There are many ways in which the natural world is experiencing the negative effects of human improvements and industrialisation. While humans have developed new technologies and improved their own quality of life, the opposite can be said for the animals and plants in our shared world. It seemed as if human evolution and progress was strongly tied to nature’s downfall. This may simply have been due to an oversight of our predecessors, or that we as humans do not find the lives of other species as important. This is not a view that we should have as the planet is something that we all share, and it is not right that one species should be allowed to flourish while all others are doomed, even though that one species may also be its own demise one day.

Climate change has been a problem that has been apparent since the late 1980s and after nearly 40 year, it is still a problem that plagues our planet. The average temperature throughout the world has increased over time and it still is to this day. Bush fires have become more common happening many times per year, with each year’s fires getting more and more severe.

Habitat loss is also a big contributor in endangering the many species of animals within Australia. It is the greatest threat towards a variety of different animals and is caused by the expansion of agricultural land as well as over harvesting of timber and wood. Around half of the world’s original forest has disappeared and they are being removed at a rate that is ten times faster than regrowth.

Another threat that wildlife experiences is caused by waste pollution. Animals, birds and sea creatures are all susceptible to ingesting waste created by humans. Wastes like plastic can cause choking in birds, or cause them to feel full, leading to starvation, or even damage their organs. Marine animals and fish can either swallow plastic or become caught in other types of waste. Entanglement in waste pollution, the toxicity of waste and the possible injuries it can bring, all lead to shortening the lives of wildlife.