Three days ago, the United Nations issued a new assessment
regarding the sustainable use of wild species. It concluded that ⅕ of
humanity depends on wild species for income and food and ⅓ of
humanity depends on fuel wood for cooking.
The report, issued by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform
on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), is a work by “85
leading experts from the natural and social sciences, and holders of
indigenous and local knowledge, as well as 200 contributing authors,
drawing on more than 6,200 sources,” according to its media
release.
“Half of humanity benefits from and makes use of wild species, and
often without even knowing that they’re doing so,” said Marla R.
Emery, one of the co-chairs of the assessment, which was conducted
by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity
and Ecosystem Services.
“With about 50,000 wild species used through different practices,
including more than 10,000 wild species harvested directly for
human food, rural people in developing countries are most at risk
from unsustainable use, with lack of complementary alternatives
often forcing them to further exploit wild species already at risk,”
said Dr. Jean-Marc Fromentin, who is also a co-chair of the
assessment. The summary of the Report was approved on Thursday
by representatives from 139 states, including the U.S., in Bonn,
Germany.
Millions of people worldwide use wild species for their incomes. For
instance, many tourism conductors use wild species as their main
attractions. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, reservations globally
received 8 billion visitors and generated over $600 billion annually,
according to the assessment.
Many indigenous cultures highly depend on the use of wildlife.
Their communities have incorporated sustainable uses of wild
species in their cultural practices. According to the report, 15% of
global forests are managed as community resources by indigenous
peoples and local communities.
“Indigenous stewardship of biodiversity is often embedded in local
knowledge, practices and spirituality,” said Dr. Emery. “The
sustainable use of wild species is central to the identity and existence
of many indigenous peoples and local communities. These practices
and cultures are diverse, but there are common values including the
obligation to engage nature with respect, reciprocate for what is
taken, avoid waste, manage harvests and ensure the fair and
equitable distribution of benefits from wild species for community
well-being.”
“If wildlife disappears, our culture is at risk, our lifestyle and our
livelihood is at risk,” said Viviana Figueroa, an Argentine
Indigenous lawyer and activist who participated in dialogues with
the report authors as a part of her involvement with the International
Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity. “There is still a lot of work to be
done, but at least there is some recognition,” Ms. Figueroa said.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/08/climate/species-biodiversityunited-nations.html
https://ipbes.net/media_release/Sustainable_Use_Assessment_Publis
hed
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/06/climate/humans-are-speedingextinction-and-altering-the-natural-world-at-an-unprecedentedpace.html
regarding the sustainable use of wild species. It concluded that ⅕ of
humanity depends on wild species for income and food and ⅓ of
humanity depends on fuel wood for cooking.
The report, issued by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform
on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), is a work by “85
leading experts from the natural and social sciences, and holders of
indigenous and local knowledge, as well as 200 contributing authors,
drawing on more than 6,200 sources,” according to its media
release.
“Half of humanity benefits from and makes use of wild species, and
often without even knowing that they’re doing so,” said Marla R.
Emery, one of the co-chairs of the assessment, which was conducted
by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity
and Ecosystem Services.
“With about 50,000 wild species used through different practices,
including more than 10,000 wild species harvested directly for
human food, rural people in developing countries are most at risk
from unsustainable use, with lack of complementary alternatives
often forcing them to further exploit wild species already at risk,”
said Dr. Jean-Marc Fromentin, who is also a co-chair of the
assessment. The summary of the Report was approved on Thursday
by representatives from 139 states, including the U.S., in Bonn,
Germany.
Millions of people worldwide use wild species for their incomes. For
instance, many tourism conductors use wild species as their main
attractions. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, reservations globally
received 8 billion visitors and generated over $600 billion annually,
according to the assessment.
Many indigenous cultures highly depend on the use of wildlife.
Their communities have incorporated sustainable uses of wild
species in their cultural practices. According to the report, 15% of
global forests are managed as community resources by indigenous
peoples and local communities.
“Indigenous stewardship of biodiversity is often embedded in local
knowledge, practices and spirituality,” said Dr. Emery. “The
sustainable use of wild species is central to the identity and existence
of many indigenous peoples and local communities. These practices
and cultures are diverse, but there are common values including the
obligation to engage nature with respect, reciprocate for what is
taken, avoid waste, manage harvests and ensure the fair and
equitable distribution of benefits from wild species for community
well-being.”
“If wildlife disappears, our culture is at risk, our lifestyle and our
livelihood is at risk,” said Viviana Figueroa, an Argentine
Indigenous lawyer and activist who participated in dialogues with
the report authors as a part of her involvement with the International
Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity. “There is still a lot of work to be
done, but at least there is some recognition,” Ms. Figueroa said.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/08/climate/species-biodiversityunited-nations.html
https://ipbes.net/media_release/Sustainable_Use_Assessment_Publis
hed
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/06/climate/humans-are-speedingextinction-and-altering-the-natural-world-at-an-unprecedentedpace.html
