Essay Sample on Sixth Mass Extinction: Human Impact on Species

Introduction

Available data suggest that the earth has experienced five major extinctions so far, and scientists are suspecting that the sixth extinction is already underway (Richter). However, unlike the previous extinctions, humans are the cause of the sixth mass extinction. It is the impact of humans on other species that makes the focus of the article by Isabelle Gerretsen from CNN. The author has used scientific research and has been objective in an attempt to convince her readers.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

According to Gerretsen, humans pose the threat of extinction to approximately one million species on planet earth. The author's primary purpose is to create awareness on the environmental impacts of human activities and hopefully get the society to act on it. The pillar of the article is the scientific research by the United Nations committee Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). The report points out that climate change, pollution, exploitation of natural resources and shrinking habitats are some of the factors that will lead to mass extinction. The author's main success is her recurrent reference to the research by the scientific body which improves the article's credibility.

The article's foundation lies in the increased human population. According to the report by Gerretsen, the human population has more than doubled in the past 50 years, and that has strained the available resources beyond sustainable levels. It is a reasonable argument since increased population translates to increased demand for resources. It is also in line with reports from other studies that have identified population increase as among the main threats to natural habitats.

The structure of the article works in reverse. The article starts by pointing out the problem before presenting its evidence. The chosen structure enables the reader to keep up with the author because the article goes direct to the point. The final part of the article is reserved for recommendations. The report states that it is not too late for humans to reverse the effects of their actions, and it makes a few suggestions that could help prevent extinction.

Conclusion

The overall purpose of the article is to thrust nature loss into the global spotlight (Gerretsen). She wants to generate the same impact as the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report that placed climate crisis on the political agenda (Gerretsen). The article is going to generate concern among its readers about the loss of biodiversity and get the populace to demand action from their governments.

Works Cited

Gerretsen, Isabelle. "We Are in the Midst of an Extinction Crisis, Warn UN Scientists." CNN, Cable News Network, 6 May 2019, edition.cnn.com/2019/05/06/world/one-million-species-threatened-extinction-humans-scn-intl/index.html.

Richter, Viviane. "The Big Five Mass Extinctions." Cosmos, Cosmos, 6 July 2015, cosmosmagazine.com/palaeontology/big-five-extinctions.