TAG | WWF finds 27% decline in wildlife for Earth |
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| by William Atkins | |
| Monday, 19 May 2008 | |
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Page 3 of 3 According to the website of the Convention, “In April 2002, the Parties to the Convention committed themselves to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on Earth. This target was subsequently endorsed by the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the United Nations General Assembly and was incorporated as a new target under the Millennium Development Goals.” Its website states, “… governments are not on track to meet their target to achieve by 2010 a 'significant' reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss.” [WWF: “Biodiversity plummets as resource use soars”] To download the 1.5 MB pdf file of the Living Planet Index, go to “2010 and Beyond.” In conclusion, James Leape, the director general of WWF, states, "Reduced biodiversity means millions of people face a future where food supplies are more vulnerable to pests and disease and where water is in irregular or short supply. No one can escape the impact of biodiversity loss because reduced global diversity translates quite clearly into fewer new medicines, greater vulnerability to natural disasters and greater effects from global warming." The WWF is pointing the finger at world governments. But, are not governments simply the representatives of its citizens. Thus, if thought about it in this manner, aren't people, in the end, the ones to blame for biodiversity loss on planet Earth. What do you think? How can you help to prevent species loss? Or should you do anything? Should we just let nature take its natural course? Is humankind to blame? Do we need to take an active course of action to sustain the numbers of species, and the overall number of animals here on Earth? Some countries are addressing the problem. Some aren't. Is your country a major contributor of species loss? By asking questions and finding answers, we learn more about any problem. By gaining knowledge, we can better deal with our problems on a local level and on a worldwide level.
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