Scientists from the Ohio State University have put forth a new report that has emphasized on the ecologically destructive effects of human population growth - the population explosion may cause at least 10.8 percent species to be on the verge of extinction by the year 2050.
On an average, a growing nation could have at least 3.3 percent threatened species by the end of the next decade.
Though many studies conducted previously have emphasized on how human population growth can severely affect the animal life on Earth, this particular study seems to be one-of-a-kind, being the first one to establish a link between human population growth and extinction of species.
Jeffrey McKee, lead author of the study and a professor of anthropology at the Ohio State University put forth a model based on the data from the year 2000 to announce a forecast of the possible species that would be threatened in the future, and it was put forth in the year 2004.
Following this, the researchers used the same model to further extent their predictions. "The data speak loud and clear that not only human population density, but the growth of the human population, is still having an effect on extinction threats to other species," McKee explained.
This stud may shed more light on the importance of implementation of biodiversity conservation.
"Our projection is based on human population density alone. It doesn't take into account climate change, industrialization or wars. So the actual numbers that we predict for 2050 will be very different because everything we do will exacerbate the problem," McKee added. "You can do all the conservation in the world that you want, but it's going to be for naught if we don't keep the human population in check."
Also, the rapid decrease in certain animals species may disrupt the ecosystem balance in more ways than one, which makes population control even more important.
The study is published in the journal Human Ecology.
