Habitat destruction

Definition

Habitat destruction refers to the process of damaging or eliminating natural habitats, such as forests, wetlands, or coral reefs. It often occurs due to human activities like deforestation, urbanization, or pollution.

Analogy

Imagine a bird's nest in a tree being destroyed by someone cutting down the tree. The loss of the tree not only destroys the bird's home but also disrupts the entire ecosystem that relied on it.

Related terms

Deforestation: Deforestation is the clearing of forests for various purposes like agriculture, logging, or urban development. It is one of the major causes of habitat destruction worldwide.

Urbanization: Urbanization refers to the growth and expansion of cities at the expense of natural habitats. As cities expand, they often encroach upon nearby ecosystems and lead to habitat destruction.

Fragmentation: Habitat fragmentation occurs when large areas of continuous habitat are divided into smaller fragments due to human activities like roads or infrastructure development. This fragmentation can isolate populations and disrupt ecological processes.