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Humans spur worst extinctions since dinosaurs: UN
Reuters ^ | 3-20-06 | Alister Doyle

Posted on 03/20/2006 9:20:10 AM PST by Pharmboy

Humans are responsible for the worst spate of extinctions since the dinosaurs and must make unprecedented extra efforts to reach a goal of slowing losses by 2010, a U.N. report said on Monday.

Habitats ranging from coral reefs to tropical rainforests face mounting threats, the Secretariat of the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity said in the report, issued at the start of a March 20-31 U.N. meeting in Curitiba, Brazil.

"In effect, we are currently responsible for the sixth major extinction event in the history of earth, and the greatest since the dinosaurs disappeared, 65 million years ago," said the 92-page Global Biodiversity Outlook 2 report.

A rising human population of 6.5 billion was undermining the environment for animals and plants via pollution, expanding cities, deforestation, introduction of "alien species" and global warming, it said.

It estimated the current pace of extinctions was 1,000 times faster than historical rates, jeopardizing a global goal set at a 2002 U.N. summit in Johannesburg "to achieve, by 2010, a significant reduction in the current rate of biodiversity loss."

"Unprecedented additional efforts' will be needed to achieve the 2010 biodiversity target at national, regional and global levels," it said. The report was bleaker than a first U.N. review of the diversity of life issued in 2001.

NOT ABATING

According to a "Red List" compiled by the World Conservation Union, 844 animals and plants are known to have gone extinct in the last 500 years, ranging from the dodo to the Golden Toad in Costa Rica. It says the figures are probably a big underestimate.

"The direct causes of biodiversity loss -- habitat change, over-exploitation, the introduction of invasive alien species, nutrient loading and climate change -- show no sign of abating," the report said.

Despite the threats, it said the 2010 goal was "by no means an impossible one."

It urged better efforts to safeguard habitats ranging from deserts to jungles and better management of resources from fresh water to timber. About 12 percent of the earth's land surface is in protected areas, against just 0.6 percent of the oceans.

It also recommended more work to curb pollution and to rein in industrial emissions of gases released by burning fossil fuels and widely blamed for global warming.

The report said, for instance, that the annual net loss of forests was 7.3 million hectares (18 million acres) -- an area the size of Panama or Ireland -- from 2000-2005. Still, the figure was slightly less than 8.9 million hectares a year from 1990-2000.

And it said that annual environmental losses from introduced pests in the United States, Australia, Britain, South Africa, India and Brazil had been estimated at more than $100 billion.

About 300 "invasive species" -- molluscs, crustaceans and fish -- have been introduced to the Mediterranean from the Red Sea since the late 19th century when the Suez Canal opened.

It gave mixed overall marks for progress on four key goals.

It said there was "reasonable progress" toward global cooperation but "limited" advances in ensuring enough cash and research. It estimated that annual aid to help slow biodiversity losses sank to $750 million from $1 billion since 1998.

And it said there was "far from sufficient" progress in better planning and implementation of biodiversity decisions and a "mixed" record in better understanding of biodiversity.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: badbadpeople; un
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To: mewzilla
Excellent book, BTW

I read it on vacation last week. I hate mass-market writing but I could overlook it for this one. It was a fun read and it's worth a spot on the bookshelf just for the references.

21 posted on 03/20/2006 9:34:37 AM PST by meowmeow (In Loving Memory of Our Dear Viking Kitty (1987-2006))
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To: Pharmboy

I wonder how many snails have died at UN diplomats' dinners...


22 posted on 03/20/2006 9:35:02 AM PST by talleyman (Kerry & the Surrender-Donkey Treasoncrats - trashing the troops for 40 years.)
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To: Pharmboy
In effect, we are currently responsible for the sixth major extinction event in the history of earth.
I presume the author would prefer that none of those extinction events ever happened. It would make the world a better place for algae and sponges, I suppose.
23 posted on 03/20/2006 9:36:34 AM PST by rightwingcrazy
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To: meowmeow
I'm not gonna hold my breath waiting for Hollyweird to make that Crichton novel into a movie.

Hmmmm, wonder if Mel Gibson's looking for another project...?

24 posted on 03/20/2006 9:39:09 AM PST by mewzilla (Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist. John Adams)
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To: Pharmboy
844 animals and plants are known to have gone extinct in the last 500 years, ranging from the dodo to the Golden Toad in Costa Rica.

