May 3, 2019

IPBES Report | Biodiversity loss is a social and ecological emergency


The biodiversity crisis is rapidly becoming as big an issue as climate change. And without biodiversity, there is no future for humanity.

We are at risk of losing species before they have even been discovered. We are, it’s estimated, losing around 135 plant, animal and insect species every day. That’s 50,000 species a year, due to deforestation.

Scientists and government officials meet this week in Paris to finalise a key assessment of humanity’s relationship with nature. The Intergovernmental Panel for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) will then issue its first global assessment since 2005.

Dubbed the ‘IPCC for biodiversity’, it’s another call to arms on behalf of Earth’s fauna and flora.

We need to take effective and urgent action to halt the continued loss of wildlife to have resilient ecosystems that continue to provide natural ecosystem services. Securing Earth’s variety of life is vital not only for human well-being and poverty reduction but also for healthy, functioning ecosystems around the world.

Key takeaways from the report: 

IPBES Report | Biodiversity loss is a social and ecological emergency Healthy Soils Soils rich in nutrients and bacteria are the hidden foundations of all life. The degradation of soils and subsequent soil microbes will compromise food production and the availability of clean water.
IPBES Report | Biodiversity loss is a social and ecological emergency Climate and Biodiversity Degrading nature isn’t just detrimental for wildlife. It also affects the regulation of climate. The loss of primary (old-growth) forest is particularly concerning as they are essential stores of carbon.
IPBES Report | Biodiversity loss is a social and ecological emergency Mass Extinction The IPBES report warns that we are moving toward a sixth mass extinction. It states that consumption rates are at critical levels and are now driving this loss.
Cool Earth | Aerial drone footage of rainforest in Papua New Guinea Continuing Deforestation Deforestation rates have increased with growing demand for crops like palm oil. 3.6 million hectares of primary rainforest were destroyed in 2018. If this continues, we won’t see rainforest past the end of this century.
IPBES Report | Biodiversity loss is a social and ecological emergency Food Security An increasing lack of biodiversity is leaving food production much more vulnerable to climate shocks, such as outbreaks of disease, pests and extreme weather. The pollination of crops globally by bees and other animals alone is worth up to $577 billion.
IPBES Report | Biodiversity loss is a social and ecological emergency Deforestation Drivers The main drivers of biodiversity loss are land use change including deforestation, over exploitation, invasive species, pollution levels and climate change.

“I would say that this is the most comprehensive assessment on the state of nature and humanity’s place in it. We need to use biodiversity in a sustainable way, so that we can better respond to rising climate change challenges and produce food in a way that doesn’t harm our environment.”

– Prof Sir Robert Watson, IPBES chair.

What can we do?

The report advises ways in which we can effectively address rapid biodiversity loss. From avoiding pesticides to protecting wildlife habitat, it’s important to protect ecosystems today if we are to slow this rate of extinction.

Protecting and preserving rainforest is one of the most essential actions we can take for the climate and Earth’s species, of all kinds.

Ecological breakdown is a global emergency, and we must respond accordingly. Nature is not ‘nice to have’ – it’s our life support system. We need to treat it as so, and protect habitat around the tropics.

Donate to Cool Earth

Donate to Cool Earth Read More

Donate to Cool Earth
What We Do Read More

What We Do
Get Involved Read More

Get Involved

More Stories

2021 You talked, we listened. You talked, we listened. We had over 500 survey responses from around the world giving us insight-a-plenty on all things Cool Earth – from… July 20, 2021
Stories Into the trees, out of this world and back again. Into the trees, out of this world and back again. Think forest monitoring is all pack lunches, hiking boots, tape measures and saplings?  You’re half right. Swap out saplings for… July 12, 2021
Stories The Domino Effect in Gadaisu. The Domino Effect in Gadaisu. Let us give you an insight into the complexities of rainforest protection. Seemingly unrelated things are often intrinsically interlinked, making… July 12, 2021

Comments

Please log in to make a comment.

© Cool Earth 2021 | Site by Venn Creative