Introduction in Biodiversity
Content
What is Biodiversity?
Why do we need to protect Biodiversity?
What is happening to Global Biodiversity?
What is the Convention on Biological Diversity?
What is the 2010 deadline?
What is happening to European Biodiversity?
Why make a declaration to the European Commission on Biodiversity?
What is Biodiversity?
"Biodiversity" means the variety among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.
(Convention on Biological Diversity)
back to content
Why do we need to protect Biodiversity?
• Environmental
Biodiversity is fundamental for the way ecosystems provide us with various services. Services like fresh water, clean air, food and shelter are just a few things on which humans depend for a healthy living. Healthy ecosystems also give us bigger services such as protection from floods and disease control.
Ecosystem ‘goods’ include food, medicinal plants, construction materials, tourism and recreation, and wild genes for domestic plants and animals. (www.iucn.org)
The number and abundance of a particular species are also important for the ecosystem services to be delivered.
Often we have realized the importance of these ecosystem services when it was too late. For example a lot of natural floodplains in Europe have been disrupted and this is one of the main reason why yearly flooding occurs today.
The way the resilience of our nature and our society is maintained will to a large extent be determined by how we manage the maintenance of ecosystem functions and their distribution. (Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director, European Environment Agency)
• Ethical
We have a huge responsibility of protecting and not compromising biodiversity. We have to make sure that by meeting the needs of the present we do not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs from the ecosystem services.
• Emotional
Biodiversity helps support our mental and physical well-being. It also offers solace and research has proved that greener towns and cities have increased social cohesion and lower crime. A green environment in the neighborhood also encourages the individual to exercise more regularly.
• Economical
Without biodiversity we would not be able to sustain our economy. Unfortunately, for many the relationship between the two is not recognized enough and it is often underestimated. The ecosystem, if left in a healthy condition, can protect us from many threats that can have a direct impact on our economy. The financial cost resulting from this damage usually far outweighs any initial short-term financial gains obtained by the few individuals who damaged the environment itself.
(The European Union’s Biodiversity Action Plan)
back to content
What is happening to Global Biodiversity?
Almost all of earth’s ecosystems have been extensively affected by the impact of man and this damage to our ecosystems does not seem to be slowing down. Biodiversity is being lost at a rate 1000 times faster than normal. Climate change, the destruction of entire ecosystems for development, invasive species, pesticides and intensive agriculture are some of the threats having already a huge toll on biodiversity. The rate of extinction of species is one of the worst since the extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago. (www.iucn.org)
 Changes in Biodiversity have been more rapid in the past 50 years than at any other time since humans have been around. The degradation of biodiversity has also led to increased poverty of some social groups while other groups/countries have benefited financially. Some actions have been taken to conserve biodiversity and indeed there have been success stories, like the Natura 2000 sites. In the absence of action taken by NGOs, communities, some governments and others biodiversity would be worse off today. However more positive work needs to be done until we reach a point where biodiversity loss is halted and restored
(Millenium Ecosystem Assesment: Ecosystems and Human Well Being: Biodiversity Synthesis)
What is the Convention on Biological Diversity?
In 1988, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) brought together a group of experts to research on the need of an international convention on Biological diversity. Soon, in 1989 a group if experts and legal advisors was established to develop an international legal instrument for the protection of biodiversity and its sustainable use. The experts were also to consider the divide between developed and developing countries in defining the sharing of costs and benefits. By 1991 the group had become known as the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee. The Convention was opened for signature on the 5th June 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (the Rio "Earth Summit"). The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international legally-binding treaty with three main goals: conservation of biodiversity; sustainable use of biodiversity; fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. Its overall objective is to encourage actions which will lead to a sustainable future.
(Convention on Biological Diversity, Fact Sheet)
To find more information on the Convention on Biological Diversity please proceed to here
back to content
What is the 2010 deadline?
When it comes to policy and the implementation of policy, specific targets are essential for a successful story. In 2001 European heads of state were the first to declare their intention of halting biodiversity loss by 2010. One year later the Convention on Biological Diversity 6th Conference of Parties took the decision to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on earth. This target was reconfirmed in the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002. In 2004 various organizations joined under the Countdown 2010 initiative at the stakeholder conference “Sustaining Livelihoods and Biodiversity: Attaining the 2010 Target in the European Biodiversity Strategy” in Malahide, Ireland. Their aim was to ensure that all governments and members of civil society, at every level, take the necessary actions to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010. In advance of the High-level Event on the Millennium Development Goals at the UN Headquarters in New York on September 25 2008, a new target was added to one of the goals, that to include the aim to "significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010".
