A habitat is like a home for animals, plants, and all living creatures. Habitat loss happens when these homes are destroyed or changed so much that the creatures living there can’t survive anymore. They either have to move to a new place or, sadly, they die.

Right now, habitat loss is the biggest reason why animals and plants are going extinct. Here are some serious numbers:

• We lose 160,000 square kilometers of tropical rainforest every year. That’s like cutting down an area the size of Greece annually.
• If this continues, all rainforests could disappear in 100 years or less!

	Forests
What’s Happening?	Why?
Rainforests, like those in the Amazon, are being cut down for farming and logging. Tropical rainforests have already lost nearly half of their original area. Dry forests are often burned to make space for cattle or crops. Temperate forests have lost 98% of their old-growth trees.	Farming, logging, and building homes.

	Grasslands
What’s Happening?	Why?
Grasslands have been turned into farmland. Less than 3% of North America’s tallgrass prairies remain. Around 9 million square kilometers grasslands have been turned into deserts.	Overfarming, cattle grazing, and poor land use.

	Wetlands
What’s Happening?	Why?
Wetlands are being drained or filled to make space for buildings and farms. Over 50% of wetlands in the U.S. have disappeared in just the last 200 years. 60–70% of European wetlands have been completely destroyed.	Farming, urban sprawl, and pollution.

	Coral Reefs
What’s Happening?	Why?
Coastal areas are being modified for houses and tourism. Coral reefs are damaged by overfishing, pollution, and invasive species. 20% of coral reefs worldwide are gone, and another 20% are severely damaged. Mangrove forests are being cleared for shrimp farms or development.	Overfishing, pollution, rising sea levels, and construction.

Habitat loss affects 1 million species of animals and plants, pushing them toward extinction.

Less biodiversity means ecosystems can’t recover from disasters, leading to problems like food shortages and extreme weather. Less biodiversity is like losing pieces of a puzzle that makes our world healthy and balanced. Protecting habitats helps keep our planet full of life and wonder!

• What types of habitats can you recognize around where you live? Are there forests, grasslands, wetlands, or other natural areas nearby?
• Look around your area: Do you see any construction, farming, or other activities that might cause habitat loss?
• Ask someone older, like your grandparents or parents: What was the environment like when they were young? Have they noticed changes in forests, rivers, or other natural places?
• Imagine what your neighborhood looked like 100 years ago. What kind of habitat might have been there? What animals or plants might have lived there?
• What would happen if the habitats near your home disappeared? How would it affect animals, plants, and even people?
• Are there any parks, forests, or protected areas near you? How do they help protect habitats? Have you ever visited one?