The latest Science for Policy report compiles scientific evidence from CSIC research centers on biodiversity loss on Earth. It explains its main causes and severe consequences for both nature and humanity. Coordinated by researchers from CEAB-CSIC, among others, the report proposes concrete measures to curb the current biodiversity crisis.
The document Biodiversity Loss in the Current Global Change Scenario begins by defining the concept of biodiversity, which includes habitat variety, species diversity, and genetic diversity. It then breaks down the benefits (or “ecosystem services”) that biodiversity provides, such as pollination, air and water purification, climate regulation, and the reduction of zoonotic risks and the likelihood of pandemics spreading on a global scale.
The report explains that despite our dependence on these “services,” biodiversity is continuously declining at such a rapid rate that new species cannot replace those that are disappearing. Official data is presented, such as those from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which estimates that more than 46,300 species are currently at severe risk of extinction—30% of the species assessed by this organization.
The Main Causes
The latest Science for Policy report from CSIC identifies five key factors, all of anthropogenic origin, responsible for the accelerated loss of biodiversity:
- Habitat destruction and degradation: Infrastructure development, urbanization, intensive agriculture and livestock farming, and bottom trawling fishing, among others, damage or completely eliminate habitats and the species that depend on them.
- Overexploitation of resources: Excessive extraction of raw materials threatens numerous species.
- Pollution: The impact of pesticides and insecticides, contamination from other chemical residues and plastics, among others, affects all ecosystems, particularly aquatic ones.
- Invasive species: Globalization has accelerated the introduction of exotic species with invasive behavior, which displace or eliminate native species and disrupt the dynamic balance of ecosystems.
- Climate change: Rising temperatures, droughts, and extreme weather events exacerbate this scenario.
The Most Relevant Consequences
Biodiversity loss has devastating effects on ecosystems and society, which the document details as follows:
- Disruption of ecosystem services: Pollination, natural pest control, water purification, and the availability of food and medicines are at risk.
- Irreparable loss of genetic heritage: Species that have taken millions of years to evolve become extinct, leading to the loss of key and irreplaceable functions in ecosystems.
- Cascade effects: The disappearance of one species alters the entire biological network, affecting many others, which may also eventually disappear.
- Less resilient ecosystems: Simplified ecosystems become less capable of recovering from environmental changes.
- Impacts on human health: Ecosystem disruption increases the occurrence of zoonotic diseases (those transmitted from animals to humans) and the spread of pandemics. A rich and diverse natural environment acts as a filter and buffer against zoonotic jumps, meaning that infectious agents transfer between species, making it far less likely that they will reach humans. Scientific studies have also demonstrated the physical and mental well-being benefits of living in healthy natural environments.
Proposed Measures to Curb the Biodiversity Crisis
Experts emphasize the urgent need for action from governments, businesses, and citizens. They propose concrete measures such as:
- Promoting the sustainable management of natural resources to curb the overexploitation of raw materials.
- Changing production and consumption systems to reduce the ecological footprint (e.g., minimizing food waste and excessive energy consumption).
- Regulating and reducing the use of chemical products (such as pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides) across all sectors. Implementing measures and promoting behaviors that minimize pollution from various sources (e.g., favoring extensive agriculture and livestock farming over intensive models).
- Encouraging sustainable, low-impact activities, including tourism, by limiting it and integrating environmental values.
- Halting habitat destruction and degradation. Promoting regulations and actions focused on conservation and, where necessary and feasible, habitat restoration, such as old-growth forests, wetlands, seagrass meadows, and other ecosystems. Strengthening conservation initiatives such as National Parks.
- Leveraging new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, environmental DNA techniques, and satellite detection, to better monitor biodiversity and enable early intervention.
- Promoting public, corporate, and citizen responsibility, as the involvement of society as a whole is essential.
- Improving environmental governance and adopting ambitious environmental policies based on scientific evidence, which are more effective and balanced between biodiversity protection and rural needs.
- Encouraging sustainable societal and economic models, moving away from the notion that unlimited growth is possible on a finite planet.
The Current Biodiversity Crisis
Throughout Earth’s history, five major mass extinctions have occurred, wiping out a significant portion of existing species. The first took place around 440 million years ago, while the most recent, 65 million years ago, led to the extinction of 75% of species at the time, including the dinosaurs. Today, scientists warn that we are in the midst of a new biodiversity crisis, characterized by two key factors: its rapid pace and its human-induced causes. This latter fact gives us the power to act—by reducing anthropogenic impacts, we can curb biodiversity loss and promote our health, well-being, and survival.
The report Biodiversity Loss in the Current Global Change Scenario was coordinated by María Begoña García (IPE-CSIC), Mario Díaz (MNC-CSIC), Daniel Oro (CEAB-CSIC), Esperança Gacia (CEAB-CSIC), Jaime Bosch (IMIB-CSIC), and Paola Laiolo (IMIB-CSIC).
You can access the full report at this link: https://science4policy.csic.es/la-perdida-de-la-biodiversidad-en-el-actual-escenario-de-cambio-global/
*The Science for Policy reports contain solid scientific evidence generated in CSIC research centers and institutes, compiled, prioritized, and analyzed by the expert team that prepares them. Scientific knowledge is transformed into accessible insights for non-specialist readers to guide public policies, private sector actions, and citizen initiatives. They thus serve as a tool for administrations, businesses, organizations, and individuals interested in addressing these environmental and social challenges.
L'entrada Curb biodiversity loss to improve our health and well-being ha aparegut primer a CEAB.