Disappearance of Species in America - Literature review Example

Disappearance of Species in America At present, a huge number of threatened species all over the world are near extinction. Even though conservations attempts have contributed largely to the dissemination of information and raising of public awareness, to the restoration of endangered species, and to the discovery of sustainable resources, there remains almost fifty indigenous species in America that are seriously threatened due to destructive human activities, like dynamite fishing, illegal logging, and too much hunting (Weiss para 3). As reported by the World Wildlife Foundation, “destructive human activities have led to the current rate of species extinction, which is at least 100-1,000 times higher than the expected natural rate” (Weiss para 3). Not like earlier mass extinctions, brought about by occurrences such as natural climate changes, volcanic disasters, and asteroid collisions, the present problem is practically wholly brought about by human beings. In truth, almost all of presently endangered species are threatened from human activities, mainly those causing global warming, emergence of bizarre species, and loss of habitat (Center for Biological Diversity para 2). This paper examines the current disappearance of species in America. America’s Extinction Problem The diversity of species guarantees the flexibility of ecosystems, providing ecological systems the space they require to endure pressure. Hence although conservation efforts often reasonably concentrate their attention on species-abundant ecological systems such as coral reefs and rainforests, a wide-ranging technique for protecting biodiversity should also involve kinds of habitat with a smaller number of species, such as polar seas, tundra, and grasslands—to which damages or losses could be permanently catastrophic (Center for Biological Diversity para 3). And although a great deal of interest over the disappearance of species places emphasis on species extinction on a global scale, majority of the benefits of biodiversity occur locally, and protecting local communities is the sole means to guarantee genetic diversity vital for the continuing existence of species (Center for Biological Diversity para 3). Basically, conservation efforts must focus on all types and levels of ecosystems, for biodiversity can only be protected through an inclusive conservation approach. Private forests in America are home to a huge number of species—from bats, birds, bears, and butterflies to salamanders, snails, and salmon that live in swamps and rivers; to shrubs and trees that nourish and defend the flora and fauna and improve people’s quality of live (Stein et al. 1). Numerous indigenous plants and animals seen in private forests all over America are endangered, partly due to the effects from escalating housing projects. The impact of progress or development on endangered species in these forests is worsened by further effects from diseases and insects (Stein et al. 1). As reported by Stein and colleagues (2010), “Sixty percent of the at-risk species of plants and animals in the conterminous, or “lower 48,” United States are associated with private forests” (1). It was also predicted that roughly 57 million acres of private forests in America will witness a considerable expansion in housing development programs in the near future (Stein et al. 1). Robles and colleagues (2008 as cited in Stein et al. 1) stated that nearly all the watersheds estimated to encounter the highest growths in housing concentration on private forests are in southeastern states and comprise private forest lands with substantial concentrations of endangered species. In the past five centuries, it is estimated that roughly 1,000 species disappeared in America, from the elk of Arizona and West Virginia’s bison to the Culebra parrot of Puerto Rico and the passenger pigeon and grasshopper of the Rocky Mountain—still this does not constitute a huge number of species, numbering to thousands, that went extinct before researchers had an opportunity to identify them (Center for Biological Diversity para 4). The exact number of endangered species is still unknown. David Wilcove, a renowned conservation expert, approximates that there are at least 14,000 threatened species in the U.S., which represents at least 7 percent of the total U.S. biodiversity. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has evaluated approximately 3% of defined species and classified 16,928 species all over the world as being endangered, or approximately 38% of the total number of those evaluated (Center for Biological Diversity para 4). The Center for Biological Diversity bleakly stated that “In its latest four-year endangered species assessment, the IUCN reports that the world won’t meet a goal of reversing the extinction trend toward species depletion by 2010” (Center for Biological Diversity para 4). Thus it is clear that the present crisis is that a massive number of species are likely to become extinct in the near future. Even though the process of extinction takes place in a natural manner, scientific findings clearly shows that the present extinction rate is much greater than the earlier natural rate. The major factor causing this greater extinction rate is the loss of habitat (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services 3). Excessive use of flora and fauna for commercial activities, epidemics, environmental contamination, and the appearance of damaging exotic species also create grave risks to the biodiversity of the world. Conservation efforts by the Endangered Species Act conducted in the U.S. have been effective in stopping the permanent disappearance of 99% of the species identified as at-risk. Scientists presume that since the 1620, the landing of Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock, “more than 500 species, subspecies, and varieties of our Nation’s [United States] plants and animals have become extinct” (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services 3-4). However, without a doubt, the most threatened wildlife-connection is the boundary between Mexico and the U.S. The Sky Islands connect this border, and several of the most endangered wildlife of North America, such as Mexican wolves, Sonoran pronghorn, bison, and jaguars— pass through, or have to pass through, here throughout their existence (Whitty para 28). Nevertheless, conservation programs can be successful. Marine species can recover when fishing burdens are eliminated, like how the coho salmon of the Washington State and the Maine haddock recovered. The process of reforestation carried out in the U.S. eastern seaboard reveals that when farms are removed, forests are restored, and wildlife, such as turkey, deer, and coyotes returns. The flora and fauna of the Amazon rainforest have gained from the programs of Brazil intended to limit deforestation (Biello para 7). The Endangered Species Act in the U.S. obliges that recovery programs be formulated for all registered species. In principle, these programs must clarify the measures needed to guarantee that a particular species is not endangered anymore as well as present a financial plan for attaining that objective (Wilcove 230). One may think that recovery programs serve occupy a very important part in endangered species management in the United States but, in truth, they seldom do. One of the dilemmas is that the programs are not lawfully mandated papers (Wilcove 230). Furthermore, as reported in a number of studies, the programs were frequently not able to productively use existing biological information. Moreover, numerous programs do not have sufficient data on the risks confronting threatened species or are not able to connect recovery efforts to particular risks. And, ultimately, others are unable to develop an empirically solid monitoring procedure for observing changes in the condition of species or evaluating the effects of recovery programs (Wilcove 230). In other words, as Wilcove (2010), further stated the recovery preparation programs have been unsuccessful in providing the kind of direction required to save species from the threat of extinction. Conclusions The disappearance of species in America has been escalating in the recent decades. Without immediate response from the government, nongovernmental organizations, public and private sectors, and communities, the rate of species extinction in America will continue to increase and become irreversible. Works Cited Biello, David. “Fact or Fiction?: The Sixth Mass Extinction Can Be Stopped.” Scientific American N.p., 25 July 2014. Web. 24 April 2015. Center for Biological Diversity. “The Extinction Crisis.” Center for Biological Diversity N.p., 2015. Web. 24 April 2015. Stein, Susan et al. “Threats to At-Risk Species in America’s Private Forests.” United States Department of Agriculture 1-24, 2010. Web. 24 April 2015. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. “Why Save Endangered Species?” U.S. Fish & Wildlife Species 1-20, 2015. Web. 24 April 2015. Weiss, Liz. “The 45 Most Endangered Species in America.” Business Insider N.p., 28 July 2011. Web. 24 April 2015. Whitty, Julia. “Animal Extinction—The Greatest Threat to Mankind.” The Independent N.p., 25 April 2015. Web. 24 April 2015. Wilcove, David. “Endangered Species Management: The U.S. Experience.” Conservation Biology for All 220-234, 2010. Web. 24 April 2015. Read More