IPBES Report: Findings, Concerns and Suggestions – Explained, pointwise

Introduction

The Convention on Biological Diversity defines ‘sustainable use’ as the use of components of biological diversity in a way and at a rate that does not lead to the long-term decline of biological diversity. This would help in maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations. The recently released Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Report offers insights, analysis and tools for sustainable use of wild species. The Report reminds the global community how much human beings are interdependent with all living beings and why it’s important to conserve them. The report comes against the backdrop of the stark findings of the IPBES in May, 2019 that shows around 1 million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction.

What is IPBES?

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is an independent intergovernmental body. It aims to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development. 

It was established in Panama City, on 21 April 2012 by 94 countries. It is not a United Nations body. However, at the request of the IPBES Plenary and with the authorization of the UNEP Governing Council in 2013, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provides secretariat services to IPBES.

It currently has close to 140 member States. A large number of NGOs, organizations, conventions and civil society groupings also participate in the formal IPBES process as observers.

Source: IPBES

What does IPBES do?

The work of IPBES can be broadly grouped into four complementary areas:

Assessments: On specific themes (e.g. “Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production”); methodological issues (e.g. “Scenarios and Modelling); and at both the regional and global levels (e.g. “Global Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services”).

Policy Support: Identifying policy-relevant tools and methodologies, facilitating their use, and catalyzing their further development.

Building Capacity & Knowledge: Identifying and meeting the priority capacity, knowledge and data needs of our member States, experts and stakeholders.

Communications & Outreach: Ensuring the widest reach and impact of IPBES’s work.

About the IPBES Report

The report identifies five broad categories of ‘practices’ in the use of wild species: Fishing; Gathering; Logging; Terrestrial Animal Harvesting (including hunting); and Non-extractive practices, such as observing. For each practice, it examines specific ‘uses’ such as for food and feed; materials; medicine, energy; recreation; ceremony; learning and decoration. 

It provides a detailed analysis of the trends in each, over the past 20 years. It indicated the increasing use of wild species but added that its sustained use has been varied.

What are the Key Findings of the IPBES Assessment Report?

Dependence on Biodiversity

Around 70% of the world’s poor are directly dependent on wild species. 50,000 wild species of plants, animals, fungi and algae meet the needs of billions of people globally.One in five people rely on wild species for income and food.

Around 2.4 billion people worldwide rely on wood for cooking and 880 million, particularly in developing countries, log firewood or produce charcoal. Logging for energy accounts for 50% of all wood consumed globally, and 90% of timber harvested in Africa. Even though the use of wood for fuel is declining in most regions, it is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa.

Certain species have cultural importance as they offer multiple benefits that define tangible and intangible features of people’s cultural heritage.

The use of wild species is also a source of culturally meaningful employment for such communities and they have engaged in the trade of wild species and materials since millennia.

Threat to Biodiversity

Around 12% of tree species in the wild and 1,341 wild mammal species globally are threatened by unsustainable logging and hunting. More than 25% of the world’s forests are subject to industrial logging.

Unsustainable gathering is one of the main threats for several plant groups, notably cacti, cycads, and orchids as well as other plants.

Around 34% of marine wild fish stocks in the world are overfished. Further, Bycatch has led to a steep decline in the number of sharks and ray species since the 1970s.

Bycatch refers to incidental capture and mortality of non-target marine animals during fishing.

The report noted that indigenous people and local communities used local knowledge, practices and spirituality for the sustainable use of wild species. They respected nature and only took what they needed. This ensured that healthy populations of wild species were maintained.

What are the reasons behind depletion of biodiversity?

First, overexploitation is the primary reason for the depletion of biodiversity. The rate of usage is much more than the replenishment rate that has pushed many species on the verge of extinction.

Second, it assessed that changes in climate, sea and landscapes, pollution and invasive alien species impact the abundance and distribution of wild species.

Third, trade in wild plants, algae and fungi for food, medicine, hygiene, energy and ornamental use is increasing. Further, the illegal trade in wild species, worth up to US$ 199 billion annually, accounts for the world’s third largest class of illegal trade. Timber and fish make up the largest volumes and value of illegal trade in wild species.

Fourth, with lack of alternatives, people are often forced to further exploit wild species already at risk. For instance, due to lack of alternatives, still 2.4 billion people rely on fuelwood for cooking.

Source: IPBES Report. Drivers of Decline in Nature. The direct drivers (land-/sea-use change; direct exploitation of organisms; climate change; pollution; and invasive alien species) result from an array of underlying societal causes. These causes can be demographic (e.g., human population dynamics), sociocultural (e.g., consumption patterns), economic (e.g., trade), technological, or relating to institutions, governance, conflicts and epidemics. They are called indirect drivers and are underpinned by societal values and behaviours. Land- and sea-use change and direct exploitation account for more than 50% of the global impact on land, in fresh water and in the sea.

What steps have been taken to protect Biodiversity?

National

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: It is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted for protection of plants and animal species. It has 6 schedules that provide varying degrees of protection to species.

Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB): It is a statutory multi-disciplinary body.  It functions under the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Its responsibilities include combating organized wildlife crime in the country. 

Global

IUCN Red List: It is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity. Far more than a list of species and their status, it is a powerful tool to inform and catalyze action for biodiversity conservation and policy change.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES): It is an international agreement between governments. CITES regulates international trade in specimens of species of wild fauna and flora based on a system of permits and certificates issued under certain conditions.

Sustainable Development Goals: Countries have adopted 17 goals that need to be achieved by 2030. Many of them like SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 14 ( Life below water), SDG 15 (Life on land) etc.. focus on environment and species protection. 

What are the Recommendations of the IPBES Report?

The Report observes that Nature can be conserved, restored and used sustainably while simultaneously meeting other global societal goals through urgent and concerted efforts fostering transformative change. The Sustainable Development Goals and the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity cannot be achieved without transformative change. Transformative change is facilitated by innovative governance approaches that incorporate integrative, inclusive, informed and adaptive governance.

Source: IPBES Report. Five main interventions (‘levers’) can generate transformative change by tackling the underlying drivers of the deterioration of nature: (1) Incentives and Capacity-building; (2) Cross-Sectoral Cooperation; (3) Pre-emptive Action; (4) Decision-making in the context of Resilience and Uncertainty; and (5) Environmental Law and Implementation.

What should be the approach going ahead?

First, the local communities should be made a key stakeholder in management of wildlife resources. The Government should ensure that their traditional knowledge is judiciously used to ensure sustainable usage of wild species. In this regard, effective implementation of the Forests Rights Act, 2006 is a must.

Second, the Government must ensure that environmental litigation is strengthened by establishing more benches of National Green Tribunals across the country. This will promote environmental consciousness and encourage people to file complaints against the violators.

Conclusion

Addressing the causes of unsustainable use and, wherever possible, reversing these trends should be the priority of Governments at Local, National and International level. This will result in better outcomes for wild species and the people who depend on them thereby moving towards attainment of sustainable development.

Source: Down to Earth, Down to Earth, Indian Express, The Times of India, IPBES