Loss of habitable zones is a result of extractive land and ecosystem management practices, which prioritize short-term gains and profit maximization, often at the expense of long-term stewardship and sustainability. As natural resources diminish, conflicts arise over their control and use, exacerbated by governance models that favor private property rights. These models often lead to the hoarding and mismanagement of resources, intensifying the challenges faced by vulnerable communities.

The commodification of land overlooks the intrinsic ecological and social value of land as a commons, treating it primarily as an asset for trade and profit. As land and ecosystems are commodified, the focus shifts away from their role in supporting life and community wellbeing, contributing to the displacement of populations and the degradation of the environment.

The prevailing property structures create asymmetric rights, where the costs of environmental impacts are borne by people living in rapidly degrading environments, while the benefits and profits are privatized and concentrated among a few. This imbalance in rights and responsibilities leads to decision-making that prioritizes the interests of property owners over the needs of the many, further driving inequity and contributing to mass migration as people are forced to seek habitable conditions.