Our planet is in the middle of a mass extinction event. Unlike past mass extinctions triggered by natural events such as volcanic eruptions or asteroid impacts, this one is driven by humans.
Overexploitation and wildlife trade are major drivers of species extinction
Overexploitation of wild species is a primary driver of species loss, directly putting 26.6% of all assessed species at risk of extinction. Overexploitation occurs when resources are used faster than they can be replaced. Major drivers of legal and illegal overexploitation of terrestrial species include logging, hunting for consumption or trophies, and harvesting species for the illegal wildlife trade. Uses also include consuming species for food, traditional medicine and luxury goods.
Wildlife populations and threatened species are declining
From 1970 to 2020, wildlife populations shrunk in size by 73%. Iconic species like the African elephant, pangolins and medicinal plants are all threatened with extinction by humans.
On top of directly and indirectly causing biodiversity loss and compromising ecosystem function, overexploitation also puts human health at risk. When more people come in direct contact with wild species and poachers, local sellers and consumers incorrectly handle sick animals or infected wild products. This leads to a higher risk of zoonotic infections such as hantavirus, rabies or avian influenza (bird flu). Overexploitation can also exacerbate other environmental problems, such as increasing the risk of invasive alien species on land through the transport of nonnative species into new ecosystems.
Legal and illegal wildlife trade remain inadequately regulated
International agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora aim to ensure that the use and trade of wild species is regulated and does not threaten their survival. However, despite current efforts to regulate the sustainable use of species, protect their habitats and monitor their health, current efforts remain critically off track to stop the overexploitation of terrestrial species.
What it will take to halt overexploitation and ensure sustainable use
Halting overexploitation and allowing threatened species to recover will require efforts to better monitor species’ populations, protect them in their natural habitats, and manage the use of species and ecosystems in a way that does not threaten their survival. This will require addressing the social, economic and regulatory barriers currently preventing sustainable use.
Join us on October 27 for the launch of new data and insights on the state of the world's forest and land.