Viet Nam Human Rights
Biological Diversity is Fundamental to Human Health
23/5/20
May 22, marks the International Day of Biological Diversity. Experts say that conservation efforts have actually strengthened under the COVID-19 pandemic. This year's International Day of Biological Diversity falls amid the coronavirus pandemic and the slow easing, in some nations, of a global lockdown. While the lockdown has forced most people to stay at home, there have been reports of more wildlife being spotted - even in once-busy city centres.
This change is fitting for this year's theme: "Our solutions are in nature." Experts say that this is an opportunity for humans to see the footprint they are leaving behind on earth, and time to reflect on how to work towards a better future for the sustainability of the environment and for wildlife in the future.
"We know that humanity stands at a crossroad with regard to the legacy we wish to leave to future generations," Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, told IPS. "As noted by the recent IPBES Global Assessment report, the current global response has been insufficient, given that nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history, and the rate of species extinctions is accelerating, with grave impacts on people around the world. Transformative change is necessary in order to restore and protect nature."
'Pandemic of complacency'
"I'm hoping what this pandemic does for us is draws attention to the pandemic of complacency that we were in before and contributed to the higher carbon , to greater human footprint, plastic pollution in the ocean," Roderic Mast, Co-Chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group, told IPS. "Hopefully it'll make people realise they were having an impact."
Mast added that one issue that has come up during this lockdown is a rise in illegal poaching in places such as Indonesia and French Guiana. Although this information is yet to be verified, Mast said he has unofficial accounts from community members on the ground that a lack of enforcers on the job means there more illegal poaching is taking place.
Meanwhile, Mrema of the Convention on Biological Diversity said conservation efforts have actually strengthened under the pandemic.
"The present COVID-19 crisis has provided us with a reset button – as well as confirming what we already know, that biodiversity is fundamental to human health – and has given new urgency to the need to protect it," Mrema said.
However, both experts echoed each others' sentiments that now is not the time to become complacent seeing the changes the lockdowns have brought to wildlife. For example, just because more sea-turtles are seen out in the open does not mean the crisis has been resolved, Mast said.
"This temporary reduction of stress is not sufficient and we need greater changes in the way we treat our environment," Mrema said.
"The only thing wrong with the ocean is all the stuff that we humans put in it and all the stuff we humans take out," Mast added. "So if we can limit what we put in the ocean in terms of pollution, boat traffic, and sounds, and if we can limit what we take out in terms of fisheries -- that's when we're going to start seeing healthier oceans."
According to the IUCN's Red List, 31,030 species of the 116,177 that have been assessed are threatened with extinction. Here are glimpses of conservation efforts and endangered species around the world:
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All comments [ 20 ]
Natural environments and frequent contact with nature have beneficial effects on human health and well-being.
The physical and mental health benefits associated to the interaction with natural and man-made green environments depend, in the first place, on the duration and timing of the exposure.
Natural environments and green spaces provide ecosystem services that enhance human health and well-being.
They improve mental health, mitigate allergies and reduce all-cause, respiratory, cardiovascular and cancer mortality.
The presence, accessibility, proximity and greenness of green spaces determine the magnitude of their positive health effects, but the role of biodiversity (including species and ecosystem diversity) within green spaces remains underexplored.
Humans depend on goods and services provided by natural environments for a decent, healthy, and secure life.
There is an increasing evidence of the health benefits to the people exposed to natural environments.
Physical health improvement by exposure to natural environments has been attributed mainly to the access and motivation of people to engage in physical activities (the so-called “green exercise”), although, some controversies still remain.
There is an increasing evidence of the health benefits to the people exposed to natural environments
The living and physical components of the environment, and the relationships that take place among them, define a particular ecosystem which, when it is disturbed, may produce direct and indirect alterations to the entire set of integrating elements.
An ecosystem then, is a complex dynamic group of various living organisms acting as a whole functioning unity.
The diverse group of ecosystems, the species living within those ecosystems and the genetic variations within each population, in addition to the process involving their functioning, constitutes what is called biodiversity.
Ecosystems provide the supporting vital systems for any form of life on Earth, including humans.
Not only provide resources for nourishing and fuel, but also they permit the air and water purification, clear and retain toxic substances, degrade waste and recycle nutrients, allow natural and crop pollination, improve soil fertility, buffer out climate change effects, among many other functions and services.
Human health relies in many ways on biodiversity conservation.
When biodiversity is affected, the entire ecosystem destabilizes reducing its resilience capacity, altering the abundance and distribution of living organisms and modifying the interactive relationships among them and with the physical environment as well.
When natural areas are deforested for agricultural use purpose or for new urban settlements, human population becomes exposed to many vectors and species carrying communicable diseases, while limiting the population of natural predators that could exert control over the dispersion of pathogen populations.
The main relationship between biodiversity and human health is food provision. However, biodiversity also has direct influence on human health through other pathways not linked to food production.
The potential benefits of biodiversity to physical and mental health have been associated mainly with direct contact of people exposed to natural environments and to the presence of urban green spaces.
Biodiversity is a source of food, nutrients, medicines, fuel, energy, livelihoods and cultural and spiritual enrichment. It contributes to the provision of clean water and air, and perform critical functions that range from the regulation of pests and disease to that of climate change and natural disasters.
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