Animals in danger of extinction

An endangered species is a population of organisms that is at risk of extinction, so when we talk about animal and plant species. This critical situation can be achieved for various reasons: very low number of specimens, threats by environmental changes or predation.

It is necessary to clarify that extinction is also a natural mechanism that comes from thousands of millions of years ago. But we must recognize that in recent times, the impact of human activity on climate, ecosystems and numerous practices harmful against a large number of species have pushed many animals on the brink of extinction.
The situation is indeed worrying. The International Union for the conservation of nature (IUCN) has calculated the percentage of endangered species as 40% percent of all organisms (estimated on the basis of the sample of species that have been evaluated through 2006).

For some of these species, Governments and international agencies provide protection in an effort to achieve the conservation. This is done, for example, forbidding hunting and traffic, with the creation of reserves or funding breeding programs.

But unfortunately only a few of the many species threatened with extinction which are covered in these programmes. Many more are the species that are extinct, or potentially become extinct with the passage of time, without increasing public attention.

The State of conservation of the species is a cataloging that tells us the probability that the endangered species become extinct. Many factors are taken into account when assessing the conservation status of a species, not just the remaining number of specimens. Other highlights are the increase or decrease in the population through time, the pups survival rates, and threats to conservation.


Based on these criteria, has drawn up a Red list of threatened species. It catalogues the species into different categories. Let's see what are they and some examples of endangered animals.
Extinct : species completely disappeared. Examples: monk of the Caribbean, Tiger of Java or Macropus greyi (an Australian wallaby), all of which are extinct in the 20th century.Extinguido in nature: only surviving individuals in captivity, but there is no wildlife.

Examples: Raven Hawaino, Wyoming Toad, Spix macaw.Critically endangered : faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the near future. Examples: Gorilla mountain, Iberian lynx, Ethiopian wolf, Bactrian camel, rhinoceros in Sumatra, Java, Philippine Eagle, orangutan, Sumatran Rhinoceros, and many other more-endangered : faces a high risk of extinction in the near future.

Examples: blue whale, Asian elephant, Giant Panda, Malayan Tapir, Tiger, Asian Lion, Borneo Orangutan, Grevy, gorillas, African Penguin Zebra, Goliat frog. And the list continues and continues.Vulnerable : faces a high risk of extinction in the medium term. Examples: the African elephant, Lion, sloth bear, polar bear, Indian Rhinoceros, Komodo dragon, great white shark, hippopotamus, Chuck.

Here also the list is worryingly long.Near threatened: may be considered threatened in the near future. Examples: American bison, Leopard, Jaguar, shark Tiger, white rhinoceros, Magellanic Penguin.Least concern : no immediate threat to the survival of the species.

Biodegradable plastic bags

Before you start to talk about the bags of biodegradable plastic , it is necessary that we stop to talk about, first of all bags plastic mostly used at present, i.e., the non-biodegradable.

Plastic bags contain a material called polyethylene resin, which is a product derived from petroleum. Given its composition, its degradation is slow in some cases reaching last 500 years to degrade. Or in other cases what happens is that it is disintegrating into pieces smaller, the result is millions of pieces of plastic that measure less than 5 mm.

The environmental consequences are really very worrying. It is estimated there are oceans between 3 and 5 kilos of plastic (millimeter size), for every square kilometer of water. This high level of contamination due to the non-biodegradable plastics (of which many contain toxic additives) leads to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of marine mammals every year and also affects thousands of species of birds.

Biodegradable plastics - in contrast to those who are not - They are made from natural polymers. You are called biodegradable that can be destroyed, degraded or metabolized by natural organisms, such as e.g. certain bacteria.

It is important to make clear, that even when its components are of diverse origin, these plastics have the same properties which are manufactured with oil.

Bags 100% biodegradable allow a complete degradation. The process starts after 18 months, therefore indicated in batch number that is imprinted with their date of manufacture to be aware of when it will expire.
Until that is met this year and a half of validity, the bag can retain under normal conditions without suffering any alteration of the structure or material. Therefore, it is a way that maintains 100% quality and resistance, but without generating a negative consequence for our environment.

Biodegradable bags are completely versatile they can be manufactured in different colors and sizes, position marks or legends, so that they are suitable for different uses.
Another advantage with biodegradable bags is that they can be recycled too, providing energy values similar to the plastic polyethylene bags.

The problem of plastic polyethylene bags extends globally. And here in Spain are not the exception. On the contrary, the third country more plastic bags consumed internationally. Nothing less than a few 250 plastic bags per inhabitant and per year.

This has brought a law which provides that for the year 2013, 60% of plastic bags manufactured must be biodegradable. This percentage rises to 80% by 2016. Finally, in 2018, all plastic bags must be biodegradable.