Magnitude and Overview of Global Biodiversity Loss By Jeffrey A. McNeely Chief Scientist IUCN – The World Conservation Union [email protected] Presented to.

Magnitude and Overview of Global Biodiversity Loss

ByJeffrey A. McNeely

Chief ScientistIUCN – The World Conservation Union

[email protected]

Presented toBiodiversity and Agriculture Symposium

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic31 May 2006

Ancient extinctions

• Ordovician: 450 million years ago. Some animal groups lose half their species.

• Devonian: 374 million years ago. Up to 70% of all species disappear.• Permian: 251 million years ago. 95% of all marine life and 70% of land

animals become extinct.• Triassic: 201 million years ago. Up to a quarter of all life dies.• Cretaceous: 65 million years ago. 85% of all species are wiped out,

including the dinosaurs.

These ancientThese ancient extinctions were caused by natural phenomena

For the next 60 million years, diverse forms of life populated our planet

Our early ancestors were part of the African savanna ecosystem.

But once our ancestors learned how to use fire and make tools, their relationship with ecosystems fundamentally changed.

And so did our ancestors, spreading across Europe and Asia.

For millions of years, the Americas were left to wildlife and were not part of humanity’s

story.

The first humans came to the Americas 12-30,000 years ago

Once they arrived, things started to change

Glyptodon

Mammut Megatherium

Mylodon

Fire and technology helped early human immigrants to the Americas drive some 43 genera of mammals to extinction.

Megafauna extinctions have been correlated with the arrival of humans on new continents or large islands (Martin, 1984)

But the hunting and gathering people who arrived in the Americas also adapted, drawing on biodiversity to survive, even prosper, in the ecosystems where they lived.

Agriculture developed independently in several parts of the Western Hemisphere, giving people greater control over nature. They domesticated many plant species, but few animals.

Mammutus

Hippidium

Onohippidium

Potentialdomesticated animals?

Equus

With beasts of burden, the Aztec, Inca, and Maya civilizations might have been very different.

Biodiversity loss meant that New World civilizations had fewer options than those of the Old World

• -

According to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, we have lost more biodiversity in the last 50 years than ever before in recorded human history.

• Are we in the midst of the sixth great extinction?

• If so, what are the implications for humanity?

• What can be done to reverse the rate of biodiversity loss?

Why Biodiversity is Important for

People

By

Jeffrey A. McNeelyChief Scientist

[email protected]

What is biodiversity ?

Genetic diversity gives our crops the characteristics we seek. Losing this diversity constrains our options.

HYV wheat ancestry

Some examples of the loss of genetic diversity in the USA

Varieties of vegetables grown

Wild relatives of domestic animals are valuable genetic resources

Species extinctions per thousand species per millennium

Extinction in recent times• The world’s list of documented extinctions

continues to riseThe 2006 Red List includes 784 species

listed as Extinct and 63 Extinct in the Wild30 documented extinctions in the last 20

years• Recent extinction rates are 100 to 1,000 times natural

(background) extinction rates

Source: IUCN/SSC

KNOWN CAUSES OF EXTINCTION SINCE 1600

Hunting23%

Other2%

SpeciesIntroductions

39%

Habitat Destruction36%

Which species are in trouble?Amphibians are the most threatened vertebrates

Birds Mammals Amphibians

Source: IUCN/SSC

Where is the risk of extinction greatest? Areas of threatened species richness

Threatened Mammals Threatened Birds

Threatened Turtles Threatened Amphibians

Source: IUCN/SSC

SOILS

One of last great frontiers in biological research: we simply do not know the status of soil species

Draft Tree of

Life Science: 13 June 2003

Taxa in Soil

Bacteria

No human eye has ever blinked at them through a microscope, and most human minds have never spent a moment reflecting on them. Yet the sobering fact is: they don’t need us, but we need them (Wilson

1987).

Photos: Norton, Ochoa

Temperate Grasslands & Woodlands

Temperate Broadleaf Forest

Tropical Dry Forest

Tropical Grasslands

Tropical Coniferous Forest

Mediterranean Forests

Tropical Moist Forest

0 50 100

Percent of habitat (biome) remaining

Ecosystem Loss to 1990

Source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

WHY BIODIVERSITYIS BEING LOST

1. Converting natural habitats into domestic habitats

Source: NASA

The way we were

The way we are

The process of land conversion continues to accelerate, sometimes encroaching on legally protected areas.

“As you can see, some have adapted to

their reduction of territory quite well.”

WHY BIODIVERSITY IS BEING LOST

2. Changes inclimate

Source: US Global Change Research Programme

Ocean Circulation Conveyor Belt

Source: Natural Resources Canada

WHY BIODIVERSITY IS BEING LOST

3. Impacts of invasive alien species

International shipping has increased by a factor of 10 over the past several decades.

HOW IAS AFFECT HUMAN INTERESTS

• Lower water tables (tamarisks, eucalyptus, pines)

• Clog water intake pipes (zebra mussels)

• Reduce pollination of crops (Verroa mites)

HOW IAS AFFECT HUMAN INTERESTS

•Cause human diseases (West Nile Virus)

•Threaten human safety (fire ants, Africanized bees)

•Block navigation, deplete oxygen (water hyacinth)

“We’re pretty sure it’s the West Nile Virus”

Annual costs associated with IAS

South Africa US$ 7 billion

UK US$ 12 billion

Australia US$ 13 billion

Brazil US$ 50 billion

India US$ 116 billion

(Source: Pimentel, et al., 2001)

WHY BIODIVERSITY IS BEING LOST

4. Excessive harvesting of valuable species

Collapse of the Canadian cod fishery

Biomass of Table Fish (tons per km2)

Source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment; Christensen et al. 2003

19002000

WHY BIODIVERSITY IS BEING LOST

5. Impacts of pollutants

“Think of it not as pollution, but as the fragrance of prosperity”

Unprecedented change: Biogeochemical Cycles

• Since 1960:

– Flows of biologically available nitrogen in terrestrial ecosystems doubled

– Flows of phosphorus tripled

• > 50% of all the synthetic nitrogen fertilizer ever used has been used since 1985

Humans now produce as much biologically available N as all natural pathways.

