The report, which is based on a review of 15,000 academic papers and government documents, warns that activities like farming, logging, poaching, fishing and mining are altering nature at a rate \u201cunprecedented in human history.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the past century, the average abundance of plant and animal life has fallen by 20% or more and without drastic conservation efforts, the report warns, the pace of species extinction will continue to accelerate through 2050.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These findings highlight a rapidly changing natural world and the uncertain consequences that lie ahead. Experts in the College of Natural Resources provide insight into what biodiversity loss means, why it matters and the actions that can help protect Earth\u2019s plants and animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is Biodiversity?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Biodiversity, which is short for biological diversity, is a term used to describe the variety of life found on Earth and the relationships between living organisms, ranging from bacteria and viruses to plants and animals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The concept of biodiversity is complex and therefore difficult to value sometimes but the reality is that human societies wouldn\u2019t exist without it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to providing humans with raw materials and functioning ecosystems, biodiversity creates recreational opportunities and cultural connections, said Christopher Moorman<\/a>, a professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, who studies wildlife ecology and conservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But despite its many benefits, the interconnectedness of organisms also means the decline of any single species can trigger unexpected losses in the wider ecosystem, according to Moorman. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Without trees and other plants, for instance, there would be no oxygen for us to breathe. And without coral reefs and mangrove swamps, people living along the coast would lose invaluable protection from cyclones and tsunamis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moorman said the U.N. report is a stark reminder of humanity\u2019s inherent connection to the natural world and the impacts we could face if we fail to protect what\u2019s left of our planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe conservation of species around the world is not only a moral obligation but endeavors to do so will improve human health and quality of life over the long term,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the U.N. report, the unprecedented and accelerating decline of global biodiversity has been driven by changes in land and sea use, exploitation of living beings, climate change, pollution and invasive species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In North Carolina, the Triangle and other major metropolitan areas are experiencing increasing rates of biodiversity loss as they continue to urbanize, according to Madhusudan Katti, an associate professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, who studies reconciliation ecology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show that the Raleigh-Cary metro area alone has experienced an 18.1% increase in population between 2010 and 2017. That equates to a population of 1,335,079 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUrbanization continues to be a dominant mode of land and ecosystem transformation in Wake County and surrounding counties in North Carolina,\u201d Katti said. \u201cThe region remains one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the country, with Raleigh and other cities consistently scoring high on various indices of desirable living. As such, urban development and growth continue apace, with no sign of slowing down any time soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Katti, whose research focuses on understanding how humans relate to and impact nature, said the increasing rate of urban development throughout the region will have a myriad of effects, including the displacement of wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More than 100 of North Carolina\u2019s plant and animal species are already considered to be threatened or endangered, and urbanization will likely continue to push them closer to extinction, Moorman added. That includes the threatened yellow lance mussel<\/a>, which can be found in Wake County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But urbanization won\u2019t impact all plants and animals equally, according to Moorman. In fact, some of the region\u2019s generalist species \u2014 plants and animals capable of living in a wide variety of environmental conditions \u2014 may continue to occupy suburbs and cities as long as humans tolerate or encourage them, including raccoons, big brown bats and brown snakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Katti added that human activity can actually increase biodiversity within urban areas, providing refuge for native and endemic species as well as endangered species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHumans create and manage natural elements in cities, ranging from flowerpots on a balcony or a vine climbing up a wall to small and large parks, where many species can thrive,\u201d he said. \u201cCities are therefore social-ecological systems where humans play an active role in determining the occurrence and success of other species.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to urbanization, North Carolina\u2019s plants and animals will also have to survive the rising seas and extreme weather events of climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the U.N. report, Earth could lose 5% of all plant and animal life if global temperatures reach 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. That estimate jumps to 16% of all species at 4.3 degrees Celsius.