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WWF today welcomed the long overdue recognition of biodiversity as a key development issue, in a major report released today at the 9th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Bonn, Germany.
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) , initiated by CBD host government Germany and the G8 Environment Ministers and supported by European Commission, has been likened to the equivalent for biodiversity of the key Stern report which transformed the climate change debate by clearly outlining adverse consequences to the world economy.
“Biodiversity is not just a green issue – it is the life support system of our planet providing food, fuel, fibre, medicines and services such as pollination, soil fertility and clean water, said Gordon Shepherd, WWF International’s Director of International Policy.
“We have to integrate biodiversity in all policies. The loss of biodiversity is now affecting the economy of our countries through the depletion of fish stocks in our oceans through overfishing and illegal fishing to agricultural activities polluting river basins.”
“The TEEB report recognises the economic value of biodiversity both to our global economy and for the millions of people directly dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods.”
WWF’s report 2010 and Beyond: Rising to the Biodiversity Challenge, released as the CBD commenced, revealed that biodiversity has declined by more than a quarter in the last 35 years andd highlighted the inequitable burden placed by developed countries on the world’s biodiversity through unsustainable production and consumption.
Another WWF report released at the CBD estimated that the value of goods and services provided by our oceans is $US 21 trillion, with only 0.5 per cent of ocean areas within protected areas.
“The loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services is undermining efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and is reducing nature’s natural resilience to adapt to the impacts of climate change,” said Shepherd.
