During Earth’s history, many species have become extinct, that is, all the individuals of a given species have died, and the species has disappeared from Earth. Scientists estimate that 99 percent of all species that have ever lived on Earth are now extinct. Some species, such as the giant ground sloth, died out gradually as the environment changed and the species was unable to adapt to the new conditions. Others, such as the Carolina parakeet, have become extinct because of human activities.

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A species that has so few individuals left that it is in danger of extinction is called an endangered species. Some endangered species include the giant panda of China (only 1,600 left in the wild), the black rhinoceros of Africa (3,100 remain), and the whooping crane of North America (fewer than 500 are left). About 500 species, both plant and animal, are endangered in the United States.

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Threatened species are species that are losing members at such a rate that they will become endangered if nothing is done to change the situation. African elephants are an example of a threatened species. Even though there may still be 500,000 elephants in the wild, this number is down from the 3 to 5 million of the 1930s. If people continue to illegally hunt African elephants for their ivory tusks, the elephants may become endangered.

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The world’s biodiversity (number of different species of plants and animals) is declining at a record rate, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an organization that produces an annual “red list” of the most vulnerable wildlife. Current extinction rates are at least 100 to 1,000 times higher than natural rates found in the fossil records, the group reported. Humans are the main reason for the decline of many of these species. “Habitat destruction and degradation are the leading threats, but other significant pressures include over-exploitation (for food, pets, and medicine), introduced species, pollution, and disease,” the IUCN has reported. In 2012, the Red List of Threatened Species noted that of 63,837 species assessed, 19,817 are threatened with extinction, including 41 percent of amphibians, 33 percent of reef-building corals, 25 percent of mammals, and 13 percent of birds. One strategy for preventing species decline is to protect and preserve wildlife habitats.

Governments and private organizations purchase land to protect wildlife and provide nature preserves, state parks, national parks and reserves, and designated wilderness areas. Another strategy is to manage our natural resources to provide critical wildlife habitats, such as active forest management that takes into account the value of wildlife habitat and conservation as well as timber values.

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Well-managed protected areas can benefit many species. Yet only about 3.2 percent of Earth’s land surface is currently protected, which is not enough to preserve the world’s biological diversity. Captive breeding—programs in which endangered species are bred in captivity to increase their numbers—has had some success in reintroducing species to wilderness areas. Ultimately however, if suitable habitat is not available and few released animals survive, those reintroductions may end in failure. Many organizations work to increase suitable wildlife habitat and have been successful in helping species recover from extirpation (the disappearance of species in certain areas) and near extinction. Scientific research and public education play big parts in helping people understand the needs of certain species to help them recover. Many species have been reestablished and their populations stabilized in areas where they once thrived, including the American bison, eastern wild turkey, American bald eagle, whitetail deer, wolves, and grizzly bears. Animals, fish, and birds cross national borders, and marine mammals traverse vast oceans, so there is a great need for international agreements to protect biodiversity.

Cooperation among nations is crucial to protect wildlife, marine life, amphibians, birds, and pollinators such as bees and bats. Two important international agreements to protect threatened or endangered mammals were crafted by the International Whaling Commission, which regulates commercial hunting of whales; and the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which regulates the buying and selling of endangered species and their parts, such as rhino horns, skins, and ivory. Much more must be done to slow the destruction of wildlife habitats and protect our environment and ecosystems, which is one more reason why leading a sustainable lifestyle is how every Scout can take a big step for humankind. If you have a yard, one way you can help wildlife is to turn your lawn into a suitable habitat for birds, butterflies, and bees.

By providing food in the form of plants that attract and sustain birds, butterflies, and bees, and by providing water, cover, and places for wildlife to raise their young, your garden can qualify as a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. You can also work with your Scout troop and local schools to transform school property into an educational wildlife garden. Discuss with your counselor how human activities can endanger animals and plants and contribute to species extinction. What do you think can be done to stop the decline in wildlife and its impact on a sustainable environment?