Sir David Attenborough warns of the ‘escalating erosion of wildlife’

Naturalist Sir David Attenborough has warned, ahead of the Conference for Nature in London, that the continued destruction of the environment “threatens us all”. However, he insists we still have a chance to save it.

Individual responsibility that promotes conservation and the pursuit of “game-changing” solutions to problems facing both humanity and nature could end the environmental crisis, Attenborough claims.

The conference, which has been organised by the State of Nature Partnership, a coalition of 26 organisations, including the RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts, is intended to bring together politicians and business magnates. The conference will be led by deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, with Attenborough speaking alongside other delegates.

Ahead of the conference, Attenborough said, “From the food we eat to the popular bedtime stories we read to our children, nature touches everyone’s lives more deeply than we can possibly imagine.

“The escalating erosion of wildlife from our planet is a direct threat to many facets of our own quality of life.

“Because of the complex relationship society has with nature, it is obvious that our response to saving it must extend from every possible quarter too,” he added.

“From you and I in our own domains, from business magnates to politicians, and from farmers to faith leaders, everyone has an opportunity to save nature.”

A shocking study published this week in the journal Conservation Biology has found that the extinction rate of species around the world is now 1,000 times higher than it was before humans arrived, underlining the devastating impact humanity has on the planet.

Attenborough concluded, “With an increasing global footprint, mankind is intensifying the crisis for wildlife, but as individuals we can all be part of the solution for saving it too.”

Photo source: JrScientist via Flickr

Further Reading:

Extinction rate increased one thousand times during human era

Sir David Attenborough: mankind is changing the planet fundamentally

David Attenborough: having large families is ‘irresponsible’

Tackling the three pillars of civilisation: consumption, population and the planet

Sir David Attenborough: developing world cares about the future of the planet