Biodiversity: Finance and the Economic and Business Case for Action
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Land-Use, Land-Cover Changes and Biodiversity Loss - Helena Freitas
LAND USE, LAND COVER AND SOIL SCIENCES – Vol. I - Land-Use, Land-Cover Changes and Biodiversity Loss - Helena Freitas LAND-USE, LAND-COVER CHANGES AND BIODIVERSITY LOSS Helena Freitas University of Coimbra, Portugal Keywords: land use; habitat fragmentation; biodiversity loss Contents 1. Introduction 2. Primary Causes of Biodiversity Loss 2.1. Habitat Degradation and Destruction 2.2. Habitat Fragmentation 2.3. Global Climate Change 3. Strategies for Biodiversity Conservation 3.1. General 3.2. The European Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 4. Conclusions Glossary Bibliography Biographical Sketch Summary During Earth's history, species extinction has probably been caused by modifications of the physical environment after impacts such as meteorites or volcanic activity. On the contrary, the actual extinction of species is mainly a result of human activities, namely any form of land use that causes the conversion of vast areas to settlement, agriculture, and forestry, resulting in habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation, which are among the most important causes of species decline and extinction. The loss of biodiversity is unique among the major anthropogenic changes because it is irreversible. The importance of preserving biodiversity has increased in recent times. The global recognition of the alarming loss of biodiversity and the acceptance of its value resultedUNESCO in the Convention on Biologi – calEOLSS Diversity. In addition, in Europe, the challenge is also the implementation of the European strategy for biodiversity conservation and agricultural policies, though it is increasingly recognized that the strategy is limitedSAMPLE by a lack of basic ecological CHAPTERS information and indicators available to decision makers and end users. We have reached a point where we can save biodiversity only by saving the biosphere. -
The Health and Social Benefits of Nature and Biodiversity Protection
The Health and Social Benefits of Nature and Biodiversity Protection Executive Summary Patrick ten Brink, Konar Mutafoglu, Jean-Pierre Schweitzer, Marianne Kettunen, Clare Twigger-Ross, Yoline Kuipers, Manon Emonts, Liisa Tyrväinen, Teppo Hujala, Ann Ojala A project funded by the European Commission (ENV.B.3/ETU/2014/0039) Funded by the European Commission, DG Environment (ENV.B.3/ETU/2014/0039) Legal notice The contents and views contained in this report are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent those of the European Commission. Cite this report: ten Brink P., Mutafoglu K., Schweitzer J.-P., Kettunen M., Twigger-Ross C., Kuipers Y., Emonts M., Tyrväinen L., Hujala T., Ojala A. (2016) The Health and Social Benefits of Nature and Biodiversity Protection – Executive summary. A report for the European Commission (ENV.B.3/ETU/2014/0039), Institute for European Environmental Policy, London / Brussels. Corresponding author: Patrick ten Brink – [email protected] Acknowledgements: This executive summary by the core author team builds on and benefits from the inputs by the wider study team – including Owen White and Jonathan Baker (Collingwood Environmental Planning), Irene Lucius and Magdalena Peneva (WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme), Holger Robrecht, Pamela Mühlmann and Elisa Kerschbaumer (ICLEI Europe), Rudolf de Groot (Wageningen University), the extensive literature cited, and the case studies, presentations and discussions at a stakeholder workshop held on the 27th and 28th of January 2016 in Brussels. A summary of the workshop and the presentations are available here. For the workshop, we would like to thank Roby Biwer, Carsten Brauns, and Martine Lartigue at the Committee of the Regions and the contributing participants. -
Dynamics of Biodiversity Change After Deforestation
Rev. Cient. Cien. Nat. Ambien. 11(1):28-36 Gilbert • Dinámica de cambios de diversidad después Junio 2017 ISSN: 1390-8413 de deforestación Dynamics of biodiversity change after deforestation Dinámica de cambios de diversidad después de deforestación Guillermo Javier Gilbert-Jaramillo Postgraduate student. Imperial College London. London, SW7 2AZ, UK. Tel: +44(0)207589511 Recibido 5 de mayo 2017; recibido en forma revisada 26 de mayo 2017, aceptado 5 de junio 2017 Disponible en línea 26 de junio 2017 Abstract The many changes that forests have suffered over the last century have led to biodiversity loss around the planet. In order to understand these processes and try to predict future biological diversity loss, spatial comparisons have commonly been used. This research uses spatial and temporal data aiming to understand better the dynamics of these changes caused by deforestation. A meta-Analysis was conducted compiling information from 13 studies using before-after-control- impact design (BACI) to examine abundance response to deforestation. The results show clearly that biodiversity tends to decline in the five years after forest loss, though losses are not significant within the first two years. It was also found that the effects of deforestation on species abundance varied significantly among taxonomic groups, physical level species occupy in the ecosystem, type of disturbance, type of perturbation, and constancy in the surveys. The outcome of this research agrees with results of studies with spatial comparisons, though it is not yet possible to conclude which is best to predict biodiversity changes. However, these findings deepen our understanding of the complexity of biodiversity change and deforestation and emphasize importance of generating more studies that include temporal data. -
