Darwin warns in the 21st century that species are disappearing at an unprecedented rate
A Harvard University scientist who has called for the separation of half the planet as a nature reserve says the slope of human history will always be weak unless there is global cooperation to save existing species.
Edward O. Wilson, a 92-year-old naturalist also known as Darwin of the 21st century, said humanity was not too polarized to save the planet, even as some of the world's biggest polluters take steps to reduce carbon emissions and prevent of global warming, transmits Reuters.
He believes that preventing catastrophic climate change - the goal of the UN climate talks that began Sunday in Scotland - and saving the world's biodiversity or plant and animal diversity are two initiatives that must happen together.
"This is the most joint venture with a clearly defined goal that humanity has had, and we need to get some kind of cooperation and ethical harmony and planning to succeed," Wilson told Reuters.
Today, the species is disappearing at a rate unprecedented in the last 10 million years, and about 1 million are currently on the brink. To limit the loss, the United Nations has called on countries to work to preserve 30% of their land and water - almost double the area currently under some form of protection - by 2030.
He calls for the protection of half of the planet's land and sea so that there are enough diverse and well-connected ecosystems to change the course of the species' extinction.
"The point is, human nature has not changed enough. "Our strongest social inclinations tend to disrupt the lives of most other species."
Mankind continues to address the burning problems of materials - coal and oil - left by ancient organisms, Wilson said, condemning the ongoing exploration and burning of fossil fuels, which amplifies the destruction of biodiversity.
The group of 20 rich countries remains divided over the phasing out of coal and the obligation to limit global warming to 1,5 degrees above pre-industrial temperatures.
Together with the British naturalist Sir David Attenborough, Wilson is considered the world's leading authority on natural history and conservation.
It is also the world's largest authority on ants, of which it has discovered over 400 species. He has written two books awarded the Pulitzer Prize and popularized the term "biodiversity", which led to a movement to preserve all species on the planet, while protecting itself from the domination of mankind over natural resources. He worked at Harvard for 70 years and still pushes his time as an entomology curator.
"I will say something bold," Wilson said. "Following the ethics and behavior of most other species would lead to an even greater war on resource utilization."
However, he is optimistic that humanity will take up more space than it has in the past to save the rest of Earth's biology.
"It will be one of the proudest achievements of mankind." said Wilson.
"If we fail to do that, and allow much of the world's biodiversity to be wiped out, for all generations to come, that neglect will be considered one of humanity's greatest failures," he added.
