Despite decades of increasing investment in conservation, ‘bending the curve’ of biodiversity decline has not succeeded. Scientists argue that stronger outcomes for biodiversity conservation can be attained if conservation actions are combined with justice measures to tackle the underlying causes of decline.
The international team of scientists say that efforts to meet new biodiversity targets and goals for the next three decades risk repeating past failures unless three factors are addressed in campaigning efforts and practice:
- focused attention to direct and indirect drivers of decline;
- unrealistic biodiversity response objectives and timelines, and
- failure to address fundamental inequities of past and current conservation and sharing of nature’s benefits.
“As the urgency and challenges in resolving the biodiversity crisis increase, actions to conserve biodiversity must broaden to address root causes and the entire scope of human – nature interactions.” says lead author and Earth Commissioner David Obura from Coastal Oceans Research Development – Indian Ocean (CORDIO) East Africa.
Wendy Broadgate, Global Hub Director (Sweden) for Future Earth and Executive Director of the Earth Commission, says: “The stakes are higher than ever. We are facing unprecedented extinction rates. A healthy biosphere is essential to support life and healthy societies. The goals for the next decade of biodiversity conservation need to consider a just future for all communities – present and future – within Earth system boundaries.”
The new expert study is published in the journal One Earth, see separate link as well as separate link to the full press release.
Future Earth is the world’s largest network of sustainability scientists, and is the scientific cornerstone of the Global Commons Alliance.
“Achieving a Nature- and People-Positive future”
The study presented in One Earth Journal
To the article
Press release
Click to download
