EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OF HUMAN POPULATION IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HABITAT DESTRUCTION AND LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY ON THE MOTHER EARTH

Abstract

There are a number of clearly defined processes leading to destruction of habitat and loss of biodiversity, but the ultimate cause of all these is the increasing human population. Most endangered species are threatened by numerous factors, but habitat loss worldwide is generally viewed as the single largest cause of biodiversity loss. When humans convert uninhabited areas for agriculture, forestry, urban development, or water projects like construction of dams, hydropower, and irrigation channels, they reduce or eliminate its usefulness as a habitat for the other species that live there. Biodiversity is the natural variety of living creatures we see around us. It is the variety of all forms of life on this terrestrial ecosystem. High rates of extinction are quickly reducing biodiversity especially in areas with high human population density and growth in the world. The direct and indirect effects of human interference on biodiversity are very challenging. Quantifying loss of genetic diversity is difficult, but it is clear that the extinction of species and declines in their population lead to a loss of genetic diversity. Unfortunately, the majority of the human population growth is seen within the greatest biodiversity hotspots. Scientific studies demonstrates that 87.9 percent of variation in endangered species can be explained by the single factor of human population density. In history many natural extinctions of species were witnessed, but the current rates of extinction are estimated to be roughly 100- times higher than the typical rates in the fossil record, and this increase of extinction will be 1000- 10,000 times higher in the future.