Instant Genius Why it’s not too late to reverse Earth’s extinction crisis
Mar 29, 2026
Natalie Kiriacou, environmentalist and author of Nature's Last Dance, explores biodiversity loss and bold conservation ideas. She describes dramatic wildlife declines and the human drivers behind them. She spotlights quirky and creative rescue tactics, links consumption and inequality to ecological harm, and argues for systemic policy changes to help reverse extinctions.
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Humanity Has Caused Rapid Biological Annihilation
- Humanity is driving a rapid biological annihilation with wildlife populations declining massively since 1970.
- Natalie Kiriacou cites a 69% average decline in wildlife populations between 1970 and 2018 and notes this pace is unprecedented in geological terms.
Extinction Pace Is Compressed Into Centuries
- A mass extinction is defined by geologists as about 75% of species lost within a short geological period, and the current loss is compressed into centuries.
- Natalie explains past extinctions took millions of years while human-driven change has escalated in a few hundred years, prompting debate about the Anthropocene.
Extinction Is Caused By Multiple Reinforcing Drivers
- Multiple drivers combine to cause extinctions: exploitation, deforestation, climate change and invasive species.
- Natalie stresses these forces act relentlessly and increasing technology and population give nature less time to recover.
