The relationships between all plants and animals make the famous “network of life”, which can be thought of as a safety net that helps ensure the survival and well-being of all living things on this planet, including humans.
New research shows the benefits wild animals bring to our daily lives and they are vital for people are highly underrepresented in scientific and political debates. This omission could harm the achievement of global conservation goals, the researchers explain.
5 examples
- Nature gives us what we need. Food, clean air and water are the foundations of life, and Earth’s biodiversity has provided civilizations with the essentials we need to survive on this planet.
- Nature protects us. Some of the most important functions of biodiversity are defensive. Our ecosystems help regulate our climate and protect us from disease outbreaks such as Covid-19. You may already know that forests are important carbon sinks and essential to combating the climate crisis, but oceans play an important role too.
- Nature makes things flow. Nitrogen and phosphorus are the two primary biological nutrients that all life on Earth requires and that circulate through ecosystems. Human activity has disrupted the Earth’s natural nutrient cycle so profoundly that we have degraded soils and created dead zones, especially those in water.
- Nature nourishes our being. As many indigenous peoples know, we are part of nature and not separate from it. The psychological benefits of nature are widely documented.
- Nature could solve future problems. Scientific knowledge continues to grow and evolve and it is well known how biodiversity has contributed and continues to contribute to important medical advances.
The study, published today in the first issue of Nature Reviews Biodiversityshows that although the concept of Nature’s Contributions to Man (NCP) is well established in science, business and policy often assume that Protecting a habitat or ecosystem will automatically preserve the benefits on which people depend. This assumption ignores the importance of wild species and the numerous functions they perform.
Of the 18 categories of Nature’s Contributions to Man (NCP) defined by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biological Diversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)At least twelve have been shown to be directly supported by wildlife.
These range from material benefits, such as food and livelihoods directly dependent on species such as fishing or hunting, to intangible values such as ecotourism, medicinal use and a sense of identity or well-being.
Wildlife also plays a crucial role in regulating ecosystemssuch as the control of prey populations, plant pollination, seed dispersal and reducing the risk of diseases from animals such as sharks, bats, monkeys and vultures. All this is illustrated in a report accompanying the document, entitled Natural technicians.
Latest Living Planet Report showed that monitored vertebrate populations have declined by an average of 73% since 1970. These figures demonstrate a loss of genetic diversity, weakening the resilience of wildlife to climate change, disease and habitat loss.. A declining number of animals or plants can change entire ecosystems, with far-reaching consequences for people and economies.”
“If people do not recognize the full spectrum of benefits that wild animals bring to our society, including those that are sometimes ‘invisible’, they may overlook the necessary actions to protect them.. “We must consider the role that wildlife plays in ecosystems and the impact of their decline on human well-being in conservation policy and management,” Chaplin-Kramer added.
A well-known example of the impact of species loss is the case of North American sea otters.
The fur trade in the 19th century decimated their populationwhich one caused a sea urchin explosionwhich one the kelp forests destroyed. This had serious consequences for fish populationslas local fishing communities and coastal ecosystems, making the area more vulnerable to storms and erosion and reducing the resources available to indigenous communities dependent on the algae.
The long-term loss of wildlife will lead to a decline in their contribution to humans and ultimately harm their well-being.. This is especially true for indigenous peoples and communities that rely heavily on wildlife for their livelihoods. Wildlife can also support local ecotourism businesses and jobs.
Wildlife has been the subject of artwork and music for thousands of years, and hundreds of products and services are inspired by nature’s efficient systems that have evolved over billions of years. In fact, many indigenous communities view animals as important teachers or even family.
The value of wildlife goes beyond physical measures such as a kilo of meat or a ton of stored carbon. It is spiritual and experiences with wild animals can give people great pleasure and connection with nature.
Global Biodiversity Framework Kunming Montreal
The investigation requires a Greater recognition of wildlife contributions to global biodiversity policy like him Global Biodiversity Framework Kunming Montreal. By connecting wildlife with the benefits it providespolicymakers and administrators of the wildlife They can provide greater support for conservation efforts and ensure that these benefits continue.
The study also highlights the existence of gaps in large-scale monitoring and modelinghighlighting that advances in satellite technology, artificial intelligence, environmental DNA, acoustic sensing and citizen science can improve information and data and ensure efficient use of conservation resources. However, these advances require a larger financial injection.
Two years have passed since the adoption of the Global biodiversity framework j We still lack a clear route to mobilize the resources needed for its implementation.
In the resumed session of the COP16 in Rome next month, Parties must remember the enormous ‘invisible’ benefits of wildlife that sustain our societiesj the risks we face if the biodiversity crisis is not addressed. Equally urgent is agreement on a financial package that meets countries’ immediate needs to secure these benefits for current and future generations..