The most downloaded UN biodiversity report in history maps humanity's devastating impact on nature.
The numbers are staggering and unprecedented. Of the estimated eight million plant and animal species on Earth, around one million face extinction within decades—many within years. This finding comes from the most comprehensive assessment of global biodiversity ever conducted, involving 145 experts from 50 countries who synthesized over 15,000 scientific studies. The report has been downloaded nearly 300,000 times since its 2019 release, making it one of the most accessed environmental assessments in UN history.
Human activities have altered 75% of terrestrial environments and 40% of marine systems. The current rate of species extinction is tens to hundreds of times higher than the average over the past 10 million years—and it's accelerating. Land-use change emerges as the primary driver, responsible for degrading ecosystems that billions of people depend on for food, clean water, and climate regulation. Agricultural expansion alone has reduced the average abundance of native species by at least 20% in most major terrestrial habitats.
The assessment reveals that nature's contributions to people—from crop pollination to carbon storage—are declining worldwide. Over 40% of amphibian species face extinction, along with 33% of reef-forming corals and more than a third of marine mammals. Yet the report also identifies pathways forward through transformative changes in economic, social, political and technological systems. Time is running out, but the solutions exist if humanity acts with unprecedented urgency and scale.
Terrestrial environments face far greater alteration than marine systems
Amphibians and corals show the highest extinction rates among major groups
The current rate of species extinction is tens to hundreds of times higher than the average over the past 10 million years
This report represents the gold standard for biodiversity assessment, synthesizing decades of research into actionable insights. Its massive download numbers demonstrate unprecedented global interest in species conservation science among policymakers and researchers worldwide.
The findings directly influenced the UN's new global biodiversity framework and national conservation strategies. Countries are now using these threat categories to prioritize protection efforts and allocate conservation funding more effectively.
This assessment reveals that Earth's sixth mass extinction is underway, driven entirely by human activities. Unlike previous extinctions caused by asteroids or volcanic events, this crisis can still be reversed through immediate, transformative action across all sectors of society.
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