2010, Celebrating Biodiversity

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16 January 2010

The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity to highlight the threat of a global extinction crisis. In its report, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) shows that, among the mammals, amphibians, birds, reptiles, fish, invertebrates and plants, between 12 to 70 percent of the species may soon be extinct.

It is also estimated that human activity has accelerated the rate of species extinction by around 1000 times. At this rate, most of our beautiful natural environment will be wiped out within the next decades. We need to act quickly!

Among its recommendations, IUCN mentions the importance of agreeing on international policies for a sustainable exploitation of biological resources. Trade-related measures play an important role in dealing with issues such as over-fishing, logging, harvesting and the increase in patenting of life forms and natural products. Although governments and businesses play a crucial role, you can also act to maintain biodiversity. Go the links below to see how you can get involved.

Links:
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): www.cbd.int/2010/welcome/
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): www.iucn.org
Blog on Singapore Biodiversity: http://iyb2010singapore.blogspot.com/
ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity: http://www.aseanbiodiversity.org/

The information below is taken from http://www.countdown2010.net

Facts and Figures
  • The abundance of species has declined by 40% between 1970 and 2000. Species present in rivers, lakes and marshlands have declined by 50%.
  • Declines are alarming in amphibians, mammals, birds in agricultural lands, corals and commonly harvested fish species.
  • In the North Atlantic, fish have declined by 66% in the last 50 years.
  • Since 2000, 6 million hectares of primary forest have been lost each year.
  • In the Caribbean region, hard coral cover has declined from 50% to 10% in the last three decades.
  • 35% of mangroves have been lost in just 20 years.
  • The value of global ecosystem services is estimated at $16-$64 trillion.
What are the threats to biodiversity?
  • 99% of threatened species are at risk from human activities.
  • Habitat loss and degradation are the leading threats. They affect 86% of all threatened birds, 86% of the threatened mammals assessed and 88% of the threatened amphibians.
  • Introductions of alien species. Some of the worst include cats and rats, green crabs, zebra mussels, the African tulip tree and the brown tree snake. Introductions of alien species can happen deliberately or unintentionally, for example, by organisms “hitch-hiking” in containers, ships, cars or soil.
  • Over-exploitation. Resource extraction, hunting, and fishing for food, pets, and medicine threatens many species.
  • Pollution and diseases.
  • Human-induced climate change is increasingly recognized as a crucial threat. Climate change is altering migratory species patterns, causing coral bleaching, etc.