The effect is comparable to the expected effects of climate warming and increased ultraviolet radiation due to stratospheric ozone loss. At higher levels of extinction 41 to 60 percent of species , the effects of species loss ranked with those of many other major drivers of environmental change, such as ozone pollution, acid deposition on forests and nutrient pollution. The strength of the observed biodiversity effects suggests that policymakers searching for solutions to other pressing environmental problems should be aware of potential adverse effects on biodiversity as well.
Still to be determined is how diversity loss and other large-scale environmental changes will interact to alter ecosystems. Authors of the paper, in addition to Hooper, Cardinale and Duffy, are E. Serpentine grasslands are home to the endangered Bay Checkerspot butterfly.
Credit and Larger Version. Biologists David Hooper and Leslie Gonzalez measure plant diversity and productivity. Leslie Gonzalez samples plant diversity at Coyote Ridge, Calif. And in addition to its effect on food systems, the devastation of the earth's soil reduces its ability to retain water, hitting humans by increasing water stress and the frequency of floods.
The repercussions of human activity on nature are made worse by climate change, the report found, which is in turn exacerbated by damage to ecosystems, such as loss of forests that convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. While some of the problems listed in the report have been known for decades, scientists have struggled to convey the urgency with which they need to be dealt.
In , the United Nations declared a "decade of biodiversity" to reduce biodiversity loss. But according to Sunday's report, it made good progress with only a handful of the 20 targets it set its members, such as conserving marine areas and prioritizing invasive alien species. Every target related to addressing the underlying drivers had seen either moderate or poor progress.
But, the report said, "urgent and concentrated efforts" can still conserve and restore nature so it can be used sustainably. Avoiding the negative effects of biodiversity loss to and beyond requires "transformative" policy change, the authors wrote.
They proposed a broad-ranging toolkit of policies including sustainable agricultural practices, incentivizing reductions in consumption and waste , effective fishing quotas and collaborative water management. While the report's recommendations were targeted at policy-makers, scientists say many consumer choices, such as reducing beef consumption and eating sustainably-sourced fish, are needed to conserve ecosystems.
The authors also highlighted the importance of developing global financial systems that steer away from the "limited paradigm" of economic growth. Reposted with permission from our media associate DW. About Contact Us. Learn more Got It. Most recent. But they don't seem to fully understand biodiversity. I argue that they need to, and quickly. When biodiversity loss is reported in the media, it is most often in the form of emotionally provoking stories about the plight of iconic species such as rhinos, polar bears, tigers, and elephants.
Biodiversity is more than an elephant, a herd of elephants, or the entire world population of elephants. It is the diversity of life and the ecological interactions between diverse lifeforms that matters most.
It is no surprise then that development professionals — although they might be personally concerned about these issues — do not see the connection between declining biodiversity and their development agenda of poverty alleviation, improvements of health care, gender equality, and resilience to natural disasters and other important social issues.
Furthermore, reports of human rights abuses in the name of conservation could justifiably persuade the development community that concern for biodiversity can work against their agenda. So, what is biodiversity and why does it really matter to development? Diversity matters because it has a big effect on the productivity and stability of natural ecosystems, and on the services they provide, many of which are important for key development sectors.
Crop genetic diversity increases the yield of agricultural crops, tree species diversity enhances wood production in plantations, plant species diversity produces better fodder in grasslands, and fish species diversity is associated with more stable catches PDF. More diverse systems are also more resilient to climate fluctuations PDF. Diversity is not the only important property of natural systems from a development and poverty reduction perspective.
Many benefits people, particularly those of a lower socioeconomic background, get from nature are dependent on the abundance of particular species as they are on the species diversity. How well ecosystems provide people with developmental benefits also depends on their condition and extent, and on the specific functions certain species, groups of species, or ecosystems carry out such as sources of food, absorbers of air pollution, and natural barriers against storm surges.
Crucially, however, diversity underpins the abundance, extent, and condition of nature and ecosystems and is needed to secure the flow of benefits to people in the future, particularly in the face of changing environmental conditions. The alteration and destruction of habitats puts thousands of species in danger of extinction.
Biodiversity loss endangers human well-being by affecting soil and water, which are fundamental to food production. For example, imbalances in ecosystems can lead to the emergence of pests that damage crops. The capacity of forests and oceans to absorb CO 2 decreases if their ecosystems are adversely affected. It is our responsibility to future generations". SDG 14 aims to sustainably manage and protect marine, coastal, terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems, address the effects of ocean acidification and regulate fishing while promoting sustainable fisheries.
SDG 15 seeks to protect, restore and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, halt and reverse land degradation, combat desertification and stop biodiversity loss. Beyond UN commitments, we can all do our part to fight biodiversity loss on a personal level. By prioritising sustainable mobility and sustainable food , responsible consumption and recycling practices, reducing the small actions that pollute , helping to raise awareness of the smallest actions through environmental education , and ultimately supporting any action aimed at protecting biodiversity.
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