Biodiversity loss, the complete disappearance or significant reduction of plant and animal species, is primarily driven by human activities such as habitat destruction, pollution, over-exploitation, and climate change. Scientists identify this ongoing phenomenon as the "sixth mass extinction," with current extinction rates estimated to be 100 to 1000 times higher than natural levels, making it the fastest in human history. Regions like tropical rainforests, which host over half of the world's biodiversity, are critical "hotspots" experiencing exponential loss due to deforestation. Despite global initiatives like the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the 2010 Aichi Biodiversity Targets, a 2020 report found that most conservation goals remain unmet, underscoring the severe and escalating crisis.