Humanity is driving the sixth mass extinction, with over one million species at risk of disappearing. Mexico leads the world in wildlife loss, and plastic in the oceans kills one million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals every year. Since 1970, 60% of mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles have vanished, and in the last 20 years alone, 77% of gorillas and 90% of sharks have been lost. Additionally, 50% of insects and corals have disappeared, and the bird population has dropped by 29%, equivalent to 3 billion birds gone.
Human activity is the main cause of this crisis. Urbanization, pollution, deforestation, and climate change have destroyed habitats and disrupted natural animal cycles. Today, 75% of ecosystems, 70% of oceans, and 50% of rivers are severely damaged. South and Central America have lost 89% of their freshwater ecosystems, and by 2050, only 10% of Earth’s natural environments are expected to remain intact.
This destruction affects not only animals but also essential environmental services like the water cycle and pollination, both vital to human survival. Humanity has already surpassed six of the nine critical planetary boundaries, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and ocean acidification—putting life on Earth at risk.
In the face of this crisis, it is urgent to adopt a biocentric vision that recognizes the rights of nature. Ecuador has been a pioneer in this area, enshrining the Rights of Nature in its 2008 Constitution, recognizing nature as a subject of rights rather than a resource to be exploited. This perspective seeks to restore a harmonious relationship between humans and Earth, promoting a biocentric ethic that moves beyond exploitative anthropocentrism.
The solution requires a civilizational shift: abandoning the model of infinite economic growth, decommodifying nature, and subordinating the economy to ecological limits. We must protect wildlife not just for its utility, but for its intrinsic value. The future of humanity depends on our ability to reconnect with nature and respect its boundaries. As Carl Sagan once said, any civilization that wishes to survive must limit its growth. Failure is not an option.
Humanity faces an unprecedented environmental crisis—but there is still hope, if we adopt a new biocentric ethic and recognize nature’s rights. The path forward is complex, but essential to ensure the survival of all life on the planet.