GLOBAL ASSESSMENT REPORT ON BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

For: Preliminary & Mains
Topics covered: Reports findings, Reasons for the loss of species, Risks possessed, Impacts, IPBES

News Flash

In a latest report known as ‘Global Assessment‘ on the ‘damage done by modern civilisation to the natural world’, found that up to one million of Earth’s plant, insect and animal species is at risk of extinction, many within decades.

It took three years for a group of 145 expert authors from 50 countries to prepare this report based on more than 15,000 scientific and government documents.

The report which was endorsed by 130 countries (including the U.S., Russia and China) concluded that, a wide-ranging transformation of the global economic and financial system could pull ecosystems that are vital to the future of human communities worldwide.

The study launched in Paris by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

Range of Risks

• The report lists a number of key global threats, from humans’ use of land and sea resources to challenges posed by climate change, pollution and invasive species.
• Loss of the natural world affects human societies.
• Disappearance of insects vital for pollinating food crops.
• Destruction of coral reefs that support fish populations that sustain coastal communities.
• Loss of medicinal plants.
• 40 per cent of the amphibian species are threatened with extinction.
• Almost 33 per cent of reef-forming corals and more than a third of all marine mammals are threatened.
• The average abundance of native species in most major land-based habitats has fallen by at least 20%, mostly since 1900.

Image taken from source

Report’s notable findings

• 75% of land environment and some 66% of the marine environment “have been significantly altered by human actions.”
• “More than a third of the world’s land surface and nearly 75% of freshwater resources” are used for crops or livestock.
• “Up to $577 billion in annual global crops are at risk from pollinator loss.”
• Between 100 million and 300 million people now face “increased risk of floods and hurricanes because of loss of coastal habitats and protection.”
• Since 1992, the world’s urban areas have more than doubled.
• “Plastic pollution has increased tenfold since 1980,” and from “300-400 million tons of heavy metals, solvents, toxic sludge” and other industrial waste are dumped into the world’s water systems.

Image taken from source

Reasons for damaged ecosystem

• The authors identified industrial farming and fishing as major drivers with the current rate of species extinction tens to hundreds of times higher than the average over the last 10 million years.
• Climate change caused by burning the coal, oil and gas produced by the fossil fuel industry is exacerbating the losses.
• The existential risks posed by pollution, habitat destruction and carbon emissions.

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)

The IPBES is an independent intergovernmental body, established by member States in 2012.  Its secretariat is based in Bonn, Germany.

Its objective is to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development.

Way Forward

The report also tells us that it is not too late to make a difference, but only if we start now at every level from local to global.

The findings will also add to pressure for countries to agree bold action to protect wildlife at a major conference on biodiversity due to take place in China towards the end of next year.

Source: The Hindu

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