11 January 2010 | Luca Del Buono
2010 Year of Biodiversity, Biodiversity, Climate Change, COP16, Food and agriculture, Forestry and wood products, Water, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America

 

The UN will launch the beginning of its International Year of Biodiversity in Berlin later today with stark warnings of mass global extinction for all species on par with an asteroid collision.

During the 2002 Earth Summit in Johannesburg, governments agreed to significantly reduce the rate of biological diversity loss by 2010.

Eight years later, however, the pledge has not been met and the UN has expressed concerns that the loss of species will affect human life drastically.

It is believed the outward expansion of modern cities and unsustainable agriculture has been major contributors to the destruction of ecosystems and in some cases, the eradication of some species altogether.

The UN states the disappearance of wetlands and forests eliminates natural " free services" provided by many flora and fauna such as air and water filtration and shelter.

Many biologists believe the crisis is so dire that it has lead to the battle against extinction of all species, the devastation said to be similar to the dinosaur - wiping asteroid collisions.

"We are facing an extinction crisis," claims Jane Smart, Director of the biodiversity conservation group with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

"The loss of this beautiful and complex natural diversity that underpins all life on the planet is a serious threat to humankind now and in the future."

It is expected government leaders and dignitaries will present at today's launch in Berlin and a special video message from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will be aired stating the failure to protect biodiversity "should be a wake-up call" and the "business as usual" approach is not a successful method towards conservation.

 

Author: Diva Rodriguez |Climate Action

Image credits: aussiegall/Flickr; moonjazz/Flickr

blog comments powered by Disqus