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Humans have already caused an estimated 1 degree Celsius of warming, according to the report. The impact of this temperature increase has triggered a number of ecological effects, including changes in growing seasons and species ranges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Evergreen trees such as longleaf pines, for instance, are moving north<\/a> in response to increasing temperatures. These trees support hundreds of endangered species and were once the foundation of North Carolina\u2019s economy. But the state has lost 96% of its longleaf pine savannas, as well as 98% of its grasslands and marshes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coastal forests and shrub communities are also expected to be significantly impacted by climate change, according to Moorman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moorman and other researchers completed a study<\/a> along the North Carolina coast and found that sea level rise over the next century will inundate coastal forests and transform them into marshes, shifting vegetation closer to the ground. This habitat disturbance could have major implications for the management and survival of some birds residing in coastal forests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite humanity\u2019s devastating effects on nature, it\u2019s not too late for us to repair and restore Earth\u2019s biodiversity, according to the U.N. report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But it won\u2019t be enough for people to simply recycle their plastic bottles, the report warns. It will instead require proactive environmental policies, the sustainable production of food and other resources and concerted action by governments, companies and individuals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe must work collaboratively and at multiple scales to develop and implement solutions that allow us to produce food and energy, maintain transportation systems and live our daily lives in a manner that most efficiently sustains natural resources for the next generation,\u201d Moorman said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty members in the College of Natural Resources are working diligently to restore biodiversity, both regionally and globally, through research, teaching and extension. Moorman, for example, led an initiative to build on-campus housing<\/a> for evicted bats \u2014 an ecologically valuable species that\u2019s declining nationwide due to a deadly fungal disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Moorman’s colleague, Steph Jeffries<\/a>, a teaching associate professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, is collaborating with the WakeNature Preserves Partnership<\/a> to identify open spaces and conserve resident wildlife throughout Wake County, North Carolina. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith the whole state urbanizing rapidly, we needed a group to prioritize nature and open space in Wake County. Otherwise, we risk losing biodiversity to habitat loss and fragmentation,\u201d Jeffries said. \u201cYou can\u2019t conserve species if you don\u2019t know they live there, and this is key to the WakeNature Preserves Partnership mission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Students enrolled in NR 406: Conservation of Biological Diversity<\/a> are also contributing by developing a conservation plan for the Triangle region. The plan, which includes water quality protection and habitat management, will be presented to government agencies and nonprofit organizations for potential implementation.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n Earth\u2019s plants and animals are disappearing \u2014 and quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At least 680 species with backbones have already gone extinct, and up to 1 million more could disappear within decades, according to a report<\/a> released by the U.N.\u2019s Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The report, which is based on a review of 15,000 academic papers and government documents, warns that activities like farming, logging, poaching, fishing and mining are altering nature at a rate \u201cunprecedented in human history.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the past century, the average abundance of plant and animal life has fallen by 20% or more and without drastic conservation efforts, the report warns, the pace of species extinction will continue to accelerate through 2050.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These findings highlight a rapidly changing natural world and the uncertain consequences that lie ahead. Experts in the College of Natural Resources provide insight into what biodiversity loss means, why it matters and the actions that can help protect Earth\u2019s plants and animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Biodiversity, which is short for biological diversity, is a term used to describe the variety of life found on Earth and the relationships between living organisms, ranging from bacteria and viruses to plants and animals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The concept of biodiversity is complex and therefore difficult to value sometimes but the reality is that human societies wouldn\u2019t exist without it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to providing humans with raw materials and functioning ecosystems, biodiversity creates recreational opportunities and cultural connections, said Christopher Moorman<\/a>, a professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, who studies wildlife ecology and conservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But despite its many benefits, the interconnectedness of organisms also means the decline of any single species can trigger unexpected losses in the wider ecosystem, according to Moorman. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Without trees and other plants, for instance, there would be no oxygen for us to breathe. And without coral reefs and mangrove swamps, people living along the coast would lose invaluable protection from cyclones and tsunamis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moorman said the U.N. report is a stark reminder of humanity\u2019s inherent connection to the natural world and the impacts we could face if we fail to protect what\u2019s left of our planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe conservation of species around the world is not only a moral obligation but endeavors to do so will improve human health and quality of life over the long term,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the U.N. report, the unprecedented and accelerating decline of global biodiversity has been driven by changes in land and sea use, exploitation of living beings, climate change, pollution and invasive species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In North Carolina, the Triangle and other major metropolitan areas are experiencing increasing rates of biodiversity loss as they continue to urbanize, according to Madhusudan Katti, an associate professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, who studies reconciliation ecology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show that the Raleigh-Cary metro area alone has experienced an 18.1% increase in population between 2010 and 2017. That equates to a population of 1,335,079 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUrbanization continues to be a dominant mode of land and ecosystem transformation in Wake County and surrounding counties in North Carolina,\u201d Katti said. \u201cThe region remains one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the