Since life first evolved in the sea, some 3.6 billion years ago, the balance of evolution and extinction led to a fabulous diversity of plants, animals and fungi across the globe, sustained, in part, by unicellular organisms (i.e. bacteria). Then humans evolved.
Rather than using our large brains to sustain the natural diversity of our home planet, by 10,000 years ago we began to destroy and alter Earth's vital ecosystems. Beginning with cultivation and domestication and accelerating with the Industrial Revolution, we have decimated natural habitat across the globe to meet the needs and desires of our ballooning population.
Having effectively shut down evolution on Earth, we have also threatened the survival of our own species. Global warming and widespread pollution are the consequences of our unbridled growth and consumption; though we have begun to address our impact, the response may be too feeble and too late.
See also: The Sixth Mass Extinction
