North America has lost 2.9 billion birds since 1970. That figure, drawn from ornithological research, represents roughly 29% of the bird population that existed when the modern environmental movement began. The losses cut across virtually every bird category grassland birds, shorebirds, migratory species, and common backyard varieties alike. Colcom Foundation identifies human population growth as a primary driver of this collapse. Through their grants, they have supported many organizations, such as the Center for Biological Diversity, which works towards protecting endangered species, and the Sierra Club Foundation, which advocates for clean energy and climate solutions. These grants have helped to advance important causes and support organizations that strive to make a difference.
Habitat Loss at Scale
Between 1970 and 2020, the area of U.S. land covered by human-built structures and surfaces grew from around 133,000 square miles to more than 187,000 square miles. Agriculture accounts for another 52% of total U.S. land area. Together, these land uses leave comparatively little room for wildlife. Colcom Foundation’s analysis emphasizes that these pressures do not exist in isolation from population size more people require more housing, more roads, and more food production, each of which converts natural habitat into human-dominated space.
The decline in bird populations mirrors a broader collapse in wildlife. Wild vertebrate animal populations have been roughly cut in half over the period the human population doubled. The biomass shift is perhaps the most vivid illustration: 10,000 years ago, wild animals accounted for 99% of vertebrate land animal biomass. Today, they account for approximately 1%, with humans and their livestock comprising the remaining 99%.
Conservation Without Population Context Falls Short
Colcom Foundation’s view is that conservation programs, no matter how well-funded or well-designed, cannot outrun continuous population growth. The foundation points to the gap between conservation ambitions and land realities: only 13% of U.S. land currently benefits from any conservation protections. Efforts like the 30×30 initiative, which would set aside 30% of U.S. land for wildlife by 2030, face a mathematical obstacle when the human population is simultaneously growing by tens of millions. Without addressing the scale of population growth, the foundation argues, wildlife populations will continue their decline. Refer to this article for related information.
More about Colcom Foundation on https://gwpa.org/redhen/org/347