What about Wildlife?
There are estimated to be 8.7 million species of plants and animals, though most of them have yet to be identified. Unfortunately, up to one million of these species are currently threatened with extinction, and that number is increasing fast. Human activities, primarily land changes for agriculture, and climate change, also caused mainly by humans, are the driving forces for these extinctions. Scarily, many scientists suggest that we are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction, the first one caused by a single species.
About 90% of deforestation has been for agricultural expansion. Amongst this expansion, nearly 50% has been for cropland, and 38% has been for livestock grazing. But, these numbers are more complex than they seem. Globally, just over a third of all crops are used for livestock feed. And those areas most affected by deforestation are even more livestock-heavy. For example, the leading cause of deforestation in Brazil is cattle grazing. When it comes to crops, soybeans are the most common type of oilseed grown in Latin America; however, 77% of the world's soy is used for livestock feed.
Amongst sea agriculture, aquaculture, especially shrimp farming, also poses threats to ecosystems. Shrimp farming is the greatest threat to the world’s mangrove forests. These wetlands are altered by clearing hundreds of thousands of acres to build artificial ponds instead, which add chemicals, antibiotics, contamination from fecal waste, and pollution that inevitably reaches the ocean. This type of aquaculture also devastates human populations that rely on mangroves for economic survival.
In the U.S., less than 2% of corn is used for human consumption, while 35% is used for livestock feed. And wildlife such as coyotes, wolves, mountain lions, bobcats, and more are routinely killed either to clear land for cattle grazing or to keep these wild animals away from those being raised for profit. In fact, in 2022, the USDA's Wildlife Services program killed over 35,000 animals to protect livestock.
It is no surprise that our planet is facing rising temperatures and extreme weather. Climate change is a threat to the survival of many species on Earth. Forested areas full of plants and trees are crucial for our ecosystem, trapping carbon that is instead released into our atmosphere when they are cut down. In addition to deforestation, animal farming makes an even larger impact due to the gasses animals themselves produce. Cattle and sheep are massive emitters of methane, and animal waste can emit both methane and nitrous oxide.
Thankfully, we can play a significant role in ending the demand for deforestation and wildlife killings by choosing plant-based foods and materials while reducing our carbon footprint. Plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes, generally use far less land to feed far more people. If everyone shifted towards a plant-based diet, we would reduce our agricultural land use by 75%. These foods also emit far fewer greenhouse gasses, making them power punches for preserving wild habitats. And avoiding animal-based materials such as leather and wool is ideal for a biodiverse future. So let’s get wild for wildlife by making consumer choices that show we care.
~ by Alisa Marvel