Why does habitat destruction accounts for most extinction

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In 4 seconds , you will be redirected to nwfactionfund. The National Wildlife Federation. Habitat Loss. Major Kinds of Habitat Loss Habitat destruction: A bulldozer pushing down trees is the iconic image of habitat destruction.

Main Causes of Habitat Loss Agriculture: Much of the habitat loss from agriculture was done long ago when settlers converted forests and prairies to cropland. Donate Today. Sign a Petition. Donate Monthly. A hundred years ago, jaguars ranged from the southwestern United States to Argentina , in South America.

Today their territory has shrunk by more than half, and they live mostly in the Amazon rainforest. Most experts agree that about 80, acres disappear every day when trees are cut down for lumber and land is cleared for farms.

Trees also play an important role in absorbing the carbon dioxide that contributes to climate change. Fewer forests means that more greenhouse gases remain trapped in the atmosphere. Grasslands , underwater habitats , and wetlands are also at risk of habitat loss. That means less space for animals to feed, breed, and raise their young.

Finding a balance between what humans and animals need will help prevent habitat destruction. Approximately 15 billion trees are cut down each year. According to a study about tree density published in Nature , the number of trees worldwide has decreased by 46 percent since the start of civilization. In addition to the loss of habitat, deforestation reduces the ability of forests to provide the critical benefit of absorbing carbon, which helps to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The situation is even worse in waterways, coastal areas, and the ocean. Coastal estuaries and marshes provide breeding grounds for the majority of marine species.