The Sixth Extinction

The "Sixth Extinction" refers to a species extinction crisis that is currently occurring and affecting various forms of life on Earth, not comparable to a widespread extinction on a global scale similar to prehistoric events such as the mass extinction of the dinosaurs.

This term was popularized through the book "The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History" written by Elizabeth Kolbert and published in 2014.

Unlike previous mass extinctions, such as the one that wiped out the dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous period, the sixth extinction is being driven primarily by human activities.

Factors such as habitat loss, pollution, overexploitation of natural resources, climate change and the introduction of invasive species are contributing significantly to the decline in biodiversity around the world.

This crisis affects a wide variety of organisms, from plants and insects to mammals and reptiles. Many species are experiencing population declines, and some face the imminent threat of extinction.

Biodiversity loss not only has consequences for individual species, but can also have significant impacts on ecosystems and the Earth's ability to support life as we know it.

Awareness of the sixth extinction has led to an increase in conservation efforts, the enactment of laws and regulations to protect the environment, and research to better understand how to mitigate the negative impacts of human activities on global biodiversity. .