By Kibet Brian
Biodiversity, used interchangeably with the term biological diversity, refers to the biological variety and variability of life on earth at the genetic, species and ecosystem levels of existence (Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992). It also connotes the living organisms that exist in the biosphere of the earth and the variances in existence that exist between them (UNESCO, 2011). Biodiversity therefore provides the ecosystem resources that are necessary for the sustenance of life of all living things and more precisely, human beings (Green Facts, 2005).
Around the world, anthropogenic factors have continued to trigger a fundamental change to biological diversity as it existed before; the average global temperature and carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere is on the rise. The effect of this is habitat loss by some species and extinction or near extinction of some – compromising of the ability of the earth to sustain human life.
The direct effect on humans is frequent famines, increased poverty levels and widening of the gap between the rich nations and poor nation. Research by National Geographic has shown that in a world without climate change, the gap between the rich nations and poor nations would be 25% narrower (National Geographic, 2019). This indicates that the time is nigh for the conservation of biodiversity.
Sustainable development is a concept that provides that the current generations should meet their needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. For sustainable development to be achieved, seventeen goals (the Sustainable Development Goals) have been set out by the United Nations to guide the nations across the world in achieving sustainable development.
The conservation of biodiversity is encapsulated in goal number fourteen and goal number fifteen. Goal fourteen of the Sustainable Development Goals is titled life below water and concerns itself with enhancing the conservation and ensuring the sustainable use of ocean resources. It is noteworthy that the ocean’s acidity has risen by around 26% since the industrial revolution and the rise of the same endangers marine life (UNDP, 2015). It is also critical to highlight that 10% to 12% of the human population depends on aquaculture and fisheries for a livelihood (Our Ocean, 2016). Thus increased acidity levels in the oceans and failure to conserve the same puts the livelihoods of a significant portion of the planet in limbo.
Goal fifteen of the Sustainable Development Goals is titled life on land and aims to preserve life and economic activities on land. Around 80% of the human diet is derived from plant life and hence the need to conserve the same (UNDP, 2015). Illegal trade of plant and animal species has driven some of them to extinction and continues to fuel conflict and affects the ability of future generations to derive benefits from some organisms from which the current generation benefit.
The two goals as above can only be met by action that will mainstream the protection of biodiversity. Such action may include sustainable management and exploitation of forest resources, tame desertification, combating poaching and illegal trafficking of wildlife and maintenance and conservation of wetlands and water resources. Humans need to take cognizance of these measures since it is biodiversity that provide them with food, purifies the air they breathe and cleans the water they depend on for life.
The conservation of biodiversity is therefore a key component of goal number fourteen and goal number fifteen. It is also critical if goal number one – zero poverty – goal number two – zero hunger – and goal number six – access to clean water and sanitation – are to be achieved. As such, since sustainable development can only be met when biodiversity is conserved, an inexpungible ligature exists between them.
References
- Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992, Available at https://www.cbd.int/convention/ Accessed on 26/06/2021
- Green Facts, Biodiversity & Human wellbeing, Available at https://www.greenfacts.org/en/biodiversity/l-3/1-define-biodiversity.htm Accessed on 26/06/2021
- National Geographic, Inequality is decreasing between countries—but climate change is slowing progress, 2019, Available at https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/climate-change-economic-inequality-growing accessed on 26/06/2021
- Our Ocean, Sustainable Fisheries, Available at http://ourocean2016.org/sustainable-fisheries Accessed on 26/06/2021
- United Nations Development Program (UNDP), SDGs in action, Available at https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals Accessed on 26/06/2021
- United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Conserving biodiversity for life and sustainable development, Available at http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/conserving_biodiversity_for_life_and_sustainable_development/ Accessed on 26/06/2021