country, with Raleigh and other cities consistently scoring high on various indices of desirable living. As such, urban development and growth continue apace, with no sign of slowing down any time soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Katti, whose research focuses on understanding how humans relate to and impact nature, said the increasing rate of urban development throughout the region will have a myriad of effects, including the displacement of wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More than 100 of North Carolina\u2019s plant and animal species are already considered to be threatened or endangered, and urbanization will likely continue to push them closer to extinction, Moorman added. That includes the threatened yellow lance mussel<\/a>, which can be found in Wake County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But urbanization won\u2019t impact all plants and animals equally, according to Moorman. In fact, some of the region\u2019s generalist species \u2014 plants and animals capable of living in a wide variety of environmental conditions \u2014 may continue to occupy suburbs and cities as long as humans tolerate or encourage them, including raccoons, big brown bats and brown snakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Katti added that human activity can actually increase biodiversity within urban areas, providing refuge for native and endemic species as well as endangered species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHumans create and manage natural elements in cities, ranging from flowerpots on a balcony or a vine climbing up a wall to small and large parks, where many species can thrive,\u201d he said. \u201cCities are therefore social-ecological systems where humans play an active role in determining the occurrence and success of other species.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to urbanization, North Carolina\u2019s plants and animals will also have to survive the rising seas and extreme weather events of climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the U.N. report, Earth could lose 5% of all plant and animal life if global temperatures reach 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. That estimate jumps to 16% of all species at 4.3 degrees Celsius.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Humans have already caused an estimated 1 degree Celsius of warming, according to the report. The impact of this temperature increase has triggered a number of ecological effects, including changes in growing seasons and species ranges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Evergreen trees such as longleaf pines, for instance, are moving north<\/a> in response to increasing temperatures. These trees support hundreds of endangered species and were once the foundation of North Carolina\u2019s economy. But the state has lost 96% of its longleaf pine savannas, as well as 98% of its grasslands and marshes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coastal forests and shrub communities are also expected to be significantly impacted by climate change, according to Moorman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moorman and other researchers completed a study<\/a> along the North Carolina coast and found that sea level rise over the next century will inundate coastal forests and transform them into marshes, shifting vegetation closer to the ground. This habitat disturbance could have major implications for the management and survival of some birds residing in coastal forests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite humanity\u2019s devastating effects on nature, it\u2019s not too late for us to repair and restore Earth\u2019s biodiversity, according to the U.N. report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But it won\u2019t be enough for people to simply recycle their plastic bottles, the report warns. It will instead require proactive environmental policies, the sustainable production of food and other resources and concerted action by governments, companies and individuals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe must work collaboratively and at multiple scales to develop and implement solutions that allow us to produce food and energy, maintain transportation systems and live our daily lives in a manner that most efficiently sustains natural resources for the next generation,\u201d Moorman said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty members in the College of Natural Resources are working diligently to restore biodiversity, both regionally and globally, through research, teaching and extension. Moorman, for example, led an initiative to build on-campus housing<\/a> for evicted bats \u2014 an ecologically valuable species that\u2019s declining nationwide due to a deadly fungal disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Moorman's colleague, Steph Jeffries<\/a>, a teaching associate professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, is collaborating with the WakeNature Preserves Partnership<\/a> to identify open spaces and conserve resident wildlife throughout Wake County, North Carolina. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith the whole state urbanizing rapidly, we needed a group to prioritize nature and open space in Wake County. Otherwise, we risk losing biodiversity to habitat loss and fragmentation,\u201d Jeffries said. \u201cYou can\u2019t conserve species if you don\u2019t know they live there, and this is key to the WakeNature Preserves Partnership mission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"White-Tailed](\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/05\/05172021-deer-field-unsplash-featured-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a>What’s Changing Biodiversity in the Triangle?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Downtown](\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/05\/05172019-raleigh-aerial-ncsu-featured-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a>Will Climate Change Affect Biodiversity Loss?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Heron](\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/05\/05172019-heron-marsh-ncsu-featured-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a>How Can We Save Biodiversity?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"NC](\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/05\/05172019-steph-jefferies-ncsu-featured-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a>What is Biodiversity?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>What's Changing Biodiversity in the Triangle?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Will Climate Change Affect Biodiversity Loss?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>How Can We Save Biodiversity?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>