Source: Cool Earth
The world must act quickly if it is to stem the loss of global biodiversity caused by deforestation and other occurrences, a new report has urged.
According to a study from the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Global Biodiversity Outlook, "natural systems that support economies, lives and livelihoods across the planet are at risk of rapid degradation and collapse, unless there is swift, radical and creative action to conserve and sustainably use the variety of life on Earth".The report also noted that countries have failed in their targets to secure a reduction in the level of biodiversity loss seen globally by this year.
One of the biggest threats to the planet's biodiversity flagged by the report is the "dieback" of significant parts of the Amazon rainforest, which is caused by climate change, deforestation and instances of fire.
Rainforest deforestation can have a wider impact on the planet in terms of climate and rainfall, the researchers noted.
Figures on Monga Bay from the Institute of Space Research showed that last year, 2,705 square miles of Amazon rainforest in Brazil was cleared.