By Chioma Obinagwam
Biodiversity and it’s essence was commemorated on Monday, May 22. Beyond the celebration, lies the need to reflect on the actions and inactions of man in altering the natural ecosystem which is gradually thinning biodiversity.
What is biodiversity?
Also known as biological diversity, is the variety of animals, plants, insects and microorganisms that live in our world. They are important to because they live and work together in ecosystems to maintain and support life on earth, and exist in delicate balance.
According to a UN report, it stated that biodiversity includes genetic differences within each species.
It added that in a delicate balance, biodiversity reflects differences between varieties of crops and breeds of livestock as well as the variety of such ecosystems as lakes, forests, deserts, and agricultural landscapes, that host myriad interactions among their human, plant, and animal guests.
Why we should act urgently
Reacting to the state of biodiversity today, the UNESCO Director General said, “We have barely three years left to preserve the hospitality of our world and the diversity of the species that inhabit it.
Confiance News further learnt from a tweet by UNESCO that 1 million are at risk of extinction.
“Acting to address biodiversity loss has never been more urgent.
Out of the 8M species listed on the planet, 1M are already threatened by extinction,” UNESCO decried.
This means 1 in 8 animal or plant species will disappear soon.
UN’s Goodwill Ambassador added: “The earth’s biodiversity—its flora, fauna and microorganisms—provides the bedrock upon which human existence emerged and on which we now fully depend.”
The UN Secretary General, António Guterres asserts: “Human actions are devastating every corner of the world. One million species are at risk of extinction.”
Can we preserve and restore biodiversity?
Preventing further loss of biodiversity, in addition to preserving it, is critical to human existence and survival, hence, the international community has taken swift steps to ensure that biological diversity thrives.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted in 2022, saw all parties committing to setting national targets to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity, which was ratified by 196 countries.
Confiance News also gathered that the Convention on Biological Diversity is the international legal instrument for the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
According to a tweep, ForcesofNatur3, preserving biodiversity can be achieved through collaborative efforts of governments.
She said, “This must be addressed with all governments worldwide!
Laws and redirection of funds must be made in every country to radically change human behaviours relating to our planetary environment and all its inhabitants.”
Moreover, findings by Confiance News showed that 80 percent of the achievements made in the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), could be erroded if the world continues to pay lip service to biodiversity. Hence, the need for urgent action on it.