Students' Understanding of Connections Between Human
International Journal Journal of Environmental of Environmental & Science & Educat Scienceion Education Vol. 5, No. 4, October 2010, 407-433 Vol. 3, No. 3, July 2008, xx-xx Students’ understanding of connections between human engineered and natural environmental systems Blakely K. Tsurusaki, Charles W. Anderson Received 23 July 2009; Accepted 30 April 2010 This research draws on developments in educational research where learning progressions are emerging as a strategy for synthesizing research on science learning and applying that research to policy and practice, and advances in the natural sciences, where interdisciplinary research on coupled human and natural systems has become increasingly important. It focuses on the human systems that supply all of our essential goods and services (i.e., food, water, transportation), which begin and end in the earth‘s natural systems. In order to investigate what students know about how human actions affect environmental systems, we developed assessments focusing on supply and waste disposal chains. In addition, students were asked about a major environmental issue – global warming. Assessments were administered to elementary, middle, and high school students from rural, suburban, and urban schools. Results from this study provide insight into how student knowledge of connections between human-engineered and natural systems varies across grade level and context, which is essential if we are to teach students to be responsible citizens and stewards of our environment. Keywords: connected natural -
Ecology: Biodiversity and Natural Resources Part 1
CK-12 FOUNDATION Ecology: Biodiversity and Natural Resources Part 1 Akre CK-12 Foundation is a non-profit organization with a mission to reduce the cost of textbook materials for the K-12 market both in the U.S. and worldwide. Using an open-content, web-based collaborative model termed the “FlexBook,” CK-12 intends to pioneer the generation and distribution of high-quality educational content that will serve both as core text as well as provide an adaptive environment for learning. Copyright © 2010 CK-12 Foundation, www.ck12.org Except as otherwise noted, all CK-12 Content (including CK-12 Curriculum Material) is made available to Users in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution/Non-Commercial/Share Alike 3.0 Un- ported (CC-by-NC-SA) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/), as amended and updated by Creative Commons from time to time (the “CC License”), which is incorporated herein by this reference. Specific details can be found at http://about.ck12.org/terms. Printed: October 11, 2010 Author Barbara Akre Contributor Jean Battinieri i www.ck12.org Contents 1 Ecology: Biodiversity and Natural Resources Part 1 1 1.1 Lesson 18.1: The Biodiversity Crisis ............................... 1 1.2 Lesson 18.2: Natural Resources .................................. 32 2 Ecology: Biodiversity and Natural Resources Part I 49 2.1 Chapter 18: Ecology and Human Actions ............................ 49 2.2 Lesson 18.1: The Biodiversity Crisis ............................... 49 2.3 Lesson 18.2: Natural Resources .................................. 53 www.ck12.org ii Chapter 1 Ecology: Biodiversity and Natural Resources Part 1 1.1 Lesson 18.1: The Biodiversity Crisis Lesson Objectives • Compare humans to other species in terms of resource needs and use, and ecosystem service benefits and effects. -
A Biosphere Reserve? a Biosphere Reserve (BR) Is an International Designation by UNESCO in the Man and Biosphere (MAB) Program
Appendix 1. The ES concept in the UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) program What is a Biosphere Reserve? A biosphere reserve (BR) is an international designation by UNESCO in the Man And Biosphere (MAB) program. A BR includes one or several protected areas and their surrounding landscape to combine both biodiversity conservation and sustainable/wise use of natural resources. A BR is a place where local communities are involved in management through dialogue and concerted multi-stakeholder approaches. Through monitoring, research, education, and training, BRs aim to develop and demonstrate sound sustainable development practices and policies. In 2017, there are 669 BRs in 120 countries all over the world, connected through international, regional, and national networks promoting knowledge sharing and exchanges of experiences. How is the ES concept operationalized in Biosphere Reserves? Since 2013, the ES concept has been integrated in the requisite forms for BR creation or revision. Coordinators are requested to address the following: “- 12.1 If possible, identify the ecosystem services provided by each ecosystem of the biosphere reserve and the beneficiaries of these services. - 12.2 Specify whether indicators of ecosystem services are used to evaluate the three functions (conservation, development, and logistic) of biosphere reserves. If yes, which ones and give details. - 12.3 Describe biodiversity involved in the provision of ecosystems services in the biosphere reserve (e.g. species or groups of species involved). - 12.4 Specify whether any ecosystem services assessment has been done for the proposed biosphere reserve”. This requires inventory approaches, with objective ES assessments, rather than deliberations among people about ES management. -
Biosphere Introduction the Biosphere in Education