 The United Nations also has declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity with the aim of increasing understanding of the vital role that biodiversity plays in sustaining life on Earth. For more information check out this link
Although some losses of habitats in temperate areas of the world have slowed down, in the tropical areas the rates of destruction are still high. The Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO) series is a periodic report prepared by the Secretariat of the CBD that analyses the steps being taken by the international community to implement the Convention and to reach the 2010 Biodiversity Target. During the People’s World Conference On Climate Change and Mother Earth on the 20th of April 2010 in Cochabamba, Bolivia, Mr Ahmed Djoghlaf (executive secretary of the convention on Biological Diversity) stated that:
‘…the international community has failed to deliver on its promise to reduce the loss of biodiversity by 2010. The third edition of Global Biodiversity Outlook, to be released next month, draws from the over 120 fourth national reports received so far from the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The report demonstrates that the 2010 Target has not been met. We continue indeed to lose biodiversity at an unprecedented rate.’
The worrying results on biodiversity will be discussed during the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 10) in Nagoya, Japan and in the United Nations General Assembly. Next October 2010 in Nagoya will be the moment where all of the world needs to turn the currently bad state of biodiversity into a good direction.
back to content
What is happening to European Biodiversity?
Although Europe was indeed one of the first to embrace the ambitious target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010 the European leaders have admitted that the target has not been achieved.
When one looks at the 26 internationally agreed biodiversity indicators it shows that there has been some progress in halting the biodiversity loss but the status of most species and habitats in Europe is still worrying. The ‘Progress towards the European 2010 biodiversity target’ report by the European Environment Agency makes it clear that the overall rise of extinction of wildlife has probably increased.
(European Environment Agency)
According to the commission, this was the result of an incomplete implementation of nature protection laws and insufficient integration of extinction considerations into other policies, despite the existence of an EU biodiversity action plan. (www.euobserver.com)
After the failure of the 2010 deadline to halt biodiversity loss last month the EU Environment Ministers agreed on a new EU vision and target for biodiversity for the post-2010 period. The vision and target were subsequently endorsed by the European Council.
The new vision calls on the EU to halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services by 2020 - and not just halting the loss either, but also wherever possible, restoring. And at the same time, stepping up the EU contribution at a global level. (Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for Environment)
The European ministers have requested that the European Commission submit a detailed plan for a post-2010 biodiversity strategy. The World Wide Fund has stated that unless Biodiversity is considered in key cross cutting policies and strategies of the European Union until the 2020 target it will all be just lip service.
(www.euobserver.com)
Check out the EU biodiversity Action Plan here
Also check out the Biodiversity campaign website of the EU
To join the EU biodiversity campaign go here
back to content
Why make a declaration to the European Commission on Biodiversity?
The 2010 deadline to stop Biodiversity loss in Europe has failed. This target has been extended until 2020 but until that date more species might become extinct or endangered. Each single species we lose is a tragic loss.
 The youth of today have to help in the challenge to conserve biodiversity because in a few years time our leaders will not be around and if our biodiversity continues to be depleted we will be the ones affected by the consequences.
One of the biggest problems in Europe relating to biodiversity is ignorance. A recent Eurobarometer survey published by the European Commission has shown that many Europeans do not understand what is meant by biodiversity and do not feel well informed about biodiversity loss. The Youth therefore play a pivotal role in changing this trend and the declaration will not only be spread to politicians but also to media all over Europe. Thus more people will become aware of the serious situation and the need for Europeans to conserve biodiversity. Making policy is essential but if the people are not aware of why those policies are in place, change in relation to biodiversity issues will come around very slowly. Check out this link for more information
We do not want to make as a decorative statement. We want to give a formal statement with specific policy criticisms that are constructive and proposals that look to the future and that can help for a better EU policy on Biodiversity. We believe that 150 young people brought together from all the corners of Europe can when provided with facts and through constructive discussions, come up with progressive ideas for the safeguarding of European biodiversity.
back to content
photos by Bert Willaert
| 
