Wild Species Central to Human Survival, New IPBES Report Offers Options for their Sustainable Use — Global Issues
Nairobi, July 8 (IPS) – Fifty thousand species of wildlife feed the needs of billions of people worldwide, providing food, cosmetics, shelter, clothing, medicine and inspiration. But today, a million species of plants and animals face extinction with far-reaching consequences, including threats to economies, food security and livelihoods.
Amid the ongoing global biodiversity crisis, a new report by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) on July 8, 2022, providing insights, analysis and tools to establish more sustainable use of wild plants, animals, fungi and algae around the world.
The IPBES assessment report on sustainable use of wild species builds directly on the Global Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, which warns the world that one million plant and animal species face extinction, many in over many decades.
Adopted this week by representatives of the 139 member countries of IPBES in Bonn, Germany, the report is the culmination of four years of work by 85 leading experts from every region of the world to help decision-makers address the unsustainable use of wild species.
Regarding the key findings, Professor John Donaldson from South Africa, who co-chaired the Review with Dr Jean-Marc Fromentin from France and Dr Marla R Emery (US/Norway), said that “at least 50,000 wild species are present in the wild”. Wild animals are used through a variety of activities, including more than 10,000 wild species that are harvested directly for human food. An estimated 70% of the world’s poor live directly on wildlife.
“One in five people depend on wild plants, algae and fungi for food and income; 2.4 billion rely on firewood for cooking; and about 90% of the 120 million people engaged in fisheries are supported by small-scale fishing”.
The report found that rural populations in developing countries are most at risk from unsustainable use, with the lack of complementary alternatives often forcing them to exploit more deeply the species. Wild was at risk.
Collectively, wild tree species account for two-thirds of the global industrial roundwood. The trade in wild plants, algae, and fungi is a multi-billion dollar industry. Even the unexploited use of wild species is big business.
Before COVID, wildlife-based tourism was one of the main reasons protected areas globally welcomed 8 billion visitors and generated US$600 billion annually.
Ana Maria Hernandez Salgar, President of IPBES, said the report taps different systems of knowledge for the dialogue on sustainable use of wild species.
“We cannot talk about the intrinsic relationship between man and nature if we do not incorporate the sustainable use of wildlife as one of the biggest challenges we face. We must reduce overexploitation of wild species and their unsustainability,” said Salgar.
To provide the evidence and science needed to ensure sustainability, Fromentin said the report identifies five broad types of practices in the use of wild species: fishing, gathering, logging, harvesting, and harvesting. terrestrial animal planning, including hunting and, ultimately, non-exploiting activities.
Alongside each practice, the authors then examined specific uses such as food and feed, materials, medicine, energy and recreation, providing a detailed analysis of each. trend over the past 20 years.
The survey found that, overall, the use of wild species has increased, but the sustainability of use varies. For example, global estimates confirm that approximately 34% of marine wild fish stocks are overfished and 66% are fished within biologically sustainable levels.
The survival of an estimated 12% of wild tree species is threatened by unsustainable logging. Several groups of plants, especially cacti, cinnabar and orchids, are threatened by mostly unsustainable harvesting. Unsustainable hunting is a threat to 1,341 wild mammal species.
Furthermore, Emery says that the sustainable use of wild species has and can make an even more significant contribution to the implementation of the UN SDGs. She selected 12 SDGs, including ending hunger, sustainable life on the planet, and sustainable life on earth, terrestrial and aquatic areas.
Emery highlights what is currently recognized as the potential role of wild species in meeting the SDGs and how it pales in comparison to a significant still untapped contribution.
“Among the environmental drivers, climate change, pollution and invasive alien species have particularly affected the abundance and distribution of wild species, and this affects the abundance and distribution of wildlife,” says Emery. impact on their sustainability, and thus their ability to contribute to human life.
The report shows that global wildlife trade has increased dramatically without effective regulation across supply chains – from local to international. The global wildlife trade generally increases pressure on wild species, leading to unsustainable use and sometimes leading to a decline in wild populations – such as the fin trade fat.
The illegal wildlife trade accounts for the third largest proportion of illegal trade, with an estimated annual value of $199 billion. Timber and fish account for the largest volume and value in the illegal wildlife trade.
To address a global biodiversity crisis that is growing more urgent with each passing day, Fromentin says the report addresses seven key factors that have the potential to significantly promote the sustainable use of wild species. . These include inclusive and participatory policy choices, recognition and support of many forms of knowledge, and policy tools and tools that ensure equitable allocation of costs and benefits. fair and reasonable.
It further emphasizes the need for context-specific policies for wildlife monitoring and practices. These policy instruments need to be unified at the international, national, regional and local levels and maintain consistency and coherence with international obligations while taking into account common rules and standards. rate. Strong institutions, including customary institutions, should support them.
In conclusion, the report’s authors consider a range of possible future scenarios for the use of wild species. Affirming that climate change, growing demand and technological advancements, which make many mining operations more efficient, are likely to pose significant challenges to the sustainable use of future.
To address the identified challenges, the report recommends actions consistent with five broad practices in the use of wild species. For example fishing, recommended actions include reducing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, preventing harmful financial subsidies, and supporting small-scale fisheries.
The timing of the report is critical as world leaders move closer to agreeing on a new global biodiversity framework at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference in December 2022. , is seen as the path to a bold new agreement on nature.
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