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Habitat destruction is the process in which physical changes cause the habitat existing in that
area to be removed and replaced with other habitat-types. In this process, plants and animals which previously used
the site are displaced or destroyed, reducing biodiversity. Agriculture is the principal cause of habitat destruction.
Other important causes of habitat destruction include mining, trawlings and urban sprawl. Habitat destruction
is currently ranked as the most important cause of species extinction worldwide.
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when a habitat is destroyed, the plants, animals, and other organisms that occupied the habitat have a reduced carrying
capacity so that populations decline and extinction becomes more likely. The single greatest threat to species worldwide
is the loss of habitat. Temple (1986) found that 82% of endangered bird species were significantly threatened by
habitat loss. Habitat destruction, often sugar-coated by the phrase of "land-use change", is the primary cause of loss of
biodiversity.
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