Biodiversity

Chapter

5

Biodiversity
Coordinating lead authors: Neville Ash and Asghar Fazel Lead authors: Yoseph Assefa, Jonathan Baillie, Mohammed Bakarr, Souvik Bhattacharjya, Zoe Cokeliss, Andres Guhl, Pascal Girot, Simon Hales, Leonard Hirsch, Anastasia Idrisova, Georgina Mace, Luisa Maffi, Sue Mainka, Elizabeth Migongo-Bake, José Gerhartz Muro, Maria Pena, Ellen Woodley, and Kaveh ZahediContributing authors: Barbara Gemmill, Jonathan Loh, Jonathan Patz, Jameson Seyani, Jorge Soberon, Rick Stepp, Jean-Christophe Vie, Dayuan Xue, David Morgan, David Harmon, Stanford Zent, and Toby Hodgkin Chapter review editors: Jeffrey A. McNeely and João B. D. Camara Chapter coordinator: Elizabeth Migongo-Bake

Credit: Munyaradzi Chenje

Main messages
Biodiversity provides the basis for ecosystemsand the services they provide, upon which all people fundamentally depend. The following are the main messages of this chapter: People rely on biodiversity in their daily lives, often without realizing it. Biodiversity contributes to many aspects of people’s livelihoods and well-being, providing products, such as food and fibres, whose values are widely recognized. However, biodiversity underpins amuch wider range of services, many of which are currently undervalued. The bacteria and microbes that transform waste into usable products, insects that pollinate crops and flowers, coral reefs and mangroves that protect coastlines, and the biologically-rich landscapes and seascapes that provide enjoyment are only a few. Although much more remains to be understood about the relationships betweenbiodiversity and ecosystem services, it is well established that if the products and services that are provided by biodiversity are not managed effectively, future options will become ever more restricted, for rich and poor people alike. However, poor people tend to be the most directly affected by the deterioration or loss of ecosystem services, as they are the most dependent on local ecosystems,and often live in places most vulnerable to ecosystem change. Current losses of biodiversity are restricting future development options. Ecosystems are being transformed, and, in some cases, irreversibly degraded, a large number of species have gone extinct in recent history or are threatened with extinction, reductions in populations are widespread and genetic diversity is widely considered to bein decline. It is well established that changes to biodiversity currently underway on land and in the world’s fresh and marine waters are more rapid than at any time in human history, and have led to a degradation in many of the world’s ecosystem services. Reducing the rate of loss of biodiversity, and ensuring that decisions made incorporate the full values of goods-and-services provided bybiodiversity will contribute substantially towards achieving sustainable development as described in the report of the World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission report). Biodiversity plays a critical role in providing livelihood security for people. It is particularly important for the livelihoods of the rural poor, and for regulating local environmental conditions.Functioning ecosystems are crucial as buffers against extreme climate events, as carbon sinks, and as filters for waterborne and airborne pollutants. From the use of genetic resources to harnessing other ecosystem services, agriculture throughout the world is dependent on biodiversity. Agriculture is also the largest driver of genetic erosion, species loss and conversion of natural habitats. Meetingincreasing global food needs will require one or both of two approaches: intensification and extensification. Intensification is based on higher or more efficient use of inputs, such as more efficient breeds and crops, agrochemicals, energy and water. Extensification requires converting increasing additional areas of land to cultivation. Both approaches have the potential to dramatically and...