A growing number of plant and animal species are dissapearing wordlwide, and this trend shows no signs of slowing. This essay will argue that protection is necessary because ecosystem depend on the interconnection of their members, and will identify human activity and climate change as the principal cause of the decline.
Ecosystems are heavily dependent on each member for its survival. If one member is made extinct or reduced, in turn, the food chain is disturbed and cause other plants or animals to not have food, or have no predator. For example, in Mongolia, when the Mongolian wolf became endangered, its main prey, hares, underwent a population boom, causing over-grazing and land degradation. As a result, farmers suffered a decline in crop growth and loss due to hare consuming crops.
This interdependence explains why protection matters. However biodiversity loss is accelerating due to two main drivers: Human activity and climate change. The Mongolian wolf became endangered because of poaching, and this phenomenon is not restricted only to Mongolia, in Africa illegal poachers killed off the African white rhino, with the last white rhino passing away in 2020 in a wildlife enclosure, after ruthless trophy hunting.
Furthermore, due to rising temparatures caused by climate change, polar bears are facing habitat loss and endangerment. According to a study, since 2001, the polar bear has lost 35% of its habitat, due to melting of the arctic ice.
To sum up, its a necessity to protect all species as they each play a significant role in the survival and wellbeing of an ecosystem, and its of paramount importance to be mindful of our contribution to this decline as human-driven poaching and climate change is the leading cause and catalyst to this extinction.