Causes, rates and potential impacts of declining biodiversity
Human activities are wiping out species faster than nature can replace them. This loss of variety in living things — called biodiversity decline — threatens the stability of ecosystems worldwide.
Real World
Palm oil expansion in Borneo has destroyed over 50% of orangutan habitat since the 1960s; the species is now critically endangered, demonstrating how a single cash crop can collapse both species populations and the genetic diversity within them.
Exam Focus
When explaining causes, link each driver explicitly to a mechanism of biodiversity loss rather than simply listing threats.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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