The direct drivers of biodiversity loss are changes in land-use and sea-use, overexploitation, climate change, pollution and invasive alien species.
Many activities, such as agriculture, fisheries, urban expansion and trade, contribute to multiple drivers. Pesticide pollution has short-term effects on directly exposed organisms as well as long-term effects on biodiversity from changes in habitat and food chains. Excessive fertilizer use affects biodiversity through eutrophication of water bodies and soil acidification due mainly to nutrient runoff of nitrogen and phosphorus. The fisheries industry contributes to changes in sea use via the overexploitation of species and pollution of marine habitats.
Source: European Commission (2023) EU policies address direct drivers of biodiversity loss.
