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| What is biodiversity and how are we protecting it? | What is biodiversity and how are we protecting it? |
| (6 months later) | |
| Amur leopards are one of the most endangered species in the world | Amur leopards are one of the most endangered species in the world |
| Amur leopards are one of the most endangered species in the world | |
| Targets to reverse the decline of biodiversity by 2030 may be missed without urgent action, according to a new report. | Targets to reverse the decline of biodiversity by 2030 may be missed without urgent action, according to a new report. |
| This goal was a key part of the UN global summit on biodiversity held in December 2022. | This goal was a key part of the UN global summit on biodiversity held in December 2022. |
| Nearly a third of all monitored species are currently endangered due to human activities. | 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 necessary for survival, external - including fresh water, food, and medicines. | |
| However, humans cannot get these benefits from individual species - a rich variety of animals and plants must work together. | However, humans cannot get these benefits from individual species - a rich variety of animals and plants must work together. |
| Plants are also very important for improving the physical environment: cleaning the air, limiting rising temperatures and providing protection against climate change. | 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 Philippines | Mangroves provide protection against rising sea levels for towns in the Philippines |
| Mangroves provide protection against rising sea levels for towns in the Philippines | |
| 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. |
| 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 | Biodiversity: Why the nature crisis matters, in five graphics |
| 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, external. | |
| As a result, many scientists warn humans could be causing the "sixth mass extinction" on Earth. | As a result, many scientists warn humans could be causing the "sixth mass extinction" on Earth. |
| The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has kept a "red list", external of threatened species since 1964. More than 150,000 species have been assessed, and 28% are considered to be threatened with extinction. | |
| The UN's biodiversity body - known as IPBES, external - estimates that at least one million plant and animal species are at risk of extinction. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| In addition, for some groups - such as insects and fungi - not enough species have been evaluated to be able to accurately assess the risk. | In addition, for some groups - such as insects and fungi - not enough species have been evaluated to be able to accurately assess the risk. |
| What are the biggest threats to biodiversity? | What are the biggest threats to biodiversity? |
| In its most recent report, IPBES, external highlighted the damage done by harvesting, logging, hunting and overfishing. | |
| Between 2001 and 2021 the world lost 437 million hectares of tree cover, external - 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, external. | |
| Biodiversity loss is occurring worldwide, according to the WWF, external. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| The Natural History Museum in London, external says the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in Europe, and is in the bottom 10% globally. | |
| The rate of climate change is also increasingly difficult for animals and plants to cope with, external, the UN warns. | |
| It says that limiting global temperature rises to 1.5°C, external above preindustrial levels is important to prevent even greater losses of biodiversity. | |
| What have countries agreed to do to tackle the issue? | What have countries agreed to do to tackle the issue? |
| 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. | 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, external - 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, external". | |
| It has four main goals: | It has four main goals: |
| increased conservation of ecosystems and species | increased conservation of ecosystems and species |
| increased conservation of ecosystems and species | |
| resources used as sustainably as possible | resources used as sustainably as possible |
| resources used as sustainably as possible | |
| more equal sharing of natural resources | more equal sharing of natural resources |
| more equal sharing of natural resources | |
| increased financial support for biodiversity protection | increased financial support for biodiversity protection |
| increased financial support for biodiversity protection | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Although the 2022 framework was not legally binding, external, signatories committed to demonstrate progress towards meeting biodiversity targets. | |
| Does the UN agreement go far enough? | Does the UN agreement go far enough? |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | This means biodiversity loss may be more advanced than previously thought, and the report emphasises the need for urgent action. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Biodiversity | Biodiversity |
| Nature | Nature |
| United Nations | United Nations |
| Climate | Climate |
| Deforestation | Deforestation |