The dodo went extinct about 350 years ago. Some soft tissue still exists so it will be cloned and brought back to life someday. Does anyone know the last plant or animal to really go extinct?

Earth's wild days are almost over. No plant or animal alive today will go extinct unless we choose. And no large meteor will strike Earth again.

25 posted on 03/20/2006 9:42:14 AM PST by Reeses
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To: Pharmboy
If these extinctions were caused by oak trees or dolphins, I'd bet hard earned money that these people would not have a problem with it. I've always been curious how these people 'know' that these extinctions are not a good thing. Maybe progress requires their elimination

I'm sure liberal dinosaurs were complaining about their extinction, but could you imagine how humans could possibly have progressed later with these creatures still roaming the planet?  It seems to me that urban development would be difficult at best with 10 story high reptiles with attitudes walking around, and I'm not even going to posit what our air traffic control would be like with pterodactyls cruising the skies.

Geez, who says extinctions are a bad thing anyway?

 

26 posted on 03/20/2006 9:43:04 AM PST by HawaiianGecko (Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.)
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To: mewzilla
"Hmmmm, wonder if Mel Gibson's looking for another project...?

No, don't give him any ideas, I've been trying to make him focus on making a "The truth about Mohammad" movie.

27 posted on 03/20/2006 9:43:09 AM PST by Nathan Zachary
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To: Reeses

Are the earth's wild days over?

How long before the earth's wobble evens out? That wild polar tilt every year is gradualy decreasing, which could be responsible in part for the very gradual warming of northern hemispere, but I haven't seen any theories on when it will become insignificant to the point where seasonal changes are barely noticable.


28 posted on 03/20/2006 9:48:53 AM PST by Nathan Zachary
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To: HawaiianGecko

29 posted on 03/20/2006 9:53:15 AM PST by Indy Pendance
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To: Pharmboy
Humans are responsible for the worst spate of extinctions since the dinosaurs and must make unprecedented extra efforts to reach a goal of slowing losses by 2010, a U.N. report said on Monday.
As Hitler said, the Big Lie will be believe if it is just repeated often enough.
30 posted on 03/20/2006 9:54:12 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Yes indeed, Civ updated his profile and links pages again, on Monday, March 6, 2006.)
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oops.

"believe"

s/b

"believed"


31 posted on 03/20/2006 9:54:51 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Yes indeed, Civ updated his profile and links pages again, on Monday, March 6, 2006.)
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To: Pharmboy

If only we could 'extinct' the UN!!


32 posted on 03/20/2006 9:55:41 AM PST by bubman
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To: Indy Pendance

 

33 posted on 03/20/2006 9:55:41 AM PST by HawaiianGecko (Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.)
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To: meowmeow

I just wish the cannibals would eat more actors and singers. In fact, all of Hollywierd is a vast smorgasbord. Come on down, cannibals! Bring lot's of hot sauce.


34 posted on 03/20/2006 9:56:21 AM PST by Alas Babylon!
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To: Reeses
And no large meteor will strike Earth again.
and the winning lottery numbers will be?
35 posted on 03/20/2006 9:57:52 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Yes indeed, Civ updated his profile and links pages again, on Monday, March 6, 2006.)
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To: Pharmboy

Too bad Kofi Annan and the boys aren't already extinct...can't wait to pi$$ on, and dance on their tombstones.


36 posted on 03/20/2006 9:58:06 AM PST by Issaquahking
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Comment #37 Removed by Moderator

steaming pile of this

38 posted on 03/20/2006 10:01:39 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Yes indeed, Civ updated his profile and links pages again, on Monday, March 6, 2006.)
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To: D.P.Roberts

For my next trick, I'll make the UN extinct.""

AMEN.

I am ssooooo sick and tired of the UN and it's pontificating.

The millions of dollars stolen inside it's walls by it's "leaders" could have vaccinated every child on the continent of Africa and had money left over to overthrow Mugambe.


39 posted on 03/20/2006 10:02:14 AM PST by ridesthemiles
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To: HawaiianGecko
http://www.biodiv.org/gbo1/gbo-pdf.asp

Check this site out for some truly goofy stuff. No authors, no footnotes, no facts, but the have a Secretariat. Where have you heard that word except for the Derby?

40 posted on 03/20/2006 10:03:17 AM PST by Thebaddog (Dogs are the best! Cats are cool 2.)
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