10/5/2016 Biosphere Encyclopedia of Earth AUTHOR LOGIN EOE PAGES BROWSE THE EOE Home Article Tools: Titles (AZ) About the EoE Authors Editorial Board Biosphere Topics International Advisory Board Topic Editors FAQs Lead Author: Erle Ellis (other articles) Content Partners EoE for Educators Article Topic: Geography Content Sources Contribute to the EoE This article has been reviewed and approved by the following Topic Editor: Leszek A. eBooks Bledzki (other articles) Support the EoE Classics Last Updated: January 8, 2009 Contact the EoE Collections Find Us Here RSS Reviews Table of Contents Awards and Honors Introduction 1 Introduction The biosphere is the biological component of earth systems, which 1.1 History of the Biosphere also include the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and other Concept 2 The Biosphere in Education "spheres" (e.g. cryosphere, anthrosphere, etc.). The biosphere 3 Biosphere Research includes all living organisms on earth, together with the dead organic 4 The Future of the Biosphere matter produced by them. 5 More About the Biosphere 6 Further Reading The biosphere concept is common to many scientific disciplines including astronomy, SOLUTIONS JOURNAL geophysics, geology, hydrology, biogeography and evolution, and is a core concept in ecology, earth science and physical geography. A key component of earth systems, the biosphere interacts with and exchanges matter and energy with the other spheres, helping to drive the global biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and other elements. From an ecological point of view, the biosphere is the "global ecosystem", comprising the totality of biodiversity on earth and performing all manner of biological functions, including photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, nitrogen fixation and denitrification. -
Biological Resources and Biodiversity
Environment at a Glance Indicators – Biological resources and biodiversity Environment at a Glance Indicators Biological resources and biodiversity Context Issues at stake Biodiversity and ecosystem services are integral elements of natural capital. Biodiversity, which encompasses species, ecosystems, and genetic diversity, provides invaluable ecosystem services (including raw materials for many sectors of the economy) and plays an essential role in maintaining life-support systems and quality of life. The loss of biodiversity is a key concern nationally and globally. Pressures on biodiversity include changes in land cover and sea use, over-exploitation of natural resources, pollution, climate change and invasive alien species. Policy challenges The main challenge is to ensure effective conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. This implies strengthening the degree of protection of species, habitats and terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems. Strategies include eliminating illegal exploitation and trade of endangered species, putting in place ambitious policies (covering regulatory approaches, economic instruments, and other information and voluntary approaches); and integrating biodiversity concerns into economic and sectoral policies. Biodiversity protection also requires reforming and removing environmentally harmful subsidies and strengthening the role of biodiversity-relevant taxes, fees and charges, as well as other economic instruments such as payments for ecosystem services, biodiversity offsets and tradable permits -
Plant Biodiversity Change Across Scales During the Anthropocene Mark Vellend, Lander Baeten, Antoine Becker-Scarpitta, V´Eronique Boucher-Lalonde, Jenny L
PP68CH21-Vellend ARI 6 April 2017 9:54 ANNUAL REVIEWS Further Click here to view this article's online features: • Download figures as PPT slides • Navigate linked references Plant Biodiversity Change • Download citations • Explore related articles • Search keywords Across Scales During the Anthropocene Mark Vellend,1 Lander Baeten,2 Antoine Becker-Scarpitta,1 Veronique´ Boucher-Lalonde,1 Jenny L. McCune,3 Julie Messier,1 Isla H. Myers-Smith,4 and Dov F. Sax5 1Departement´ de Biologie, Universite´ de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec´ J1K 2R1, Canada; email: [email protected] 2Forest and Nature Lab, Department of Forest and Water Management, Ghent University, BE-9090 Melle-Gontrode, Belgium 3Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada 4School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FF, United Kingdom 5Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912 Annu. Rev. Plant Biol. 2017. 68:563–86 Keywords First published online as a Review in Advance on biodiversity, climate change, habitat fragmentation, land use, nitrogen January 11, 2017 deposition, scale The Annual Review of Plant Biology is online at plant.annualreviews.org Abstract https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-arplant-042916- Plant communities have undergone dramatic changes in recent centuries, 040949 Access provided by Brown University on 05/04/17. For personal use only. although not all such changes fit with the dominant biodiversity-crisis nar- Copyright c 2017 by Annual Reviews. Annu. Rev. Plant Biol. 2017.68:563-586. Downloaded from www.annualreviews.org rative used to describe them. At the global scale, future declines in plant All rights reserved species diversity are highly likely given habitat conversion in the tropics, although few extinctions have been documented for the Anthropocene to date (<0.1%). -
Reversing Biodiversity Loss – the Case for Urgent Action This Statement Has Been Created by the Science Academies of the Group of Seven (G7) Nations