Human input may grow a further 65% by 2050

Source: International Nitrogen Initiative

Source: USEPA

Major Eutrophication-induced Hypoxic Zones of the World

Percentage of years (1985-1997) with summer hypoxia

Trends in DriversSource: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

IUCN Photo Library © Jim Thorsell

What are the implications of biodiversity loss for people?

Ecosystem Services: the benefits people obtain from ecosystems

RegulatingBenefits obtained from

regulation of ecosystem processes

• climate regulation• disease regulation

• flood regulation

ProvisioningGoods produced or provided

by ecosystems

• food • fresh water• fuel wood

• genetic resources

CulturalNon-material benefits from

ecosystems

• spiritual • recreational

• aesthetic• inspirational• educational

SupportingServices necessary for production of other ecosystem services

• Soil formation• Nutrient cycling

• Primary production

MA Framework

Direct Drivers

Indirect Drivers

EcosystemServices

Human Well-being

Direct Drivers of Change Changes in land use Species introduction or

removal Technology adaptation and

use External inputs (e.g.,

irrigation) Resource consumption Climate change Natural physical and

biological drivers (e.g., volcanoes)

Indirect Drivers of Change Demographic Economic (globalization, trade,

market and policy framework) Sociopolitical (governance and

institutional framework) Science and Technology Cultural and Religious

Human Well-being and Poverty Reduction

Basic material for a good life Health Good Social Relations Security Freedom of choice and action

Biodiversity loss means the loss of genetic diversity provided by wild relatives of domestic plants and animals

The capacity to adapt to changing climates will be compromised

Important agricultural lands may be more exposed to storm damage

Potential new food crops may be lost forever

Source: FAO

Pollinators may no longer be as effective

In Costa Rica, forest-based pollinators increased coffee yields by 20%

What can be done to reverse the rate of biodiversity loss?

Responses: Key Barriers* Insufficient knowledge

1. Provide information

I won’t eatanything that’s

geneticallymodified…

It couldbe unhealthy…

GBIFSpecies/Specimen

Governments

PP10PromotingInformation

sharingGovernments

Joint PledgeProtected areas

and methodology Big NGOs

IABINSpecies

Governments& NGO

PALNETSharing evidencebased informationParks Managers

Conservation CommonsIntegrating data, information, knowledge, expertise and technology

from all sectors of society to advance durable conservation

SIS-RedlistEndangered

SpeciesAcademia, NGO,

Governments

CHMSharing

ProcessesGovernments

ConserveOnlineConservation

Conservationists,Public

EcolexLaw

EnvironmentalAttorneys

www.conservationcommons.org

2. Invest in development of appropriate technologies

Indirect drivers of change * Technological change

3. Help local people capture biodiversity benefits

We are consuming more food

ResourcePer capita increase

(1950-1990)

Grain40%

Beef and mutton26%

Fish100%

Downstream Users benefit from protection of upstream ecosystem services

Pay upstream landowners to maintain forest cover on their land

$

• Program established 1997• By 2001: 280,000 ha enrolled at cost of $30

million• Typical payments: $35 to $45 per hectare

Costa Rica payment for ecosystem services

4. Promote actions at the landscape level

Response 3: Encouraging private sector involvement in biodiversity

conservation

5. Involve the private sector in biodiversity action

6. Include biodiversity issues in agriculture, fishing and forestry

7. Design governance that supports ecosystem services

Decentralization needs:

• a supporting national framework

• sound information about trade-offs and synergies

• appropriate tenure arrangements

8. Promote international cooperation through conventions and other means

Convention on the Law of the Sea

The 2010 Biodiversity Target:

To achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss as a means of alleviating poverty.

Indicators:• Trends in extent of selected biomes, ecosystems,

and habitats• Trends in abundance and distribution of selected

species• Coverage of protected areas• Water quality in aquatic ecosystems• Official development assistance provided in

support of the Convention on Biological Diversity

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

1873

1878

1883

1888

1893

1898

1903

1908

1913

1918

1923

1928

1933

1938

1943

1948

1953

1958

1963

1968

1973

1978

1983

1988

1993

1998

2003

Year

Num

ber o

f Site

s

0

2,000,000

4,000,000

6,000,000

8,000,000

10,000,000

12,000,000

14,000,000

16,000,000

18,000,000

20,000,000

Are

a in

Km

2

Cumulative area sites of known date

Cumulative no. of sites of known date

Note: 38,427 PAs covering approximately 4 million km² have no date and are not included in the cumulative graph

The remarkable growth of protected areas demonstrates their value.

Sinharaja Biosphere Reserve, Sri Lanka: Mango Breadfruit Nutmeg Cinnamon Clove Pepper Durian

Wild cardamomPepperYamsPest-resistant riceBeans

Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve, China Rice Citrus Ginseng Tea

Besh-Aral Nature Reserve, Kyrgyztan Walnut Pistacio Almond Pear Plum

Sierra de Manantlan Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Last habitat of Teosinte, wild relative of maize

9. Continue active public goods research linking biodiversity with agriculture

10. Support education about biodiversity and ecosystem

services

Responding to the loss of biodiversity will cost money.

Not responding is likely to cost even more.