The term "sixth mass extinction/sixth extinction" is often mentioned in the news in the context of the discussion of
- A.Widespread monoculture practices in agriculture and large-scale commercial farming with indiscriminate use of chemicals in many parts of the world that may result in the loss of good native ecosystems.
- B.Fears of a possible collision of a meteorite with the Earth in the near future in the manner it happened 65 million years ago that caused the mass extinction of many species including those of dinosaurs.
- C.Large-scale cultivation of genetically modified crops in many parts of the world and promoting their cultivation in other parts of the world which may cause the disappearance of good native crop plants and the loss of food biodiversity.
- D.Mankind's overexploitation/misuse of natural resources, fragmentation/loss of natural habitats, destruction of ecosystems, pollution, and global climate change.
▶ Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: D. Mankind's overexploitation/misuse of natural resources, fragmentation/loss of natural habitats, destruction of ecosystems, pollution, and global climate change.
The ongoing biodiversity crisis, often termed the 'sixth mass extinction', is primarily driven by human activities. These include habitat destruction and fragmentation, pollution of air, water, and soil, overexploitation of resources like overfishing and deforestation, and the pervasive impacts of climate change. While other factors like monoculture and GM crops can contribute to biodiversity loss, the overarching human-induced pressures are the main context for this term.
Source: UPSC gs1 2018