can vote with our wallets.
Despite the deep-rooted complexities of human overpopulation, it’s not too late to turn the tide. We must, because our own survival depends on the web of life around us. It’ll be a slow process. But in some areas, the battle is already being won, with wildlife populations starting to recover and increase thanks to the work of conservation organisations, including the RSPB. Read the RSPB’s position on these issues here.
Red kites are laughing in the face of extinction. They were hunted out of existence in England, but have prospered since re-introduction, gradually reclaiming their former range to become a common sight once more. (Ben Hall, rspb-images.com)
As well as supporting wildlife conservation, we can all do small, everyday things to help slow the decline of wildlife around the world. Here are just a few.
1. Give nature a home. The wildlife on our doorstep is not immune to the global decline. Do what you can to help - avoid using garden chemicals to encourage insects; provide autumn and winter food to see birds and mammals through until spring, provide ponds, bat boxes, nest boxes, native plants; pick up hazardous litter; sow wildflower seeds on waste ground and verges…every action can help save wild lives.
2. Shop sustainable. With groceries, look for local, seasonal and organic. OK, realistically it’d be pretty challenging to just live on turnips all winter, but every bit helps, right? Look for sustainable seafood (or cut it out altogether - we’ve already lost 90% of Earth’s large fish). Buying organic is very empowering - it means you are helping birds and wildlife, as well as getting more nutrients and less toxins into you. Think of the small extra cost as a contribution to wildlife conservation – because it really is.
3. Read labels Check ingredients lists to see whether ingredients such as palm oil, soya and cocoa have been sustainably produced. If not, contact the brand to challenge them over it. Hallmarks such as Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance are good indicators of sustainable production overseas and can be found on RSPB food products – read the RSPB buyer's guide here.
4. Switch to renewable energy (and reduce your usage). The RSPB campaigns for sustainable energy, and you can support this too by switching to a renewable-only energy provider. Switching to renewables also sends a strong message to the energy industry and the government. Take the recent pledge by Volvo to put electric motors into all its vehicles from 2019 - in response to consumer demand, and France is set to ban petrol and diesel cars by 2040. Things are changing.
5. Spread the word. Talking about extinction and its causes will help spread awareness, change perceptions and encourage new solutions. You can also support political and business figures who are trying to address these problems. And remember to spend time in nature (it’s a great mood-booster) and encourage others to see its value and benefits. I also take some heart from the fact that Life on Earth has survived five mass extinctions before and that, with or without humanity, nature will pull through in the end.
Another extinction-reversal hopeful, Britain's natterjack toad numbers are starting to recover as habitat is restored for them. Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
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Armageddon or exaggeration: What do you think? Email us or log in to comment below.