# Column : Species-Extinction Rate is up 100 to 1000 Times Higher than that in the Past

The World Conservation Union (IUCN)-classified Red List of Threatened Species show endangered species at risk of extinction in different ranks under objective criteria. According to the 2006 threatened species database, which covers those species evaluated by the IUCN, endangered species are made up of 23% of all mammals, 12% of all birds, and 31% of all amphibians. This data tells us that so many species are on the verge of extinction.

In the course of evolution of life, species extinction is a natural process, as dinosaurs and many other species became extinct in history. According to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, however, humans have caused extreme acceleration of species extinction rates, and the rate today is estimated to be roughly 100 to 1000 times worse than the average normal rate in the past. Through researches on fossil records, it is known that there were five mass extinction events in the past, when there was a sharp

## Figure 2-2-2: Species extinction rates

decrease in the number of species in a relatively short period of time. The current status of species extinction exceeds in scale any of the past extinction events, and is therefore referred to as the sixth mass extinction event caused by mankind.

During the recent Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the 2010 Biodiversity Target was established. Toward this target, which is intended to achieve a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss by 2010, the parties to the Convention have been making efforts to attain their respective goals.

have been enhanced (increased benefits for human well-being) instead.

Among those degraded services, the deterioration of fisheries landings is serious. The marine biomass has been substantially reduced in much of the world to one tenth of the levels prior to the onset of industrial fishing. Also, loss of forests and wetlands had led to loss of natural flood control basins, which means an increased likelihood of disasters such as floods, etc.

Global Biodiversity Outlook 2, which is a report released in March 2006 during the 8th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, assesses the current status and trends of biodiversity and points out that twelve out of the fifteen assessment indicators show downward trends, meaning that the accelerating deterioration of our biodiversity continues.

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment gives major direct drivers that make anthropogenic impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity. One of them is climate change with the other four including habitat change, invasive alien species overexploitation, pollution through increased nitrogen loads, etc. (See Column at (2), 2 of Section 1).

Regarding climate change, it has been getting more and more noticeable recently, as explained in detail in Chapter 1 above. The recent phenomena, such as the reduced population of polar bears as a result of lost habitats due to sea ice melting and the coral bleaching attributed to rising seawater temperature, can be considered “warnings” sent by life to human beings.

## Section 3: Global Warming-Caused Changes in Ecosystems and its Impacts on Human Beings

Section 2 explained how human activities have caused the critical conditions of the Earth’s ecosystems and biodiversity. Such deteriorated biological conditions have a significant influence on the ability of human beings to survive and their living conditions.

As mentioned above, people cannot maintain sound living without the benefits we receive from our planet's varied ecosystems and the material and spiritual value that they represent. Because biodiversity supports the ecosystem services, great changes in biodiversity and ecosystems (as a result of global warming, etc.) can be interpreted as changes in quality and quantity of ecosystem