Nature's decline goes too fast

Worldwide, approximately 1 million species are threatened with extinction. Current efforts are insufficient to halt the decline of nature. This is the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) in its Global Assessment published on 6 May 2019. The report examines the causes for the loss of biodiversity, the consequences for people worldwide, and options to reverse the current trend of biodiversity loss. The report involved some 150 international experts from 50 countries.

International targets out of reach

Only four of the 20 international targets for nature protection (the Aichibiodiversity targets for 2020) are likely to be met, according to the report. The main reasons for this are land-use change, species exploitation, climate change, environmental pollution and invasive species (species that do not originate in a particular area).

Poor and vulnerable target groups

Further degradation of nature will undermine goals in the areas of poverty, hunger, health, water, cities, climate, oceans and land use. 

Bridge between science and policy

In the Netherlands, 132 IPBES Member States (including the Netherlands) negotiated the report at the IPBES plenary meeting in Paris at the beginning of May. The report was accepted there and a summary for policymakers was drawn up. The report is the first global biodiversity assessment since 2005. It is now up to countries, the business community and social parties around the world to translate the insights from this report into action and policy.

Source: Wageningen University & Research