The Root of Extinction

Habitat loss is the number one driver of species extinction, responsible for more biodiversity decline than climate change, pollution, and invasive species combined. When the physical space a species needs to survive is converted to farms, cities, roads, or plantations, the species either adapts, moves, or dies.

Habitat loss is not just about total area. Fragmentation — breaking continuous habitat into isolated patches — can be even more destructive than outright conversion. Trapped species lose genetic diversity and cannot migrate to find mates.