In April 2003 more than 123 countries committed to a significant reduction in biodiversity loss by 2010 at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. The goal to diminish biodiversity loss at local, national and regional levels was set forth as a goal to alleviate poverty and benefit all life on Earth. Yet, the rate of ecosystem and species loss continues to accelerate.
While the progress is grim, all is not lost. This week more than 600 biodiversity experts are meeting in Cape Town for the DIVERSITAS conference to talk about protecting the ecosystem services that underpin biodiversity. The key areas that this group will address include:
- How to demonstrate and quantify the economic costs and impacts on human welfare globally and locally due to biodiversity loss and ecosystems degradation
- How to understand, manage and conserve ecosystem services including, for example, the creation of economic incentives to prevent habitat destruction
- How to share the benefits from the use of genetic resources fairly and equitably
- How to improve research institutions and the international stewardship of biodiversity
You can read more about the work of this group in their Annual Report.
