THE "unparalleled" extinction of a million species in coming decades, as foreshadowed in a new report billed as "the Paris agreement for nature", won't happen because of a single cataclysmic event.
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It will happen because of millions of cuts and blows to the ability of birds and animals to survive in a world where humans dominate.
It will happen because of the loss of a few hectares of habitat critical for the breeding of species gradually pushed back into tiny pockets. It will happen because of government decision-making.
The Intergovernmental Science-policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) report, released on Monday and prepared by 150 global experts, makes shocking reading.
In its first update since 2005 the report warns about one million species around the world face extinction because of humans, with the pace of destruction as much as 100 times faster than the natural rate over the past 10 million years.
Biodiversity is declining faster than at any time in human history, with about one in eight animal and plant species facing oblivion, many within decades without urgent action, the report said.
In Australia the impact of population and economic growth on animal, bird and plant life is as stark as the changing landscape of the Hunter region. With every coal mine opened, with every paddock cleared or forest felled, animal, bird and plant species have taken a hit.
In 2016 the Nature Conservation Council demonstrated how much of a hit in a report that strongly criticised the NSW Government's then biodiversity regime, and warned of even worse impacts under legislation introduced in 2017.
The council warned that biodiversity offset schemes in NSW had failed to deliver promised outcomes. In theory they allow for the loss of biodiversity at one development site by ensuring biodiversity is protected and enhanced on another. The council assessed five offset schemes across NSW, including in the Hunter, and rated two as disastrous, five as poor - including three in the Hunter - and only one as adequate.
In the Hunter we've had regular strong criticism about the impact of development, including mining, on waterways and the loss of fish and bird habitats, and that is just one region. And in case anyone still needs convincing this is serious, consider that 75 per cent of food crops rely on animal pollination, and animal species are being wiped out.
On Monday this devastating global report was released and hours later, Prime Minister Scott Morrison was hit on the head with an egg. The regrettable and unfortunate egg assault dominated the news and social media for the day.
The assault on our planet rated barely a blip.
Issue: 39,198.