| |
|
|
Deserts,
rainforests, oceans or wetlands – our ecosystems provide essential
services to us without which our civilisation could not exist |
Five
years ago UN President Kofi Annan called for the Millennium Ecosystem
Assessment – an analysis of the state of the world’s ecosystems
and of the consequences their change will have for us. Nearly 1400 experts
from across the world came together to compile and verify the report.
Living
Beyond our Means
At the heart of this
assessment is a stark warning. Humans are putting such a strain on the
natural functions of the Earth that it’s ability to sustain future
generations can no longer be taken for granted.
Nearly two thirds
of the services that ecosystems provide to humankind are in decline worldwide.
The benefits reaped by us from our engineering of the planet have depleted
our natural capital assets. We need to make choices to protect these assets
and recognise the true value of nature, both economically and spiritually.
Key
Messages
- Everyone in the
world depends on nature and ecosystem services for a decent, healthy
and secure life.
- Humans have made
unprecedented changes to ecosystems in recent decades to meet growing
demands for food, fresh water, fibre and energy.
- These changes
have helped to improve the lives of billions, but at the same time they
weakened nature’s ability to deliver other key services such as
purification of air and water, protection from disasters and the provision
of medicines.
- Among the outstanding
problems identified by this assessment are:
- The dire state
of many of the world’s fish stocks
- The intense
vulnerability of the 2 billion people living in dry regions to the
loss of ecosystem services including water supply, and
- The growing
threat to ecosystems from climate change and nutrient pollution
- Human activities
have taken the planet to the edge of a massive wave of species extinctions,
further threatening our well being.
 The
loss of ecosystem services is a significant barrier to the achievement
of the Millennium Development Goals to reduce poverty, hunger and disease.- The pressures
on ecosystems will increase globally in coming decades, unless human
attitudes and actions change.
- Measures to conserve
natural resources are more likely to succeed if local communities are
given ownership of them, share the benefits and are involved in decisions.
- Even today’s
technology and knowledge can reduce considerably the human impact on
ecosystems. They are unlikely to be deployed fully, however, until ecosystem
services cease to be perceived as free and limitless, and their full
value is taken into account.
- Better protection
of natural assets will require coordinated efforts across all sections
of government, business and international institutions. The productivity
of ecosystems depends on policy choices on investment, trade, subsidy,
taxation, and regulation, among others.
What
can we do?
Change
the economic background to decision-making
- Include the value
of ecosystem services,
- Remove subsidies
that cause harm to people and the environment,
- Reward land-owners
for managing their land for conservation and
- Establish market
mechanisms such as carbon trading and salinity credits to reduce pollution.
Improve policy,
planning and management
Integrate all areas
of government and industry and focus decision making on the protection
of our ecosystem,
Include ecosystem
protection in all planning decisions,
- Recognise local
ownership of natural resources,
- Establish additional
protected areas and provide greater management support,
- Use all available
ecosystem knowledge in decision making.
Influence
individual behaviour
- Provide public
education about ecosystem services and how to reduce their consumption,
- Establish certification
to allow people to make informed buying choices,
- Give people information
about ecosystems and decisions affecting their use
Develop and
use environment-friendly technology
- Invest in agricultural
science and technology,
- Restore degraded
ecosystems, and
- Promote energy
efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gases.
What does the Foundation for National Parks Do?
- Establish new
protected areas,
- Provide funds
for the protection of existing protected areas and the plants and animals
they contain,
- Support the restoration
of threatened ecosystems,
- Provide information
and education to the public on threatened ecosystems and the need for
their protection.
Acknowledgement:
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment www.millenniumassessment.org
 |
Mangroves
are important nurseries for fish and mitigate the effects of erosion
and tsunamis. Mangroves are being cleared for development, including
fish farms, and are polluted by sediment and nutrient run-off from
poor farming practices. |
Would
you like to give us some feedback on this article? Contact
the PAWS Team
Top
of page 
|