31 MARCH 2021 Reversing biodiversity loss – the case for urgent action This statement has been created by the Science Academies of the Group of Seven (G7) nations. It represents the Academies’ view on the magnitude of biodiversity decline and the urgent action required to halt and reverse this trend. The Academies call on G7 nations to work collaboratively to integrate the multiple values of biodiversity into decision-making, and to pursue cross-sectoral solutions that address the biodiversity, climate and other linked crises in a coordinated manner. At its simplest, biodiversity describes life on Earth – the • Despite clear and growing evidence, and despite ambitious different genes, species and ecosystems that comprise the global targets, our responses to biodiversity decline at the biosphere and the varying habitats, landscapes and regions global and national levels have been woefully insufficient. in which they exist. The 2020 Global Biodiversity Outlook3 reported that none of the 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets, set out in the Strategic Plan Biodiversity matters. for Biodiversity 2011 – 2020, had been fully achieved. Since the ratification of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity • Humans emerged within the biosphere and are both (UN CBD) in 1992, more than a quarter of the tropical forests inseparable from it and fully dependent on it. Biodiversity that were standing then have been cut down. has its own intrinsic value distinct from the value it provides to human life. For all species, it provides food, But there is hope for a better way forward. water shelter and the functioning of the whole Earth system. For humans, it is also an integral part of spiritual, • To halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, nothing cultural, psychological and artistic wellbeing1. -
Protected Areas and Biodiversity Conservation I: Reserve Planning and Design
Network of Conservation Educators & Practitioners Protected Areas and Biodiversity Conservation I: Reserve Planning and Design Author(s): Eugenia Naro-Maciel, Eleanor J. Stering, and Madhu Rao Source: Lessons in Conservation, Vol. 2, pp. 19-49 Published by: Network of Conservation Educators and Practitioners, Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History Stable URL: ncep.amnh.org/linc/ This article is featured in Lessons in Conservation, the official journal of the Network of Conservation Educators and Practitioners (NCEP). NCEP is a collaborative project of the American Museum of Natural History’s Center for Biodiversity and Conservation (CBC) and a number of institutions and individuals around the world. Lessons in Conservation is designed to introduce NCEP teaching and learning resources (or “modules”) to a broad audience. NCEP modules are designed for undergraduate and professional level education. These modules—and many more on a variety of conservation topics—are available for free download at our website, ncep.amnh.org. To learn more about NCEP, visit our website: ncep.amnh.org. All reproduction or distribution must provide full citation of the original work and provide a copyright notice as follows: “Copyright 2008, by the authors of the material and the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation of the American Museum of Natural History. All rights reserved.” Illustrations obtained from the American Museum of Natural History’s library: images.library.amnh.org/digital/ SYNTHESIS 19 Protected Areas and Biodiversity Conservation I: Reserve Planning and Design Eugenia Naro-Maciel,* Eleanor J. Stering, † and Madhu Rao ‡ * The American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, U.S.A., email [email protected] † The American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, U.S.A., email [email protected] ‡ Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, NY, U.S.A., email [email protected] Source: K. -
The Biodiversity–Ecosystem Function Debate in Ecology
Provided for non-commercial research and educational use only. Not for reproduction, distribution or commercial use. This chapter was originally published in the book Handbook of The Philosophy of Science: Philosophy of Ecology. The copy attached is provided by Elsevier for the author’s benefit and for the benefit of the author’s institution, for non-commercial research, and educational use. This includes without limitation use in instruction at your institution, distribution to specific colleagues, and providing a copy to your institution’s administrator. All other uses, reproduction and distribution, including without limitation commercial reprints, selling or licensing copies or access, or posting on open internet sites, your personal or institution’s website or repository, are prohibited. For exceptions, permission may be sought for such use through Elsevier's permissions site at: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/permissionusematerial From deLaplante Kevin, and Picasso Valentin, The Biodiversity-Ecosystem Function Debate in Ecology. In: Dov M. Gabbay, Paul Thagard and John Woods, editors, Handbook of The Philosophy of Science: Philosophy of Ecology. San Diego: North Holland, 2011, pp. 169-200. ISBN: 978-0-444-51673-2 © Copyright 2011 Elsevier B. V. North Holland. Author's personal copy THE BIODIVERSITY–ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION DEBATE IN ECOLOGY Kevin deLaplante and Valentin Picasso 1 INTRODUCTION Population/community ecology and ecosystem ecology present very different per- spectives on ecological phenomena. Over the course of the history of ecology there has been relatively little interaction between the two fields at a theoretical level, despite general acknowledgment that many ecosystem processes are both influ- enced by and constrain population- and community-level phenomena.