Habitat Destruction: Why Is It Happening and How Can We Fix It?
Plants and animals depend on a particular habitat to survive. For example, many North
American songbirds escape the winter's food shortage by flying to the tropical forests. And many
depend on these areas to grow and develop, such as tadpoles can only develop in healthy ponds and
streams. When the areas that these species live in vanish, the plants and animals that depend on them
die out. Habitat destruction is one of the main threats to biodiversity, which refers to the various kinds
of plants and animals that live in a particular area. While some areas of the world have less
biodiversity, such as the artic areas, others have a mass amount, such as the tropical forests. These
areas are known for having thousands of different types of plants and animals, which makes them one
of the most bio diverse areas in the world. All species need food to survive; they have specific foods to
the specific area that they live in. Since these needs are so specific, when we start destroying their
habitat we are putting these areas of the world at risk.
Human beings are a major cause for habitat destruction. In the last few centuries, the human
population has risen sharply, which then puts pressure on our natural resources. Because of our
growing needs, this results in habitat destruction.
Major Causes of Habitat Destruction
Logging
Agriculture
Humans cut down trees for wood and wood
products. Smaller trees are often destroyed in
the process and are never replaced.
The single biggest cause of deforestation is
farming. Wild lands are being cleared for crops
and domestic animals. Animals used to living
in a bio diverse habitat cannot survive in an
area with one crop.
The more the human population grows, the
more time we spend clearing trees and land to
make room for roads and cities. Cities replace
the natural habitat of many different species
of plants and animals, while roads can destroy
plants and keep animals from traveling safely.
Building Roads and Cities
Humans are the one of the major causes of
forest fires. They can destroy or damage
between 15 and 36 million acres of tropical
forest every year and are sometimes started
on purpose as a way to illegally clear an area
of land.
Forest Fires
Habitat destruction is happening all over the world around us, and it may be closer to home
than you might think. While all areas have been affected,
tropical rainforests have received the most attention.
Originally, 16 million square kilometers of tropical
rainforest existed on earth, now less than 9 million square
kilometers remain. Tropical deciduous dry forests have
suffered even more destruction; they are easier to burn
Jungle burned for agriculture in southern
Mexico by Jami Dwyer from Wikipedia
Commons
which makes it easier to clear land for agriculture.
Other areas that have suffered because of habitat destruction include the tall grass prairies of
North America, only 3% of this natural habitat remains. The rest has been destroyed and converted
into farm land. Our wetlands are also at risk, within the last 200 years, 50% of the natural wetlands in
North America have been destroyed because of pollution. And in the Philippines, 90% of the coral life
there has also been destroyed for this reason.
The main reason as to why habitat destruction is occurring is human beings. As mentioned our
population has risen, which means we are building more homes, our cities are becoming larger, and we
are creating more freeways for travel. When doing this we are clearing land and interrupting the
habitat of various plants and animals that surround these areas. We are clearing more land for farming,
which means cutting down trees and getting rid of our beautiful forests. The species of plants and
animals that live there are losing their homes because of us, and are therefore getting closer to
extinction.
When we are destroying the habitats of plants and animals, we are putting these species at risk
for extinction. In a report done by the United Nations Environmental Program, the species of monkeys,
Orangutans, may lose all of the tropical forest that live in, in 15 years.
This means they will have nowhere to live, no food to eat, and are at risk
for extinction. The report reads, "The rapid rate of removal of food
trees, killing of orangutans displaced by logging and plantation
development, and fragmentation of remaining intact forest constitutes
a conservation emergency”. This shows how much humans are a cause
for the destruction of natural habitats.
Orangutan by Aaron Logan
The biggest way to stop habitat destruction is get the word out there and make those around
us aware of what is happening. Before we decide to build a housing community, or start a city, we
need to be investigating the land we want to build on. Look up the plants and animals that live there,
are they close to extinction? If we interrupt their habitat will they have anywhere else to go? Or are we
going to clear their land, build what we want, and destroy their species? There are ways to create
buildings in an area that you wish while still preserving the habitat and wildlife around it. Using the
ecofriendly techniques can decrease habitat destruction significantly. We can also save our habitats by
walking on designated trails in forests, mountains, and deserts. As well as picking up trash when we are
out enjoying nature, and not littering or throwing cigarette butts on the ground.
Habitat destruction isn’t something I have really thought of before, nor did I realize how big of a
problem it really is. I love nature; living in Utah the mountains have always been my favorite place to
spend my time. Camping, fishing, hiking, we live in such a beautiful world and I love getting outside and
enjoying it. After doing this research I realize that I may have done some things to affect the natural
habitats in the areas in which I live, and I now see that I need to pay more attention. Being aware of the
environment around you is really important, and we really do need to research about how we can save
them from destruction. Getting the word out there and making others aware is a major step in saving
our natural habitats and protecting the species that live there.
Works Cited
"Habitat Destruction." Wikipedia. N.p., October 2, 2012. Web. 12 Oct 2012.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_destruction>
"Habitat Destruction." New Zealand Biodiversity. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct 2012.
<http://www.biodiversity.govt.nz/picture/biodiversity/state/destruction.html>.
"Habitat Loss & Degradation." Capital Regional District. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct 2012.
<http://www.crd.bc.ca/watersheds/protection/concerns/habitat_loss.htm>.
"Protecting Animals & Their Habitat." Capital Regional District. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct 2012.
<http://www.crd.bc.ca/watersheds/protection/howtohelp/protectanimals.htm>
Roach, John . "Orangutan Habitat May Be Gone in 15 Years, UN Report Says." National Geographic
News. National Geographic, February 7, 2007. Web. 12 Oct 2012.
<http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070207-orangutan.html>.
"Threats to Biodiversity." ThinkQuest. Oracle Education Foundation, August 2008. Web. 12 Oct 2012.
<http://library.thinkquest.org/08aug/00473/habitatdestruction.html>