Image from here. Tropical forests are not the only ecosystems undergoing habitat loss. Temperate forests, wetlands and coral reefs the "rainforests of the sea" are all only a portion of what they used to be. Mountain habitats, grasslands, marine and aquatic habitats are being destroyed for human energy, agriculture and fishing needs. An issue related to habitat loss is habitat fragmentation, where a habitat that was once continuous is split up into smaller pieces.
This has big impacts on animals that can't move between patches of suitable habitat—all of a sudden, their home becomes an island in a sea of roads, construction sites and ranches. Fragmented habitat makes it harder to find food, and harder to find a mate because individuals and populations become isolated from each other.
This leads to decreased survival and reproduction of the species in fragmented habitats. Breaking a habitat into fragments also increases the amount of edge in the remaining habitat. Edges are usually less desirable habitat, as they provide less shelter and are more likely to be degraded by the disturbance that fragmented the habitat in the first place.
Fragmented forest in Madagascar, home to many endemic species. It can seem unfair for developed nations to blame developing countries for habitat and biodiversity loss when developed countries have already destroyed so much of their own habitats and biodiversity in the process of development.
It is true that citizens of developed countries take more than their fair share of resources and it is unsustainable for everyone on the planet to live like someone from a developed country. However, in addition to reducing consumption in developed countries, slowing habitat loss in developing countries is essential for conservation biology.
Tropical countries often have higher species richness than temperate countries, and developing countries tend to be in the tropics. There are a lot of international non-profit organizations based in developed countries that are dedicated to helping developing countries grow in sustainable ways without squandering all their resources.
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Habitat Loss. Major Kinds of Habitat Loss Habitat destruction: A bulldozer pushing down trees is the iconic image of habitat destruction. Main Causes of Habitat Loss Agriculture: Much of the habitat loss from agriculture was done long ago when settlers converted forests and prairies to cropland. Donate Today. Sign a Petition. Donate Monthly. Nearby Events.
All trick, no treat? The high price of harvesting cocoa for chocolate Read More. Read More. Learn More. View our Cookie Policy. I accept. Habitat loss poses the greatest threat to species. The world's forests, swamps, plains, lakes, and other habitats continue to disappear as they are harvested for human consumption and cleared to make way for agriculture, housing, roads, pipelines and the other hallmarks of industrial development.
Without a strong plan to create terrestrial and marine protected areas important ecological habitats will continue to be lost. Protected areas are one of the most effective tools for conserving species and natural habitats. They also contribute to the livelihoods and well-being of local communities and society at large. For example, well-planned and well-managed protected areas can help to safeguard freshwater and food supplies, reduce poverty, and reduce the impacts of natural disasters. Orangutans and other species lose habitat to palm oil plantations.
Don't buy products that contain unsustainable palm oil. Use our scorecard to help you when you shop. Only 0. This is despite the fact that MPAs not only help safeguard biodiversity, they can also benefit fisheries and people.
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