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Facts
- 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity celebrates the variety of life on earth and encourages us to take action to safeguard it.
- Between 10 and 100 million species are believed to exist, however only about 1.7 million of these have been described.
- It is estimated that species are currently disappearing at 50–100 times the natural rate.
- Between 1970 and 2000, the number of species declined by 40per cent. Species present in rivers, lakes and marshlands have declined by 50 per cent.
- Climate change is increasingly being seen as a major hazard for biodiversity.
- Only 12 per cent of the planet is under some form of protection.
- Some species such as the grizzly bear, bald eagle and green sea turtle have been brought back from the brink of extinction.
- Through the ages people have relied on more than 10,000 species for food, today only 12 species provide 80 per cent of all our food.
Sources: http://www.cbd.int/2010/welcome/
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Background
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is life. Short for biological diversity, biodiversity refers to all life on Earth. It includes everything from micro-organisms to towering trees, tiny insects to large mammals, including humans. It is also the ecosystems in which organisms live and the differences within species. Between 10 and 100 million species are believed to exist, however only about 1.7 million of these have been described. The species that comprise earth’s biodiversity took many millions of years to evolve to their particular environment and relationships to other plants and animals. Adapting to changes can take hundreds of years which will be threatened by rapid changes.
Why is biodiversity important?
Biodiversity is essential for sustaining life on earth, addressing poverty and preserving cultural diversity and identity.
- Environment
All life is interconnected and losing one species has a flow-on effect to everything else. Humans depend on thousands of micro-organisms, plants and animals to clean air and water, control pests, decompose organic matter, provide food, shelter, fuel, medicines and fibres. Narrowing the range of resources we use to provide for our needs makes us vulnerable to diseases, pests and changes in the environment. Biodiversity provides us with the resources to develop and adapt.
- Economy
From the subsistence farmer to the enormous agricultural consortiums producing food, timber, fibres and drugs, biodiversity is important for earning an income. Agriculture is a major industry employing large numbers of people and earning a significant amount of each country’s income, particularly developing countries. Biodiversity provides the source for cheaper food, introduction of higher earning and yielding crops which will have economic benefits for all farmers, particularly the poor.
- Culture
Traditional communities have many customs which follow the seasons of the year, the planting and harvesting, the wet and the dry. Cultural practices, ceremonies, foods, religion and languages have developed together around the plants and animals of the area. The understanding of biodiversity and its connection to the land plays an important role in forming a community’s identity.
What are the main causes of biodiversity loss?
The following human activities are the main contributors to decline in biodiversity:
- Habitat destruction and fragmentation
Land clearance, deforestation, draining wetland and construction of dams for agriculture, fuel, construction of housing and roads all contribute to the destruction of finely-tuned ecosystems which support a wide variety of plant and animal life. Species may be forced to compete with others for shelter and food. This in turn accelerates extinction rates and has placed an increasing number of animals on the endangered species list.
- Alien species
Non-native species, micro-organisms, plants and animals, which have been introduced for a purpose or accidently to a new area outside their natural range changes the way ecosystems function and affects their ability to cope with environmental change. Without natural predators they reproduce rapidly and threaten native species.
- Pollution and climate change
Air, soil and water pollution from industry, construction, transport and power generation lead to chemical imbalances which radically change habitats and can kill species. The burning of fossil fuels for energy production is leading to increased levels of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere, changing weather patterns and higher temperatures. Climate change can lead to higher sea levels, threatening coastal environments; and certain areas can be rendered too hot for species that once thrived.
- Human demand
Providing food and shelter for the world’s rapidly increasing population is placing great pressure on the natural environment. Wetlands are being drained, grasslands cleared, forests logged and oceans are being over-fished. Hunting and trade in animal products, including illegal poaching, is threatening species with extinction. These pressures are increased for people who are poor.
Positive progress
As biodiversity has gained prominence on international agendas a number of positive steps have been taken to protect the globe’s ecosystems.
- Monitoring
Various groups gather information about the number of species and health of the environment to provide a base for protection of biodiversity. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List of threatened species identifies species most in need of conservation attention if global extinction rates are to be reduced. It also provides a global index of the state of change of biodiversity.
- Protecting biodiversity
International agreements such as the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, Millennium Development Goals (particularly Goal 7) and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) are some of the many international agreements committing countries to protecting biodiversity.
Many countries have set aside land and sea as special protection areas. For example, Indonesia has instated seven new marine protected areas which cover 9,000 square kilometres, 45 per cent of the regions shallow water ecosystems.
Gene banks store seed samples to preserve their important genetic material. They range from the farm-based individual collection to the Svalbard Seed Vault tunnelled into ice near the North Pole for ‘fail-safe’ protection.
- Individual action
Local communities and individuals are reducing use of fossil fuels, using renewable energy, switching off lights and appliances when not in use; buying products (such as wooden furniture or holiday souvenirs) that are made from sustainable sources and not from illegally logged forests or from endangered animal skin, fur or shell; and ensuring seafood is approved by the Marine Stewardship Council. They are also being active in local organisations which monitor and protect land and water resources.
Australia's
response
Environmental sustainability is a major focus of the Australian government’s aid programme. This includes tackling the affects of climate change, increasing food security and protecting livelihoods in the Asia-Pacific region. The government is committed to international efforts to protect biodiversity through the Millennium Development Goals and supports multilateral agencies and initiatives such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Environment Program.
Specific programs supported by AusAID include:
- Assist in the management of resources along the Mekong River
- Reduce carbon emissions from deforestation through the International Forest Carbon Initiative (IFCI)
- Provide financial and technical support to clean energy initiatives through the Clean Energy Financing Partnership Facility.
- Preserving forest vegetation by growing food sources for animals in Laos.
http://www.ausaid.gov.au/keyaid/envt.cfm
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