Loss of Biodiversity: Causes

International Union for Conservation of Nature
Threats Classification v 2.0
Human and natural activities that have caused, are causing, or may cause destruction, degradation, and/or impairment of biodiversity.

1. Residential & Commercial Development

1.1 Housing & Urban Areas
       - Megalopolis - merging of multiple cities to form a continuous urban landscape (Suburban Sprawl)
1.2 Commercial & Industrial Areas
1.3 Tourism & Recreation Areas

2. Agriculture & Aquaculture

2.1 Annual & Perennial Non-Timber Crops
2.2 Livestock Farming & Ranching
2.3 Livestock Farming & Ranching
2.4 Marine & Freshwater Aquaculture

3. Energy Production & Mining

3.1 Oil & Gas Drilling
3.2 Mining & Quarrying
3.3 Renewable Energy

4. Transportation & Service Corridors

4.1 Roads and Railroads
       - Interstate Highway System
       - Railroad Network
4.2 Utility & Service Lines
4.3 Shipping Lanes
4.4 Flight Paths

5. Biological Resource Use

5.1 Hunting & Collecting Terrestrial Animals
5.2 Gathering Terrestrial Plants
5.3 Logging & Wood Harvesting
       - U.S. produced ~41,026 million board feet (12”x12”x1”) of lumber, 2016
       - ≈95.4 million trees 5.4 Fishing & Harvesting Aquatic Resources

6. Human Intrusions & Disturbance

6.1 Recreational Activities
6.2 War, Civil Unrest & Military Exercises
6.3 Work & Other Activities
       - Deforestation due to Slash & Burn practices

7. Natural System Modifications

7.1 Fire & Fire Suppression
7.2 Dams & Water Management/Use
       - Levees
       - Desertification
7.3 Other Ecosystem Modifications
7.4 Removing/Reducing Human Management

8. Invasive & Problematic Species, Pathogens & Genes

8.1 Invasive Plants & Animals
       - Garlic Mustard
       - Emerald Ash Borer
8.2 Problematic Native Plants & Animals
8.3 Introduced Genetic Material
8.4 Pathogens & Microbes

9. Pollution

9.1 Household Sewage & Urban Waste Water
9.2 Industrial & Military Effluents
9.3 Agricultural & Forestry Effluents
9.4 Garbage & Solid Waste
9.5 Air-Borne Pollutants
9.6 Excess Energy

10. Geological Events

10.1 Volcanoes
10.2 Earthquakes/Tsunamis
10.3 Avalanches/Landslides

11. Climate Change

11.1 Ecosystem Encroachment
11.2 Changes in Geochemical Regimes
11.3 Changes in Temperature Regimes
11.4 Changes in Precipitation & Hydrological Regimes
11.5 Severe / Extreme Weather Events

Biodiversity Loss: Multi-Causes

Wetland Destruction
       - In the conterminous U.S.
       - 1600’s: 221 million acres
       - Causes:

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