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Threats to Biodiversity Human activities are endangering other species around the globe. Extinction is part of the evolutionary process, but today's rate of extinction is much greater than the scale at which species disappear due to evolution alone. Species are now vanishing faster than at any other time in Earth’s history
Even conservative figures predict a loss of at least one per cent of existing species per decade, which means we're losing at least two species an hour. (This is 2,500 times the "background" rate at which species have disappeared due to evolution.) Most threats to biodiversity are directly or indirectly attributable to a growing human population, which is increasing at about 90 million people per year. The world’s population is currently more than 6 billion people, and is projected to reach 10 billion by the year 2050. This rapid population growth will put additional stress on the world’s ecosystems and species. In addition to pressure caused by population growth, biodiversity is also threatened by: Ecosystems are marvellously complex—yet vulnerable. Pacific salmon populations are a prime Canadian example of the combined effects of habitat loss, overfishing, interactions with non-native Atlantic salmon, pollution, and climate change. The Fraser River coho was recently listed as an endangered species in Canada. For more on endangered species in Canada visit CWS. The biodiversity we rely on is often threatened by more than just one cause. Some of these combined threats can be reduced in the short-term, while others like reversing climate change trends, are of a long-term nature. However, the commitment to changing our impact needs to begin now. To learn more about biodiversity visit: Biodiversity 101
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