These trends have been accelerating everywhere. Lost with these natural ecosystems are the valuable services they provide. Species alone are now vanishing 100 to 1,000 times faster than natural extinction rates as a result of human actions. By reducing the number of species and the size and integrity of ecosystems, we are also reducing nature's capacity to evolve and create new life. In just a few centuries we have gone from living off nature's interest to spending down the capital that has accumulated over millions of years of evolution, as well as diminishing the capacity of nature to create new capital.
Humans are only one part of the evolutionary product.
Yet we have taken on a major role in shaping its future production course and potential. We are pulling out the threads of nature's safety net even as we need it to support the world's expanding human population and economy.