Read the excerpt from E.O. Wilson’s “The Environmental Ethic.” Species are disappearing at an accelerating rate through human ac
tion, primarily habitat destruction but also pollution and the introduction of exotic species into residual natural environments. I have said that a fifth or more of the species of plants and animals could vanish or be doomed to early extinction by the year 2020 unless better efforts are made to save them. . . . As the last forests are felled in forest strongholds like the Philippines and Ecuador, the decline of species will accelerate even more. In the world as a whole, extinction rates are already hundreds or thousands of times higher than before the coming of man. They cannot be balanced by new evolution in any period of time that has meaning for the human race. What message does the author convey in this excerpt? Humans need to take action to end further destruction of the natural environment. In the coming years, humans will put forth stronger efforts to save plants and animals. The extinction of plant and animal species is problematic in the Philippines and Ecuador. In recent years, the extinction rate for many animal species has significantly increased.
The author's message is that there has been a notable rise in the extinction rates of numerous animal species in recent years. He opens his argument in the excerpt's first sentence by stating: "Species are disappearing at an accelerating rate due to human activities, mainly habitat destruction, along with pollution and the introduction of non-native species into remaining natural environments." He subsequently stresses this point with the statement: "As the last forests are cut down in significant forest zones like the Philippines and Ecuador, the decline of species will further accelerate." He supports his claim by stating: "Globally, extinction rates have surged hundreds or even thousands of times higher than before humans arrived.".
