In case you missed it, The Intergovernmental Science-policy
Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, IPBES, a panel of
international scientists convened by the UN, has released a report that
declares that species are declining at an unprecedented rate in human history.
Some declarations from the report which was formed by 450
scientists over three years, include:
“Biodiversity
is declining globally at unprecedented rates.”
“Species extinction is
accelerating, with grave impacts on human populations around the world.”
“We are eroding the very
foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of
life worldwide.”
“The essential, interconnected
web of life on Earth is getting smaller and increasingly frayed. This loss is a
direct result of human activity.”
“Three-quarters of the land-based
environment and about 66% of the marine environment have been significantly
altered by human actions.”
“Urban areas have more than
doubled since 1992.”
In urban areas,
the IPBES report highlights, among others: promotion of nature-based solutions;
increasing access to urban services and a healthy urban environment for
low-income communities; improving access to green spaces; sustainable
production and consumption and ecological connectivity within urban spaces,
particularly with native species.
How are we doing in Australia?
“PM Morrison delivers a one
finger salute to the IPBES report on the global (and Australian) biodiversity
crisis” – Professor of International Law, Tim Stephens, University of Sydney.
“Since settlement, hundreds of
species have become extinct in Australia, including at least 50 bird and
mammal, 4 frog and more than 60 plant species. It is likely that other species
have disappeared too, without our knowledge. More than 310 species of native
animals and over 1180 species of native plants are at risk of disappearing
forever.” – Australian Government Department of Environment and Energy. (Many
ecologists suggest this statement highly UNDERESTIMATES the situation)
“Accelerating land clearing is increasing bushfires and droughts and
compounding Australia’s extinction crisis.” – Ecological Society of Australia.
Australia is the
only developed nation in the top ten worst countries for land clearing!
And in Baw Baw?
We could be doing
better!
Further reading
One million species
at risk of extinction, UN report warns, and we are mostly to blame – ABC News.
Media Release:
Nature’s Dangerous Decline ‘Unprecedented’; Species Extinction Rates
‘Accelerating’ – IPBES.
'Not adequate':
experts rate Australian political response to extinction crisis – The Guardian.
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