The Effects of Habitat Destruction of the Environment By Sreela Datta; Updated February 01, 2018 The primary effect of habitat destruction is a reduction in biodiversity, which refers to the variety and abundance of different species of animals and plants in a particular setting. When an animal loses the natural home or habitat that it needs to survive, its numbers decline rapidly, and it moves toward extinction. It's estimated that 14,000 to 35,000 species are at risk of becoming extinct, and habitat destruction is one of the main causes. Pollination and Seed Dispersal Both wild and agricultural plants depend on pollination for reproduction.