Wildlife conservation is important for biodiversity, & the extinction of a species can interrupt food chains as well as eco-systems & lead to further extinction. Keeping the eco-system balanced means elements that are vital to humans & animals alike are kept clean, such as water & air. The biological functions of the planet depend on animals, microorganisms & plants interacting with each other, which maintains nature cycles & in turn enhances our lives as humans. Restoring & preserving natural habitats means the chance of living a wild life rather than in captivity is more achievable through reintroduction programmes.
The IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) introduced the ‘Red List’ in 1964 to record the status of threat to animal species. Currently, more than 31,000 species are threatened with extinction. According to WWF, we lose up to 200 species per year, and up to 30% of wild species face extinction by the end of the century.
There are multiple reasons for the decline in wildlife, & the main points sadly are the result of human action. Whether this is direct or indirect, the results are unfortunately the same. The main causes include: global warming, pollution, habitat loss and deforestation, poaching and illegal wildlife trade. 20% of the Amazon rainforest has disappeared over the last 50 years.
Wildlife conservation is not limited to exotic species of Africa and Asia; we must also consider threats to European and British species, with further serious knock-on effects. For example, it would cost farmers £1.8billion to pollinate their crops without bees.