Excessive logging and deforestation, pollutant emissions and discharges, and intensive farming and fishing are among the human activities harming hundreds of species and ecosystems around the world. The United Nations Biodiversity Conference emphasizes building a sustainable relationship between nature and people.
Nearly one million species are at risk of extinction. A report from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, an independent body supported by the United Nations, highlights this alarming trend.
The document raises troubling examples such as giraffes, parrots, and even oaks being listed among endangered species, alongside plants like cacti and seaweed.
The United Nations is described as one of the planet’s most enduring institutions, with some of its ancestors dating back 1.6 billion years.
Marine vegetation plays a vital role in aquatic ecosystems by providing habitats and food for a wide range of life and serving as nurseries for many fish species.
Two examples of blue and yellow macaws are shown in the accompanying photo. Photo: pixabay
However, drilling, rising sea temperatures, and climate-driven changes in coastal development contribute to declines in algae and many other species.
Meanwhile, forests face threats from various economic and social practices, including logging, deforestation for industry and farming, and the use of wood for heating and cooking.
Disastrous consequences for humanity
Forests are also threatened by climate change, which can trigger more frequent and severe fires.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, 31 percent of the world’s oak tree species are at risk of extinction and up to 41 percent face concern largely due to deforestation for farmland and fuel for cooking.
Giraffes face hunting pressure and habitat loss, with only about 600 wild individuals remaining in West Africa. The decline is mainly attributed to unsustainable timber extraction and increasing demand for farmland.
Centennial oak. Photo: pixabay
Experts warn that biodiversity crises will intensify and have far-reaching consequences for humanity unless people adopt more sustainable interactions with nature.
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services notes that wild species provide essential food, shelter, and income for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Susan Gardner, director of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Division of Ecosystems, stresses this point.
Using nature sustainably requires preserving biodiversity and ecosystem functioning while supporting human well-being. Gardner adds that continuing to consume resources unsustainably risks harming populations of species, as well as human health and the health of future generations.
The aim is to live in harmony with nature
The report highlights the importance of Turkey and the need to recognize indigenous peoples’ property rights over their lands, as they have long understood the value of wild species and learned to use them sustainably.
Changes needed to reduce biodiversity loss include fair distribution of costs and benefits, shifts in social values, and effective governance systems.
Global governments currently spend more than half a trillion dollars each year to support activities of sectors that harm biodiversity, such as fossil fuels, agriculture, and fishing.
Experts suggest redirecting these funds toward regenerative agriculture, sustainable food systems, and environmentally positive innovations.
Despite ongoing efforts, biodiversity continues to deteriorate globally, and this trend is likely to worsen in the near future.
In response, the United Nations Biodiversity Conference calls for a new set of goals for nature to be adopted over the next decade under the Post-2020 Framework Convention on Biodiversity. The framework aims to implement broad-based actions and to ensure a shared vision of living in harmony with nature is achieved by 2050.