How Saving Wildlife Benefits Humans

It’s no secret that we’ve lost an overwhelming number of species within that last four decades. These species have all but _____ due to overpopulation, deforestation, consumer culture, climate change, animal exploitation, and other harming sources — all brought about by mankind.

One of the first great rules of terrestrial (陆地的) biology is “no species is forever.” _____, this rapid loss of species today is estimated to be between1,000and 10,000 times higher   than the natural extinction rate. As increasingly accepted theories have argued, we are now in the midst of the sixth great _____.

The Earth consists of plants, animals, water,   land, the atmosphere, and humans.   Biodiversity (生物多样性) _____ the health of the planet and has a great impact on all our lives. Reduced biodiversity means a future where food supplies are vulnerable (易受攻击的) to pests and disease, and fresh water is   in short supply. If biodiversity _____ impacts   our lives in such big   ways, then our conservation (环保) efforts don’t just benefit the environment, they benefit us, too.

One convincing benefit that comes from wildlife conservation efforts is that it ensures food _____. Wildlife conservation promotes agricultural biodiversity, which plays an important role in building a secure and healthy food system. When agricultural biodiversity is _____ and land   is cleared for agriculture, extensive habitat loss takes place, as well as undocumented loss of species and massive soil erosion (侵蚀).

Another benefit that comes from wildlife conservation is that these _____ protect human health. Conservation International reportsthat “more than 50 percent of modern medicines and more than 90 percent of traditional medicines   come from wild plants   and animals.” _____,   a     world that promotes healthy ecosystems and biodiversity provides crucial buffers (缓冲) between disease and humans. A number of studies have _____ reduced diversity among mammal (哺乳动物 ) species and overall decreases in biodiversity to an increase in the transmission ( 传 播 ) of animal-born diseases to humans.

Perhaps the most convincing benefit that comes from wildlife conservation is that it provides us with _____ whether it be economically or socially. Increasing biodiversity and   healthy ecosystems improve agricultural productivity, thereby allowing farms to become more _____. Healthy ecosystems that are home to unique species _____ tourists from around the world, which helps the local economy and invites in a new fusion of investment.

Our unsustainable, unconscious, self-interested relationship with the environment has led us into an extremely destructible world. If we do not take action and _____ changing our ways, we     are at risk of losing more vital and _____ ecosystems and biodiversity,   or at least until the sixth   great extinction claims one final species: our own.