How much do we lose when biodiversity declines? The human cost of biodiversity loss

NEWS

: 15 January 2024

How much do we lose when biodiversity declines? The human cost of biodiversity loss

: 15 January 2024

Experts say we’re in the middle of a sixth mass extinction and we need to understand that reduced biodiversity poses critical human challenges, from economic loss to heightened disease risk.

Up to 30% of species will be lost by 2050 due to climate change, on top of losses related to the ongoing sixth mass extinction.
Consequences of declining biodiversity include economic loss, compromised food security, increased disease exposure, climate instability, threatened livelihoods, and the diminishing beauty of nature impacting various aspects of life.

The scale of species loss remains worrisome. Sigmar Gabriel, the former German Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany, projected in 2007 that climate change's unchecked trajectory could wipe out up to 30% of all species by 2050. Similar estimates suggest a staggering annual loss of around 140,000 species. These distressing predictions have prompted experts to label this era the "Earth’s sixth mass extinction."

While extinctions, even on a massive scale, aren't new, the current trend undeniably stems from human actions like poaching, habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change.

The important question here is: How much do we, as humans, lose when biodiversity declines?

Biodiversity loss brings with it a huge human cost, impacting our health, livelihoods, wellbeing and way of life. Let’s have a closer look at some of the impacts:

Economic loss: At the forefront is the immense monetary value of global biodiversity. If we consider the services provided by ecosystems (such as pollination, irrigation, soil reclamation, and many, many more) and estimate their value if nature couldn’t do its job, we are looking at trillions of dollars in value. Remarkably, the repercussions of deforestation alone are estimated to incur an annual cost ranging between $2 to $5 trillion globally according to The Cost of Policy Inaction, a report by The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity Project.
Less food security: Biodiversity is crucial for food security. It encompasses all life forms essential for food production, like plants, animals, and microorganisms. For instance, crops often need animals for pollination, and various species help to promote soil fertility and control pests, keeping food systems healthy. Natural systems, such as forests, wetlands, and coastal areas, support agriculture by improving air and water quality, and provide habitat for species essential for production. Once lost, this biodiversity cannot be recovered, making it harder for the industry to grow the crops that are needed to feed our ever-growing population and reducing the resilience of agricultural systems to environmental changes, thereby undermining overall food security.
Higher disease risk: The decline in biodiversity impacts human health and disease spread in two ways. On the one hand, it increases the number of disease-carrying animals. Research has revealed that species thriving in critically fragmented habitats are often the primary carriers of pathogens. As habitats shrink, these disease-carrying animals become more prevalent, outcompeting species that aren't usual transmitters of disease. On the other hand, habitat fragmentation draws humans into closer and more frequent contact with disease-carrying species. This proximity increases the potential for exposure to the diseases they carry.
Less climate and weather stability: Biodiversity is an important weapon against climate change. Amongst other benefits, it contributes to carbon sequestration and climate regulation by lowering the planet’s temperature (mangroves and wetlands are great examples). Biodiversity loss intensifies climate change, impacting weather patterns and exacerbating environmental disasters.
Livelihoods in peril: There is an interdependence between livelihoods and biodiversity across various professions. Collapse of ecosystems due to biodiversity loss affects the livelihoods of fishermen, farmers, and many others, including communities reliant on natural resources.
Loss of majestic nature: The intrinsic value of nature to humanity goes well beyond its utility. Witnessing the decline of our world’s once-abundant natural beauty can be disheartening, and a loss of access and opportunities to experience nature can impact mental health, recreation, economics and more.