According to a landmark study, one in five people worldwide rely on wild animals, plants, and fungi as food and income.
The report revealed that many wild species aren’t being harvested sustainably, which puts food security at risk.
Experts estimate that 1 million animals and plants could die in the next few decades.
Unsustainable fishing, hunting, and logging are driving a lot of this.
A new report from the same influential organization concludes that sustainable wild species use is crucial for both humans and nature.
Climate change and an increase in demand are likely to push more species towards the edge, putting food security at stake.
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, (IPBES), is the equivalent of the IPCC group for climate scientists.
The latest assessment was approved by 139 countries in Bonn (Germany) and focuses on how fishing and hunting can be done more sustainably while preserving biodiversity and food security.
It was found that billions of people around the globe rely on wild animals, plants, and fungi to provide food, medicine and fuel for their livelihoods.
This assessment shows that nature is being exploited extensively, with more than a third overfished in the ocean, 10% of wild trees at risk from unsustainable logging and more than 1,300 animals threatened by unsustainable hunting.
It stated that there are several actions that could be taken to address these problems, including a crackdown against illegal fishing and wildlife trading; better management and certification for forests; and recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples who care for land and forests.
Jean-Marc Fromentin was co-chairman of the assessment for France. He said that rural people in developing nations were most at-risk from unsustainable use and had few options, often forcing them to exploit wild species already at-risk.
The report concluded:
Inger Andersen (executive director, UN Environment Programme) commented on the assessment and said that more sustainable use can be a strong incentive to conservation and living in harmony and nature.
She stated that “today, one million species are at danger of extinction.” The unsustainable, illegal, and unregulated use species is a major problem. The illegal wildlife trade, which is worth 23 billion dollars annually, lines the pockets of a few shady individuals. These people make a fortune at the expense nature and ecosystems.
The 2019 IPBES global assessment highlighted that 1 million species of animals and plants are at risk of extinction due to direct exploitation.
This new report will give decision-makers evidence to support the sustainable use wild species. It will also feed into negotiations in Montreal later in the year about setting global targets to reduce biodiversity loss.
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