SS DEFCON 3: Ecological Overshoot - Scarcity [35]
Its goals are to: (1) Promote the conservation of the biological diversity of
ecosystems, habitats and biomes, (2) Promote the conservation of species diversity; (3) Promote the conservation of genetic diversity; (4) Promote sustainable use anbd consumption; (5) Reduce pressures from habitat loss, land use change and degradation, and unsustainable water use; (6) Control threats from invasive alien species; (7) Address challenges to biodiversity from climate change and pollution; (8) Maintain capacity of ecosystems to deliver goods and services and support livelihoods; (9) Maintain socio-cultural diversity
of indigenous and local
communities; (1) Ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of genetic resources; (11) Ensure Parties have improved financial, human, scientific, technical and technological capacity to implement the Convention. It failed to make any significant progress on any of its goals. Species in all groups with known trends are, on average, being driven closer to extinction, with amphibians facing the greatest risk and warm water reef-building corals showing the most rapid deterioration in status. Among selected vertebrate, invertebrate and plant groups, between 12% and 55% of species are currently threatened with extinction. Species of birds and mammals used for food and medicine are on average facing a greater extinction risk than those not used for such purposes. Preliminary assessments suggest that 23% of plant species are threatened.
[35.1]
Species Populations and Extinction Risks:
The population of wild vertebrate species fell by an average of nearly one- third (31%) globally between 1970 and 2006, with the decline especially severe in the tropics (59%) and in freshwater ecosystems (41%). Observed trends in populations of wild species include: » Farmland bird populations in Europe have declined by on average 50% since 1980. » Bird populations in North American grasslands declined by nearly 40% between 1968 and 2003, showing a slight recovery over the past five years; those in North American dry lands have declined by nearly 30% since the late 1960s. » Of the 1,200 water bird populations with known trends, 44% are in decline. » 42% of all amphibian species and 40% of bird species are declining in population. Species in all groups with known trends are, on average, being driven closer to extinction, with amphibians facing the greatest risk and warm water reef-building corals showing the most rapid deterioration in status. Among selected vertebrate, invertebrate and plant groups, between 12% and 55% of species are currently threatened with extinction. Species of birds and mammals used for food and medicine are on average facing a greater extinction risk than those not used for such purposes. Preliminary assessments suggest that 23% of plant species are threatened.
SSD3 :: 22