The International Day of Biodiversity was celebrated on May 22 with the theme ‘Acting locally for global impact’. The theme aimed to raise awareness that conserving biodiversity at the grassroots level can only ensure sustainability at the global level.
Actions by local communities, organisations and partners can contribute to global targets for protecting and safeguarding biodiversity. The day is celebrated to reiterate the 23 targets for 2030 and four goals for 2025 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which include restoring 30 per cent of degraded ecosystems, conserving 30 per cent of land, water and sea, reducing the spread of alien species by 50 per cent and raising $200 billion per year. The aim of the day is also to highlight the urgency of swift action to meet the targets, as 2030 is the deadline for the major goals.
Biodiversity plays a significant role in human life. Each and every part of biodiversity is like a block that completes and ensures a healthy ecosystem. Any missing part of biodiversity threatens the life of the whole ecosystem. Human health relies on a variety of biodiversity resources, products, and services, including food, medicines, fresh water and air purification.
According to the WHO, “over 50 per cent of modern medicines are derived from natural sources, including antibiotics from fungi and painkillers from plant compounds. Forests store 80 per cent of terrestrial biodiversity, absorbing approximately 2.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, helping mitigate climate change”.
Similarly, biodiversity is very important for the agricultural sector, helping to keep soil fertile, pollinate plants and control pest outbreaks in crops. All these steps are important for the healthy production of crops. Biodiversity is also a natural barrier against disasters such as wildfires, floods, and droughts. They build resilience in the ecosystem to recover and bounce back from such natural disasters. Biodiversity, including forests, is also a natural carbon sink and a source of strength in reducing carbon emissions and in mitigating and adapting to climate change.
In addition, human beings are dependent on a variety of sources of biodiversity for their food. According to the WHO, “Biodiversity at every level (genetic, species, and ecosystem level) is a foundational pillar for food security, nutrition, and dietary quality. It is the basic source of variety in essential foods, nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and medicines, and underpins life-sustaining ecosystem services.”
Biodiversity is also a source of recreational activities, including wildlife parks, mangrove forests, and water sports. Such activities are not only a source of pleasure but also generate economic activity, create jobs and promote tourism. According to research highlighted by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the economic value provided by biodiversity (in the form of water and air filtration, carbon storage and, of course, food provisioning) totals over $150 trillion annually – more than double the world’s GDP.
Today, biodiversity faces severe threats for multiple reasons. First of all, climate change and extreme weather conditions have led to the extinction of many rare plant and animal species, disrupting the entire ecosystem. For example, species that have habitats and survive in cold weather are forced to migrate from their natural habitats in search of similar habitats due to rising temperatures. Similarly, when the timing of flower blooming, breeding & hatching, and migration shifts, many predators lose their food, creating a challenge for a healthy ecosystem. During droughts and wildfires, habitats are destroyed, reducing biodiversity.
Warmer temperatures create favourable conditions for viruses and bacteria to multiply and spread disease. According to Greenpeace, the 2019-20 Australian bushfires burned almost 19 million hectares of land. It also affected nearly three billion animals, including koalas, wombats, kangaroos and wallabies.
Another threat to biodiversity is out-of-control population growth. The increasing population demands more resources to meet its needs, including food, housing, etc. In order to meet the needs of a growing population, humans began to clear forest lands to utilise them for growing food and to build human settlements. In this process, humans snatched habitats of many species, putting their existence in danger.
According to the Royal Society, “As human populations have grown, habitat destruction such as deforestation also increases to make way for agricultural land. Between 1962 and 2017, it is estimated that 340 million hectares of new croplands were created globally and 470 million hectares – around half the area of China – of natural ecosystems were converted into pastures”.
Other causes of biodiversity loss include invasive species and over-exploitation. Invasive species typically lack natural predators in their new environment and grow rapidly, limiting the growth of local species. Similarly, overexploitation of natural species can also cause biodiversity loss. For example, overfishing can disturb the marine ecosystem.
Biodiversity is essential for a healthy and sustained ecosystem. We need to protect biodiversity through local initiatives to have a greater global impact.
The writer is a graduate of the University of Oxford in Public Policy. She tweets/posts @zilehumma_1 and can be reached at:[email protected]
