As immigration climbs, America’s biodiversity crisis worsens.

The International Day for Biodiversity is celebrated every year on May 22nd. This worldwide observance commemorates the multilateral treaty, called the Convention on Biological Diversity, which was adopted on May 22, 1992.  While there is a growing recognition that biological diversity is a global asset of tremendous value to future generations, the number of species is being significantly reduced by human activities. Given the importance of public education and awareness about this issue, the United Nations designated a day to celebrate biodiversity annually.

The term biodiversity (from “biological diversity”) refers to the variety of life at all its levels, from genes to ecosystems, and encompasses the ecological processes that sustain life. 

Factsheet: Immigration & Biodiversity

Every piece of an ecosystem depends on the other plant and animal species like a jigsaw puzzle and, despite all our technological advances, we are completely dependent on healthy and vibrant ecosystems for our water, food, medicines, clothes, fuel, shelter, energy, and more.

But due to the rapid growth of human populations, species are going extinct faster than at any time in history, and this tragic trend is projected to accelerate. According to a 2021 United Nations report, approximately one million species are at risk of extinction and many of them could be completely wiped out within the next few years.

Among the main reasons for biodiversity loss are invasive species, pesticides, over-hunting, and pollution.  But nothing compares to the clear-cutting, burning, damming, draining, and/or bulldozing of natural habitat to make way for expanding human populations.  This includes the fragmentation and disconnection of entire wildlife ecosystems, where animals can no longer move between larger habitat areas.

America also is facing the consequences of relentless population growth.  The U.S. holds the #6 spot for most endangered animal species on the planet, which is even more than Brazil with its rainforests.  Our nation is the world’s third most-populous country, and has the greatest (and fastest-growing) number of immigrants by far (~51 million).  America’s population growth is driving countless wildlife species to the brink of extinction, which will only intensify as our nation’s unsustainable growth continues to expand.  According to the Census Bureau, our population will soar to more than 380 million by 2060, with 90% due to immigration.

As the world bears witness to the planet’s sixth mass extinction (caused by the march of humanity) no country is exempt from the obligation to protect life-sustaining biological diversity.  It has become plainly obvious — if America is going to preserve its biodiversity, then we must reduce immigration.

Call To Action: Be an advocate for sustainable immigration.

Explore More: Conservation Challenges; Sustainability Initiative.