Some people say that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. Others say that there are more important environmental problems.

Some people consider that the loss of individual

species

of plants and animals is the main environmental problem of our time. Attempts to preserve rare or dying

species

are carried out in zoos or other specialist plant and animal facilities, through breeding programmes, preservation orders and other forms of protection and there was genuine sadness among many when the

last

surviving white rhino

died

Suggestion

has died

earlier

this

year. Survival of the fittest is nature's way of ruthlessly allowing weaker specimens to die out,

although

mankind has

also

contributed to falling animal numbers through hunting and poaching.

However

, whether saving individual

species

should be the main focus of environmental protection is debatable. Climate

change

and excessive use of

plastic

are just two other major problems that deserve our attention. The evidence of climate

change

is there for us all to see: rising sea levels and associated flooding with the loss of homes at low land levels are becoming more frequent. Many countries and island communities are now calling for urgent action to delay, halt or even reverse the process,

although

if we believe the experts, reversal is impossible. Habitable areas are gradually shrinking, often for some of the poorest groups of people, but there seems to be little obvious action taking place. If the major contributors to climate

change

will not support the reduction of greenhouse gases, there is little hope for the future. Naturalists have

also

begun to expose the serious problems arising from discarded

plastic

waste. Birds and animals can die gruesome deaths through being trapped or caught up in

plastic

bags or ropes, while the long process required for these plastics to decay means that they remain a threat for many years to come. Worse, there is now beginning to be evidence of sea creatures ingesting smaller globules of disintegrating

plastic

, which harms them and all the other creatures in their particular food chain. The loss of particular

species

, both flora and fauna, is cause for regret, but I do not agree that they are the most important environmental problems these days. If climate

change

and damage from

plastic

continue

any object that can be used to hold things (especially a large metal boxlike object of standardized dimensions that can be loaded from one form of transport to another)

container

, there will be less land and less food for everyone, including plants and animals.