Planet Earth Is Entering the Sixth Mass Extinction

One of Earth’s most defining features is its biodiversity—the enormous variety of life that has evolved over millions of years. Thanks to centuries of scientific progress, researchers have been able to classify nearly 90% of known living organisms.

Nearly 250 years of meticulous scientific work now indicate that humanity is living through the sixth mass extinction. This makes the documentation and classification of species critical, to conserve life and ensure that species do not vanish before they are even known to science.

The 2019 IUCN Red List reported 873 species already extinct out of 150,732 evaluated. Many more will likely disappear before being described, as we remain unaware of the true extent of global biodiversity.

Here, taxonomy—the science of describing, naming, and classifying living organisms—plays an essential role. However, the world faces a shortage of trained experts, representing both a scientific challenge and an opportunity for future specialists.