The most irrecoverable, long-term consequence of climate change is the mass extinction of hundreds of species of life on earth. The accelerating loss of biodiversity is the direct consequence of negative human activity, which is aggravating rapid climate change. We humans are not aware that the entire web of life is on the edge of catastrophe, as all species are interlinked. Natural systems are in turmoil with human numbers growing at alarming rates. By the end of this century, we homo-sapiens will wipe out more than 10 million species with desertification and climate change happening at such an alarming rate.

At the 60th Annual DPI/NGO Conference at the United Nations in New York, Healy Hamilton from the California Academy of Sciences, who is also the Head of the Centre for Biodiversity Research and Information, spoke to Marianne de Nazareth about habitat destruction by humans, which is driving the ecosystem, into a tailspin heading for collapse.

The destruction of species is growing rapidly across the globe. What can we humans do immediately to arrest that?
Everyday, with every dollar you spend, you vote for the world you want to live in. As you consume, be an aware consumer. Look at the things you purchase and use and reflect on how good it is to sustain the earth. For example, in the US we have the Forest Stewardship Council, a global organisation, which helps in making choice. Make a conscious choice — every time you buy wood, make sure it is harvested from sustainable forests. Tropical hardwoods are from non-renewable forests. Similarly, you can choose from renewable foods, and products as well.

Do you think that it is mainly tropical countries that have to control shrinking forest cover to help the extinction of species?
The extinction of species is occurring faster in tropical countries than elsewhere in the world. People’s aspirations are growing and so, in a few decades, forests will be destroyed to make way for grazing land and agriculture. The largest biodiversity of species exists in tropical countries. However, it is a global responsibility and industrialised nations can invest through carbon sequestering programmes, in tropical countries.

How ethical is paying a tax on carbon emissions?
Carbon credits should be produced ethically. Planting forests, investing in wind and solar energy, investing in projects in developing countries is the only way to go.

What do you suggest is the most effective way to arrest the extinction of species in the world?
We have invested in a system of protected areas with static boundaries. Climate change is causing habitat to shift out of those boundaries. We have to therefore reduce the rate of bio-diversity extinction. Connectivity between protected areas is urgent, rather than having areas completely cut off from one another. We are an inter-connected world and at no other time in the history of mankind was it more apparent than now. Every species of life form is dependant upon one another when it is threatened. Biodiversity, is both life itself and life giving as well. It provides us with food, medicine, clothing, clean air and water and a stable climate. It is in our hands to arrest and minimise extinction. And the good news is, it is not very expensive. We just have to decide to do it.