82 Section 5
The capacity of the oceans to provide fish for food has declined substantially and
in some regions shows no sign of recovery (MA Board, 2015).
Case Study 20 – Threats to the survival of wildlife: elephants and earthworms
(by Peter Stevenson, Compassion in World Farming, CIWF)
Studies show that population and species extinctions are proceeding rapidly and
a sixth mass extinction may already be under way (Ceballos et al., 2017). Human
pressures, including agriculture, are an important factor in this. Ever more forests
and savannahs are being destroyed to grow soy and cereals for industrially farmed
animals. This is eating into wildlife habitats, driving many species – including
elephants and jaguars – towards extinction (Lymbery, 2017).
Moreover, the chemical-soaked monocultures that have arisen in part to satisfy
the industrial livestock sector’s growing demand for feed crops have devastated
birds, butterflies and pollinators (Lymbery, 2017). Both the numbers and diversity
of earthworms are being reduced by intensive agriculture (Tsiafouli et al., 2015);
earthworms are essential to human life as they play a key part in maintaining soil
health and fertility.
Animals also impact on other aspects of the environment. There
are studies reporting the effect of industrial production on the environ-
ment, including pollution of ground and surface water (Mekonnen and
Hoekstra, 2012), soil degradation (Edmondson et al., 2014; Tsiafouli,
2015), biodiversity loss (WHO, 2015) and air pollution (Lelieveld et al.,
2015). Livestock makes up two-thirds of terrestrial vertebrates by weight,
and the study of animal behaviour is helping to develop approaches to
management – such as silvopastoral systems – that reduce greenhouse gas
production, and air and water pollution, while increasing animal welfare
and efficient use of resources (Appleby, 2015; Broom et al., 2013).
While human well-being has improved through improved water man-
agement by controlling floods, irrigation or generating hydroelectricity (MA
Board, 2005), it is important to be mindful of environmental and animal
welfare trade-offs for these improvements. These may include habitat frag-
mentation and loss, biodiversity loss or declines in sediment supplies to the
coastal zone (MA Board, 2005). Given that dietary choices and resulting
consumption patterns are the drivers of production (Heller et al., 2013)
the food we eat is a key driver for change. As a result some have already
suggested the adoption of SHARP diets: environmentally Sustainable (S),
Healthy (H), Affordable (A), Reliable (R) and Preferred from the consumer’s
perspective (P) (Mertens et al., 2017).
Changes over the years in fishing, transport and tourism have also had
an impact on marine ecosystems. Some might have had a short-lived benefit
