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Facts on Biodiversity
Biodiversity Synthesis Report of the
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment summarised Brussels, 29.05.2006. The scientific consensus on biodiversity and ecosystem loss is now available in a concise and accessible way. The online summary at www.greenfacts.org/biodiversity/ is a reader-friendly version of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) Synthesis Report on Biodiversity. In the run-up to the European Commission’s Green Week 2006 on Biodiversity, GreenFacts, the IUCN Regional Office for Europe, and Countdown 2010 have joined forces to explain biodiversity, its benefits for human well-being and the dramatic loss of biodiversity the world is currently witnessing. "There is no doubt: Biodiversity is essential for human well-being and survival. The European Union has promised to halt its loss by 2010. This summary is a stark reminder that we will not achieve this target with business as usual", says Achim Steiner, Director General of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Dr. Harold A. Mooney, co-chair of the MA Panel of scientists, says: "The two-tiered condensation of the Biodiversity Synthesis is excellent and accurately captures all of the critical issues of this report. The international team that produced this report will be gratified to see it available in this innovative format that is targeted for a wide audience."Highlights of the report According to the Biodiversity Synthesis Report, human actions are often contributing to irreversible losses in terms of diversity of life on Earth. Changes in biodiversity have been more rapid in the past 50 years than at any other time in human history and are expected to continue at the same pace or even to accelerate. Many plant and animal populations are decreasing in numbers, geographical spread, or both. Species extinction, a natural phenomenon in Earth’s life, has been accelerated by at least 100 times compared to the natural rate. Biodiversity – the number, variety, and variability of living organisms – contributes directly or indirectly to many aspects of human well-being, for instance by providing raw materials and contributing to health. Examples of factors leading to biodiversity loss are land use change, climate change, overexploitation of natural resources, invasive alien species, and pollution. Although many individuals benefit from activities that lead to biodiversity loss and ecosystem change, the full costs borne by society often exceed the benefits. Because it is difficult to measure precisely all aspects of biodiversity and the impact of human action on biodiversity loss, the MA Synthesis Report advises to take a precautionary approach bearing in mind the risk of irreversible changes in ecosystems. Many of the actions that have been taken to conserve biodiversity and promote its sustainable use have been successful in limiting biodiversity loss. Yet, in order to reduce biodiversity loss significantly, unprecedented efforts are needed in addition to those currently undertaken. About Countdown 2010 Hosted by IUCN, Countdown 2010 supports governments and other stakeholders in achieving the 2010 biodiversity target to significantly reduce the current rate of biodiversity loss. Countdown 2010 combines efforts to save biodiversity within a powerful network of active partners, including governments, cities and regions, and civil society organisations. www.countdown2010.net About GreenFacts asbl/vzw GreenFacts asbl/vzw is an independent non-profit organisation based in Brussels that publishes faithful on-line summaries of authoritative scientific documents on environment and health matters in several languages. These summaries are presented as questions and answers in three levels of detail, making the scientific consensus easily accessible to non-specialists. GreenFacts was created in 2001 by individuals from scientific institutions, environment and health organisations, and businesses, who called for wider access to unbiased information on environment and health topics. www.greenfacts.org About IUCN Regional Office for Europe The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Regional Office for Europe is a branch of the IUCN global network and is located in Brussels, Warsaw, Belgrade and Moscow. Its mission is to foster and fortify a European network of excellence in environmental research, policy and best practice, with the aim to contribute to IUCN’s global mission, support the integration of biodiversity conservation into economic development, and support innovative initiatives for the multi-functional, sustainable use of natural resources. www.iucneurope.org
For further details visit www.greenfacts.org or contact Sandra Nebe
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