Reasons Why Species are Endangered

According to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the U.S. Department of Interior, there were 1,046 species classified as "endangered" in the United States with another 305 classified as "threatened" as of September 2007 (U.S. 287). Increasing globalization and its impact on the environment are increasing the number of extinct and endangered species the world over. The World Conservation Union provides the most comprehensive data on the world's threatened species in what is called the "Red List," which currently lists 41,415 species as "endangered" and 16,306 as facing "extinction" worldwide (Urgent 10). An anthropocentric view of nature and increasing development due to globalization continue to have a negative impact on species in both developed and developing nations.

One of America's most prominent scientists, E.O. Wilson, maintains that the continued loss of plant and animal species is not only monumental for humans but of unknown proportion with respect to impact on the environment. As Wilson argues, significant loss of species will "decrease the stability of the world environment," while leading to a scenario where humans "lose living libraries of genetic information that could be enormously useful to humanity in the future" (Glassie 1). This analysis will discuss endangered species and the threat of extinction, including causes and potential remedies. A conclusion will address some proposals regarding education and awareness measures related to ext

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has greatly lowered the region's "environmental stochasticity," which refers to random changes in climate, food supply, and natural disasters like fire or flood (Extinction, 2006, p. 2). Deforestation through human activity leads to all of these conditions with devastating impact on flora and fauna in the rainforest ecosystem. Despite the fact that it covers less than 2% of the planet's surface area, more than 50% of all the Earth's animals, insect species, and flora reside in the rainforest (Tropical, 2006). Depletion of the rainforest is occurring at such a rapid rate that scientists predict that forty-two percent of the region will be totally deforested by 2020 (Tropical 1). There are a number of wildlife conservation policies in place, but some wildlife activists view them as misguided or ineffective in preserving endangered species. One of these policies is trade bans on animal products like ivory or fur. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) now boasts 172 member nations as signatories and is responsible for successful bans like the ban on ivory which has witnessed increases in endangered elephant species in southern and eastern Africa (Call 85). However, due to such bans, the pr

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