William Atkins
Sunday, 18 May 2008 21:23
Science -
Biology
Page 2 of 3
The Report stated that this biodiversity decline is the result of such factors as: climate change, loss/destruction of natural habitat, proliferation of invasive species, pollution, and overexploitation of certain species (such as wildlife trade).
The WWF report called habitat destruction and wildlife trade as the two major causes of species decline in the past, and predicts that climate change will be the major cause in the future.
Specifically, the Report claims human behaviors and activities have caused a great majority of the loss of biodiversity in species.
On the other hand, Butfield also added,
"… there are small signs for hope and if government grasps what is left of this rapidly closing window of opportunity, we can begin to reverse this trend and move away from three planet living to a one planet future." [InTheNews]
[Author’s note: The explanation of “three planet living” and “one planet future” is explained by the WWF later in this article.]
The editor of the Report, Jonathan Loh, stated that such a biodiversity loss was
"completely unprecedented in terms of human history. You'd have to go back to the extinction of the dinosaurs to see a decline as rapid as this. In terms of human lifespan we may be seeing things change relatively slowly, but in terms of the world's history this is very rapid." [The Tech Herald: “
Close to a third of world's species extinct since 1970: report”]
The WWF website states,
“While nature continues to decline, WWF research from 2006 concluded that we are now globally consuming about 25% more natural resources than the planet can replace in each year. In the UK alone, we are generating carbon emissions and consuming natural resources at such a rate that we would need three planets to support us. WWF believes this highlights the need for us all to move to a one planet future.” [WWF: "
Biodiversity Plummets as resource use soars"]
The Living Planet Index report was released in connection with the
Convention of Biological Diversity, which is being held in Bonn, Germany from May 19 to 30, 2008. The Convention has established an international treaty that aims to halt the decline of species diversity on Earth, and eventually sustain it.
What does the WWF think of this international treaty? Will it be successful? Turn to page three.
