Threatened Nearctic faunal realm
- Threatened Neartic faunal subregion
Nature
The Threatened Nearctic faunal realm refers to the growing risk of extinction faced by animal species native to the Nearctic region, which includes North America, Greenland, and parts of Mexico. Habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and invasive species are major drivers of this crisis. Iconic mammals, birds, amphibians, and fish are increasingly endangered, disrupting ecological balance and biodiversity. Conservation efforts are challenged by urbanization and resource exploitation. The decline of Nearctic fauna signals broader environmental degradation, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated protection and restoration strategies to preserve the region’s unique and vital wildlife heritage.
Background
The Nearctic biogeographic realm was a part of the Arctogaean faunal realm in the older system which divided the globe into three faunal realms: Neogaean (New World), Notogaean (Australasia) and Arctogaean (Old World).
Incidence
The Nearctic faunal realm, encompassing most of North America, has experienced significant declines in native species populations due to habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and invasive species. Iconic animals such as the monarch butterfly, American bison, and several amphibian species are now threatened or endangered, with cascading effects on ecosystem stability. The scale of biodiversity loss in this region is of global concern, as it impacts migratory species and disrupts ecological networks extending beyond continental boundaries.
In 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared the ivory-billed woodpecker, once native to southeastern U.S. forests, officially extinct after decades of unsuccessful searches, highlighting the ongoing crisis facing Nearctic fauna.
In 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared the ivory-billed woodpecker, once native to southeastern U.S. forests, officially extinct after decades of unsuccessful searches, highlighting the ongoing crisis facing Nearctic fauna.
Claim
The threatened Nearctic faunal realm is a crisis demanding urgent action. Iconic species and entire ecosystems are vanishing due to habitat destruction, climate change, and human negligence. Ignoring this problem risks irreversible biodiversity loss, destabilizing food webs and natural resources we depend on. Protecting the Nearctic realm isn’t optional—it’s essential for ecological balance, future generations, and the planet’s health. We must prioritize conservation before it’s too late.
Counter-claim
Concerns about the threatened Nearctic faunal realm are vastly overstated. Nature is resilient, and species have always adapted or been replaced over time. Human progress and economic development should take precedence over worrying about a few animal populations. The so-called “crisis” is exaggerated by environmentalists who ignore the bigger picture: humanity’s needs and technological advancement matter far more than preserving every species in the Nearctic region. This is simply not an important problem.
Broader
Related
Metadata
Database
World problems
Type
(C) Cross-sectoral problems
Biological classification
N/A
Content quality
Unpresentable
Language
English
1A4N
J6799
DOCID
12067990
D7NID
178034
Editing link
Official link
Last update
Oct 4, 2020