"If we pollute the air, water and soil that keep us alive and well, and destroy the biodiversity that allows natural systems to function, no amount of money will save us." - - David Suzuki Imagine this: Bulldozers growl and grind in a local field, while the hiss of chainsaws echoes from a nearby grove of trees. Trees collapse to the ground, only to be cut down for firewood or sent to a sawmill, and the remaining land is cleared of stumps and plowed up. The tall grass and bushes in the field are torn down, leaving loose soil behind. Any birds or other small creatures that lived in the freshly cut trees have long since flown away or fled in terror as their homes fell. Moles, mice and other animals living in the camp were killed or forced to leave the area in search of a new home. Coming to this land soon: a subdivision consisting of enormous two- or three-story homes with immaculate lawns out front and the occasional small decorative tree placed by the front door. The scene depicted above is becoming more and more common today; people want more space, more houses, more roads, more big buildings, more cities around the world. However, what the population does not consider is that the construction destroys the natural habitat, that is, “the place or environment in which a plant or animal lives and grows naturally or normally” (Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary). While humans may think nothing of this habitat destruction, it is actually the leading cause of extinction worldwide (Dudley 17) and affects many other species, including humans, that are not endangered or threatened . Habitat loss causes loss of biodiversity, which negatively impacts the health and economics of human life. We as humans need to take more… middle of the paper… government. 08Nov. 2008."Biodiversity." Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. 11th ed. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2007. Dudley, William, ed. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. 11th ed. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2007. Heimlich, Joe E. and Mitchell Smith “Environmental Impact Statements.” Information sheet. Ohio State University. November 09, 2008.Novacek, Michael J., ed. The biodiversity crisis. New York: The New Press, 2001.Primack, Richard B. Essentials of Conservation Biology. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates, Inc., 1993. Quote by David Suzuki http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/biodiversity.html#xFwgQLK5MbhLMRjG.99