World Leaders Fail to Meet Biodiversity Targets

According to a new study co-authored by BirdLife International, world leaders have failed to deliver commitments made to reduce the global rate of biodiversity loss by 2010, and have instead overseen alarming biodiversity declines.

The findings are explained in a new paper published in the leading journal Science and represent the first assessment of how the targets made through the 2002 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) have not been met.

The study, led by Dr. Stuart Butchart, BirdLife's Global Research and Indicators Coordinator, focuses on 31 indicators developed by the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership, a collaboration of over 40 international organizations and agencies developing global biodiversity indicators and the leading source of information on trends in global biodiversity.

The results, of course, were not pretty. The study found no evidence for a significant reduction in the rate of decline of biodiversity, and that the pressures facing biodiversity continue to increase.

According to the study, governments and decision makers have made some progress on establishing more Protected Areas (PAs), Important Bird Areas have become better integrated within PAs and more forests are being sustainably managed. Progress, however, has been slow!

There have been declines in population trends of utilized vertebrates (by 15%) and extinction risk has increased for mammals, birds and amphibians used for food and medicine (23-36% of these species are threatened with extinction) and birds that are internationally traded (8% threatened).

The United Nations Environment Programme’s Chief Scientist has said that since 1970, animal populations have been reduced by 30%, areas of mangroves and sea grasses by 20% and the coverage of living corals by 40%.

As Canada’s list of Species At Risk continues to grow year by year, its grasslands are converted and lost and the Arctic Sea ice continues to disappear, one can only turn back to the Government and say ‘you’ve failed us!’. However, the Canadian government approved a ‘Biodiversity Outcomes Framework’ – a tool to manage, measure, and report on biodiversity conservation in Canada and to assist governments in more directly engaging Canadians in conservation planning, implementation and reporting, according to Environment Canada. It provides implementation and reporting frameworks for the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy. A product of the Biodiversity Outcomes Framework is the Ecosystem Status and Trends Report is due this fall.

Finally, parties to the CBD are saddling up for their 10th Conference of the Parties meeting this October in Nagoya, Japan. They’re up for another challenge; to adopt 20 Targets with an aim of reducing and/or halting biodiversity loss by 2020. Let’s hope that this time they will take the issue more seriously.

UPDATE: Listen to Dr Stuart Butchart interviewed about the failure to meet the 2010 Biodiversity targets

Photo Credits: Food market = Claudia Peters Elephants in Ngorongoro Crater = Geof Wilson Coral reef = SF Brit

Did you forget about Earth Day?

Don't despair if you missed last week's celebration of the planet. You can choose to make a difference any day of the year. An easy way to green your lifestyle is to go back to basics: follow the three Rs - with an extra C.

It may seem elementary, but remembering to reduce, reuse and recycle is one of the best ways we can help the planet. It’s also important to follow them in order:

Reduce – Before you purchase something new, ask yourself if you really need it. Is there another option that would have a lesser impact on the environment? Buy things in bulk when you can to cut down on waste from packaging.

Reuse – Once you’re done with an item, think about whether or not it has any other uses. Empty yogurt containers can be used to start seeds and plastic bags have many potential uses. If you can’t use it, find out if there’s someone who can; for example, books can be donated to the local library or a community sale.

Recycle – When a product is finally coming to the end of its lifecycle, look into whether or not it can be recycled. Most municipalities collect paper, cardboard, cans and glass; check to see which plastics are collected locally (the plastic number is usually on the bottom of the container). Don’t forget about items like printer cartridges and paint – there are often special drop-offs for these materials where they can be collected and refurbished or repurposed.

Compost – Although it isn’t traditional to include composting with the three Rs, it’s an important step in diverting more waste from the landfill. If your community collects kitchen and yard waste, make sure to fill the bin and put it out for pickup. You can also start your own compost at home, either using a vermicomposter (composting with worms!) or a traditional yard bin. Composting allows you to reclaim some nutrients to make a rich soil for your garden and keeps waste that can easily decompose out of the landfill.

What do you do to make Earth Day every day? Let us know in the comments below.

Calling Young Nature Artists, Writers and Photographers!

Celebrations across the country are being held this Earth Day, April 22, in honour of the 10th annual Robert Bateman Get To Know Contest and to celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity. The Premier launch event is taking place at the Canadian Museum of Nature where Alan Bateman, son of renowned wildlife artist Robert Bateman will dedicate a Tree to his father who will also be turning 80 this May.

Thirty students from the Robert Bateman Public School will attend the tree dedication ceremony. The students will then take a tour of the museum's Mammal Gallery, where they will see many of Canada's iconic wildlife species up close in beautiful diorama displays and partake in various activities such as wildlife sketching with Alan Bateman.

Nature Canada has been supporting the Robert Bateman Get To Know Contest for the past seven years and is proud to be a premier partner for the second year in a row. This year we have teamed up, the Canadian Museum of Nature, Wildlife Habitat Canada, the Canadian Wildlife Federation and the Robert Bateman Public School for the 2010 launch event.

Over the last decade, the contest has received tens of thousands of nature-themed art and writing entries. The 2010 contest theme is "Celebrate Biodiversity."

Our planet is home to a dizzying array of wonderful, mysterious life forms and the Get to Know Program hopes youth who participate in this contest will discover a sense of connection with the natural world. Exploring the wild plants and animals in your own neighbourhood can provide a greater appreciation of the beauties of nature while you connect, create and celebrate nature. Parks, zoos, museums, and aquariums are also great places to connect with nature.

Winners of this year's Get to Know Contest will have the chance to receive fantastic prizes such as gifts from Scholastic, Panasonic, Opus Framing and Art Supplies and cash prizes (NEW for 2010!). Your artwork will be featured on Canada's Youth Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp and the 2011 Get to Know Contest Calendar.

We support this contest because it helps achieve a very important goal: connecting young people to the natural world. As young people explore the natural world, they gain a greater understanding of its beauty, its gifts, and its fragility. It also helps you to explore your own creativity, and what better source is there for artistic inspiration than nature?

The contest runs until May 28, 2010. Visit www.gettoknow.ca/en/kids/contest/ for more information and to submit your entry.

Photo: Alan Bateman and family plant the tree dedicated to his father, Robert Bateman, at the Canadian Museum of Nature.