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What is biodiversity and how are we protecting it? What is biodiversity and how are we protecting it?
(2 months later)
Amur leopards are one of the most endangered species in the worldAmur leopards are one of the most endangered species in the world
Hundreds of charities, governments and researchers have gathered in Canada for the UN global summit on biodiversity. Targets to reverse the decline of biodiversity by 2030 may be missed without urgent action, according to a new report.
The two-week meeting will provide governments a chance to come up with a long-term plan to reverse the threat to life on Earth This goal was a key part of the UN global summit on biodiversity held in December 2022.
Nearly a third of all species are currently endangered due to human activities such as logging, climate change and farming. Nearly a third of all monitored species are currently endangered due to human activities.
What is biodiversity and why is it important?What is biodiversity and why is it important?
Biodiversity is the variety of all life on Earth - animals, plants, fungi and micro-organisms like bacteria.Biodiversity is the variety of all life on Earth - animals, plants, fungi and micro-organisms like bacteria.
Animals and plants provide humans with everything needed to survive - including fresh water, food, and medicines. Animals and plants provide humans with everything necessary for survival - including fresh water, food, and medicines.
Biodiversity: Why it matters, in five graphics However, humans cannot get these benefits from individual species - a rich variety of animals and plants must work together.
However, we cannot get these benefits from individual species - we need a variety of animals and plants to be able to work together and thrive. In other words, we need biodiversity. Plants are also very important for improving the physical environment: cleaning the air, limiting rising temperatures and providing protection against climate change.
Mangroves provide protection against rising sea levels for towns in the PhilippinesMangroves provide protection against rising sea levels for towns in the Philippines
Plants are also very important for improving our physical environment - by cleaning the air we breathe, limiting rising temperatures and providing protection against climate change. Mangrove swamps and coral reefs can act as a barrier to erosion from rising sea levels.
Mangrove swamps and coral reefs can act as a barrier to erosion from rising sea levels. And common trees found in cities such as the London plane or the tulip tree, are excellent at absorbing carbon dioxide and removing pollutants from the air. Common trees found in cities such as the London plane or the tulip tree, are excellent at absorbing carbon dioxide and removing pollutants from the air.
Biodiversity: Why the nature crisis matters, in five graphics
How many species are at risk of extinction?How many species are at risk of extinction?
It is normal for species to evolve and become extinct over time - 98% of all species that have ever lived are now extinct.It is normal for species to evolve and become extinct over time - 98% of all species that have ever lived are now extinct.
However, the extinction of species is now happening between 100 and 1,000 times more quickly than scientists would expect to see. However, the extinction of species is now happening between 100 and 1,000 times more quickly than scientists would expect.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has kept a "red list" of threatened species since 1964. More than 142,000 species have been assessed and 28% are considered endangered, which means they have a very high risk of extinction. As a result, many scientists warn humans could be causing the "sixth mass extinction" on Earth.
But the threat of extinction varies between different species - it is estimated 40% of amphibians (a group made up of frogs and toads) are at risk. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has kept a "red list" of threatened species since 1964. More than 150,000 species have been assessed, and 28% are considered to be threatened with extinction.
What are countries trying to agree in Canada? The UN's biodiversity body - known as IPBES - estimates that at least one million plant and animal species are at risk of extinction.
It is hoped an agreement can be reached to stop what scientists are calling the "sixth mass extinction" event. But the threat of extinction varies enormously. For example, it is estimated that 40% of amphibians (a group that includes frogs and toads) are at risk, but 14% of birds.
Governments will try to agree a long-term action plan - to be called the post-2020 Biodiversity Framework - which has been in development for more than two years. In addition, for some groups - such as insects and fungi - not enough species have been evaluated to be able to accurately assess the risk.
Its key aim is to slow down the rate of biodiversity loss by 2030, and to make sure that by 2050, biodiversity is "valued, conserved, restored… and delivering benefits essential for all people".
It is hoped this can be achieved if 30% of land and sea areas are placed into protected areas. It was announced last month that 112 countries now support this project.
Global summit is 'last chance' for nature
What are the biggest threats to biodiversity?What are the biggest threats to biodiversity?
In 2019, a United Nations report said that harvesting, logging, hunting and fishing had all had an impact. In its most recent report, IPBES highlighted the damage done by harvesting, logging, hunting and overfishing.
Between 2001 and 2021 the world lost 437 million hectares of tree cover - 16% of which was primary forest. These are very mature forests, which have taken hundreds - if not thousands - of years to develop. The destruction of these rich environments can have a very serious impact on biodiversity. Between 2001 and 2021 the world lost 437 million hectares of tree cover - 16% of which was primary forest. The destruction of mature forests, which have taken hundreds - if not thousands - of years to develop, can have a very serious impact on biodiversity.
Biodiversity loss is occurring worldwide, but the Natural History Museum in London has found that Malta, the UK, Brazil and Australia have experienced the biggest changes - due to pollution, rapid industrialisation and over use of water. Biodiversity loss is occurring worldwide, according to the WWF.
Nature's emergency in five graphics It says recent losses have been highest in Latin America and the Caribbean, where animal populations have declined by 94% since 1970, mainly due to habitat destruction and overexploitation.
Climate change is also difficult for animals and plants to adapt to, the UN warns. The Natural History Museum in London says the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in Europe, and is in the bottom 10% globally.
It says species extinction would be lower if global warming was limited to 1.5°C. The rate of climate change is also increasingly difficult for animals and plants to cope with, the UN warns.
What kind of action is being proposed? It says that limiting global temperature rises to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels is important to prevent even greater losses of biodiversity.
The post-2020 framework has four goals: What have countries agreed to do to tackle the issue?
increased conservation At the UN's COP15 summit on biodiversity in December 2022, countries reached an "historic" agreement to protect 30% of Earth's land and seas by 2030.
The agreement - known officially as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework - aims to "halt and reverse" biodiversity's decline by 2030, and for humans to live "in harmony with nature" by 2050 to deliver "benefits essential for all people".
It has four main goals:
increased conservation of ecosystems and species
resources used as sustainably as possibleresources used as sustainably as possible
more equal sharing of natural resourcesmore equal sharing of natural resources
increased financial support for biodiversity protectionincreased financial support for biodiversity protection
It wants greater use of trees and plants to absorb carbon dioxide and balance out greenhouse gas emissions. There are 23 more specific targets for 2030, including mechanisms to sufficiently finance conservation projects. Governments and private organisations are pledging to give at least $200bn (£161bn) per year by 2030.
However, the UN also warns that planting trees on landscapes where they have never grown before could introduce invasive species, which "can have significant negative impacts on biodiversity". As part of this richer countries will increase the amount of money they give to poorer countries for biodiversity projects to $30bn per year by 2030.
Mass tree planting has to be appropriate for the landscape to avoid introducing alien species Although the 2022 framework was not legally binding, signatories committed to demonstrate progress towards meeting biodiversity targets.
In order to achieve these targets governments and private organisations are pledging to give at least £164bn ($200bn) per year by 2030 - with 5% going to developing nations. Does the UN agreement go far enough?
The most recent global analysis by the OECD estimates the average spend has been £59bn-£69bn ($78bn-91bn) per year. A study suggests the 2030 targets may already be slipping out of reach because the effects of climate change and habitat loss on animal populations have been underestimated.
Scientists analysed more than 600 different species of birds and mammals.
They found that past modelling work had largely ignored the time lags before effects were seen.
This means biodiversity loss may be more advanced than previously thought, and the report emphasises the need for urgent action.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
BiodiversityBiodiversity
NatureNature
United NationsUnited Nations
Climate change
DeforestationDeforestation