A million species, including some as well known as the giraffe, the parrot or the oak, are in danger of extinction due to human activities that cause the deterioration of the ecosystems where they live, or even their disappearance, according to a report of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), an independent intergovernmental science and policy body supported by the UN.
Among the human activities that harm animals, plants and ecosystems are excessive felling of trees and deforestation, pollution generated by industries and the use of fossil fuels, agriculture and fishing. The UN Biodiversity Conference has proposed a series of measures with the aim of guaranteeing a sustainable relationship between human beings and nature.
In the list of threatened species that they have drawn up, in addition to giraffes, parrots and oaks, they also include, for example, cacti and algae. Marine algae are one of the largest survivors on Earth, since some of their modern varieties come from those that were on the planet about 1.6 billion years ago. This marine vegetation plays a key role in aquatic ecosystems, as it is the habitat and sustenance of various forms of life in the seas and oceans and constitutes a nursery for many fish.
Threatened ecosystems on land and sea
The increase in sea temperature –which has been evident in the Mediterranean this summer due to heat waves–, mechanical dredging (removal of rocks and sediment) and the construction of infrastructure on the coast are contributing to the decline of the species. On land, the scenario is also worrying because the trees are seriously threatened by economic and social interests – such as logging and deforestation due to industry, agriculture and firewood for heating and cooking – and by forest fires.
“The IPBES report makes it very clear that wild species are an indispensable source of food, shelter and income for hundreds of millions of people around the world”
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, it is estimated that 31% of the 430 types of oak trees in the world are in danger of extinction, and the conservation of up to 41% are at risk due mainly to deforestation for agriculture and the need for fuel for cooking. As for giraffes, they are attacked for their meat and their habitat is also being degraded and there are only about 600 West African giraffes left in the wild due to unsustainable logging and increased demand for land for cultivation.
Consequences of biodiversity loss
In the opinion of experts, the current biodiversity crisis will continue to increase and this will have catastrophic consequences for humanity if urgent measures are not taken for humans to interact with nature in a more sustainable way. “The IPBES report makes it abundantly clear that wildlife is an indispensable source of food, shelter and income for hundreds of millions of people around the world,” said Susan Gardner, Director of the United Nations Program Ecosystems Division. United Nations for the Environment (UNEP).
“Sustainable use is when it contributes to human well-being while maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. By continuing to use these resources unsustainably, we are not only harming and risking loss of populations of these species; we are affecting our own health and well-being, as well as that of future generations,” he adds.
The report highlights the importance of ensuring that indigenous peoples obtain tenure rights to their lands, because they understand the value of wild species and have learned to use them sustainably. Reducing biodiversity loss requires an equitable distribution of costs and benefits, changes in social values, and effective governance systems.
Governments around the world spend more than $500 billion a year to support actions by industries like fossil fuels, agriculture and fishing that harm biodiversity, and experts say these funds should be used to promote regenerative agriculture , sustainable food systems and innovations with a positive impact on nature.
The UN Biodiversity Conference calls on governments around the world to set a new set of goals to protect nature over the next decade through the Convention on Biological Diversity Post-2020 Framework. The framework proposes a plan to establish actions that help transform society’s relationship with biodiversity and guarantee that by 2050 it is possible to live in harmony with nature.
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