What will be extinct by 2070?

Species at Risk: The Looming Extinction Crisis by 2070

By 2070, nearly 1,700 species of amphibians, birds, and mammals could vanish from the planet if current trends continue. This alarming projection comes from a comprehensive study published in Nature Climate Change, which analyzed the global distribution of 19,400 species. The primary culprit? Human activity—especially land-use changes that shrink and fragment natural habitats.

As cities expand, forests are cleared for agriculture, and wetlands are drained for development, wildlife is left with fewer places to live, feed, and reproduce. Amphibians, already among the most vulnerable due to their sensitive life cycles, are particularly at risk. Birds and mammals, especially those with limited ranges or specialized habitat needs, are also facing mounting pressure.

The study paints a clear picture: where humans convert land, biodiversity declines. And while climate change plays a role, the direct transformation of ecosystems—such as turning rainforests into farmland or grasslands into urban zones—is currently a more immediate threat to species survival. The research, originally highlighted in March 2019, remains a stark warning of what’s at stake if conservation efforts don’t accelerate.

Yet, it's not too late. Protecting critical habitats, restoring degraded areas, and planning development with wildlife in mind could help reverse this trajectory. The fate of these species depends less on fate and more on the choices we make in the coming decades. The next 50 years will define not just the future of biodiversity, but the health of the planet we all share.